1010-0142 30-day

Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 172 / Tuesday, September 7, 2010 / Notices
information from public review, we
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so.
BOEMRE Information Collection
Clearance Officer: Arlene Bajusz (703)
787–1025.
Dated: August 30, 2010
Doug Slitor,
Acting Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory
Programs.
[FR Doc. 2010–22192 Filed 9–3–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management,
Regulation and Enforcement
[Docket No. MMS–2010–OMM–0011]

BOEMRE Information Collection
Activity: 1010–0142, Decommissioning
Activities, Extension of a Collection,
Submitted for Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) Review; Comment
Request
Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management, Regulation and
Enforcement (BOEMRE), Interior.
ACTION: Notice of extension of an
information collection (1010–0142).
AGENCY:

To comply with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(PRA), we are notifying the public that
we have submitted to OMB an
information collection request (ICR) to
renew approval of the paperwork
requirements in the regulations under
30 CFR 250, subpart Q,
Decommissioning Activities, and related
documents. This notice also provides
the public a second opportunity to
comment on the paperwork burden of
these regulatory requirements.
DATES: Submit written comments by
October 7, 2010.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments by either
fax (202) 395–5806 or e-mail
([email protected]) directly
to the Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Attention:
Desk Officer for the Department of the
Interior (1010–0142). Please also submit
a copy of your comments to BOEMRE by
any of the means below.
• Electronically: go to http://
www.regulations.gov. In the entry titled
‘‘Enter Keyword or ID,’’ enter docket ID
MMS–2010–OMM–0011 then click
search. Follow the instructions to
submit public comments and view
supporting and related materials
available for this collection. The
BOEMRE will post all comments.
• E-mail: [email protected].
Mail or hand-carry comments to the

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SUMMARY:

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Department of the Interior; Bureau of
Ocean Energy Management, Regulation
and Enforcement; Attention: Cheryl
Blundon; 381 Elden Street, MS–4024;
Herndon, Virginia 20170–4817. Please
reference ICR 1010–0142 in your
comment and include your name and
return address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Cheryl Blundon, Regulations and
Standards Branch (703) 787–1607. You
may also contact Cheryl Blundon to
obtain a copy, at no cost, of the
regulation that requires the subject
collection of information.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: 30 CFR 250, subpart Q,
Decommissioning Activities.
OMB Control Number: 1010–0142.
Abstract: The Outer Continental Shelf
(OCS) Lands Act, as amended (43 U.S.C.
1331 et seq. and 43 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.),
authorizes the Secretary of the Interior
(Secretary) to prescribe rules and
regulations to manage the mineral
resources of the OCS. Such rules and
regulations will apply to all operations
conducted under a lease. Operations on
the OCS must preserve, protect, and
develop oil and natural gas resources in
a manner that is consistent with the
need to make such resources available
to meet the Nation’s energy needs as
rapidly as possible; to balance orderly
energy resource development with
protection of human, marine, and
coastal environments; to ensure the
public a fair and equitable return on the
resources of the OCS; and to preserve
and maintain free enterprise
competition.
Section 1332(6) states that ‘‘operations
in the [O]uter Continental Shelf should
be conducted in a safe manner by well
trained personnel using technology,
precautions, and other techniques
sufficient to prevent or minimize the
likelihood of blowouts, loss of well
control, fires, spillages, physical
obstructions to other users of the waters
or subsoil and seabed, or other
occurrences which may cause damage to
the environment or to property or
endanger life or health.’’
The Independent Offices
Appropriations Act (31 U.S.C. 9701), the
Omnibus Appropriations Bill (Pub. L.
104–133, 110 Stat. 1321, April 26,
1996), and OMB Circular A–25,
authorize Federal agencies to recover
the full cost of services that confer
special benefits. Under the Department
of the Interior’s (DOI) implementing
policy, the Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management, Regulation and
Enforcement (BOEMRE) is required to
charge fees for services that provide
special benefits or privileges to an

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54363

identifiable non-Federal recipient above
and beyond those which accrue to the
public at large. Applications to remove/
decommission a platform are subject to
cost recovery, and BOEMRE regulations
specify cost recovery fees for these
requests.
This authority and responsibility are
among those delegated to BOEMRE. The
regulations at 30 CFR 250, subpart Q,
concern decommissioning of platforms,
wells, and pipelines, as well as site
clearance and platform removal and are
the subject of this collection. This
request also covers the related Notices
to Lessees and Operators (NTLs) that
BOEMRE issues to clarify, supplement,
or provide additional guidance on some
aspects of our regulations.
The BOEMRE uses the information
collected under subpart Q primarily for
the following reasons:
• To determine the necessity for
allowing a well to be temporarily
abandoned, the lessee/operator must
demonstrate that there is a reason for
not permanently plugging the well, and
the temporary abandonment will not
interfere with fishing, navigation, or
other uses of the OCS. We use the
information and documentation to
verify that the lessee/operator is
diligently pursuing the final disposition
of the well and has performed the
temporary plugging of the wellbore.
• The information submitted in initial
decommissioning plans in the Alaska
and Pacific OCS Regions will permit
BOEMRE to become involved on the
ground floor planning of platform
removals anticipated to occur in these
OCS regions.
• Site clearance and platform or
pipeline removal information ensures
that all objects (wellheads, platforms,
etc.) installed on the OCS are properly
removed using procedures that will
protect marine life and the environment
during removal operations, and the site
cleared so as not to conflict with or
harm other uses of the OCS.
• Information regarding
decommissioning a pipeline in place is
needed to ensure that it will not
constitute a hazard to navigation and
commercial fishing operations, unduly
interfere with other uses of the OCS, or
have adverse environmental effects.
• The information is necessary to
verify that decommissioning activities
comply with approved applications and
procedures and are satisfactorily
completed.
Responses are mandatory. No
questions of a sensitive nature are
asked. We protect proprietary
information according to the Freedom of
Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and its
implementing regulations (43 CFR 2),

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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 172 / Tuesday, September 7, 2010 / Notices

and 30 CFR 250.197, ‘‘Data and
information to be made available to the
public or for limited inspection.’’
Frequency: On occasion, annual; and
as specified in sections.
Description of Respondents: Potential
respondents comprise Federal OCS oil,

burdens. In calculating the burdens, we
assumed that respondents perform
certain requirements in the normal
course of their activities. We consider
these to be usual and customary and
took that into account in estimating the
burden.

gas, and sulphur operators, lessees, and
holders of pipeline rights-of-way.
Estimated Reporting and
Recordkeeping Hour Burden: The
estimated annual hour burden for this
information collection is a total of
15,716 hours. The following chart
details the individual components and

Non-hour cost burdens
Citation 30 CFR 250
subpart Q

Reporting/recordkeeping requirement

Average number of
annual responses

Hour burden

Annual burden
hours
(rounded)

General
1700 thru 1754 .................

General departure and alternative compliance requests not specifically covered elsewhere in subpart Q regulations.

3

1703; 1704 .......................

Request approval for decommissioning ....................

Burden included in specific requirement.

0

1704(g); 1712; 1716;
1717; 1721(a), (d), (f),
(g); 1722(a), (b), (d);
1723(b); 1743(a).

Submit form MMS–124 to plug wells; provide subsequent report; request alternate depth departure;
request procedure to protect obstructions above
seafloor; report within 30 days, results of trawling;
certify area cleared of obstructions; remove casing stub or mud line suspension equipment and
subsea protective covering; or other departures.

Burden covered under 1010-0141.

0

Subtotal ........................................................................................................................................

50 requests .......................

50 responses ....................

150

150

Permanently Plugging Wells
1711 .................................

Required data if permanently plugging a well ...........

1713 .................................

Notify BOEMRE 48 hours before beginning operations to permanently plug a well.

Requirement not considered Information
Collection under 5 CFR 1320.3(h)(9).

0

.5

995 notices .......................

498

Subtotal ........................................................................................................................................

995 responses ..................

498

Temporary Abandoned Wells
1721(e); 1722(e), (h)(1);
1741(c).

Identify and report subsea wellheads, casing stubs,
or other obstructions; mark wells protected by a
dome; mark location to be cleared as navigation
hazard.

U.S. Coast Guard requirements.

0

1722(c), (g)(2) ..................

Notify BOEMRE within 5 days if trawl does not pass
over protective device or causes damages to it; or
if inspection reveals casing stub or mud line suspension is no longer protected.

1

10 notices .........................

10

1722(f), (g)(3) ...................

Submit annual report on plans for re-entry to complete or permanently abandon the well and inspection report.

2.5

92 reports .........................

230

1722(h) .............................

Request waiver of trawling test .................................

2

5 requests .........................

10

Subtotal ........................................................................................................................................

107 responses ..................

250

wwoods2 on DSK1DXX6B1PROD with NOTICES_PART 1

Removing Platforms and Other Facilities
1726; 1704(a) ...................

Submit initial decommissioning application in the
Pacific and Alaska OCS Regions.

20

2 applications ...................

40

1725; 1727; 1728; 1730;
1704(b).

Submit final application and appropriate data to remove platform or other subsea facility structures
(including alternate depth departure) or approval
to maintain, to conduct other operations, or to
convert to artificial reef.

22

252 applications ...............

5,544

$4,342 fee × 252 = $1,094,184.

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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 172 / Tuesday, September 7, 2010 / Notices

54365

Non-hour cost burdens
Citation 30 CFR 250
subpart Q

Reporting/recordkeeping requirement

1725(e) .............................

Notify BOEMRE 48 hours before beginning removal
of platform and other facilities.

.5

214 notices .......................

107

1729; 1704(c) ...................

Submit post platform or other facility removal report;
supporting documentation; signed statements, etc.

9

214 reports .......................

1,926

1731(c) .............................

Request deferral of facility removal subject to RUE
issued under 30 CFR 285.

1

1 request ..........................

1

Subtotal ........................................................................................................................................

683 responses ..................

7,618

Average number of
annual responses

Hour burden

Annual burden
hours
(rounded)

$1,094,184 non-hour cost burdens.
Site Clearance for Wells, Platforms, and Other Facilities
1740; ................................

Request approval to use alternative methods of well
site, platform, or other facility clearance.

15

75 requests .......................

1,125

1743(b); 1704(f) ...............

Verify permanently plugged well, platform, or other
facility removal site cleared of obstructions; supporting documentation; and submit certification
letter.

5

189 verifications ...............

945

Subtotal ........................................................................................................................................

264 responses ..................

2,070

399 applications ...............

3,990

Pipeline Decommissioning
1750; 1751; 1752; 1754;
1704(d).

Submit application to decommission pipeline in
place or remove pipeline (L/T or ROW).

10

$1,059 L/T decommission fee × 230 = $243,570.
$2,012 ROW decommission fee × 169 = $340,028.
1753; 1704(e) ...................

Submit post pipeline decommissioning report ...........

3

380 reports .......................

1,140

Subtotal ........................................................................................................................................

779 responses ..................

5,130

$583,598 non-hour cost burdens.
2,878 responses ...............
Total Burden ................................................................................................................................

15,716

$1,677,782 Non-Hour Cost Burdens.

wwoods2 on DSK1DXX6B1PROD with NOTICES_PART 1

1 L/T = Lease Term.
2 ROW = Right of Way.

Estimated Reporting and
Recordkeeping Non-Hour Cost Burden:
There are three non-hour paperwork
costs associated with this information
collection. The estimated non-hour cost
burden is $1,677,782. Sections
250.1751(a), 250.1752(a), and 250.1727
require respondents to pay a cost
recovery fee when submitting a request
to remove a platform or other facility, to
decommission a lease term pipeline, or
to decommission a ROW pipeline. The
fees are required to recover the Federal
Government’s processing costs. We have
not identified any other non-hour
paperwork cost burdens associated with
this collection of information.
Public Disclosure Statement: The PRA
(44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.) provides that an
agency may not conduct or sponsor a
collection of information unless it

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displays a currently valid OMB control
number. Until OMB approves a
collection of information, you are not
obligated to respond.
Comments: Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of
the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.)
requires each agency ‘‘* * * to provide
notice * * * and otherwise consult
with members of the public and affected
agencies concerning each proposed
collection of information * * *’’
Agencies must specifically solicit
comments to: (a) Evaluate whether the
proposed collection of information is
necessary for the agency to perform its
duties, including whether the
information is useful; (b) evaluate the
accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the
burden of the proposed collection of
information; (c) enhance the quality,
usefulness, and clarity of the

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information to be collected; and (d)
minimize the burden on the
respondents, including the use of
automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
To comply with the public
consultation process, on March 22,
2010, we published a Federal Register
notice (75 FR 13568) announcing that
we would submit this ICR to OMB for
approval. The notice provided the
required 60-day comment period. In
addition, § 250.199 provides the OMB
control number for the information
collection requirements imposed by the
30 CFR 250 regulations and forms. The
regulation also informs the public that
they may comment at any time on the
collections of information and provides
the address to which they should send
comments. We received one comment in

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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 172 / Tuesday, September 7, 2010 / Notices

response to the Federal Register notice
and the comment was not germane to
the collection of information.
If you wish to comment in response
to this notice, you may send your
comments to the offices listed under the
ADDRESSES section of this notice. The
OMB has up to 60 days to approve or
disapprove the information collection
but may respond after 30 days.
Therefore, to ensure maximum
consideration, OMB should receive
public comments by October 7, 2010.
Public Comment Procedures: Before
including your address, phone number,
e-mail address, or other personal
identifying information in your
comment, you should be aware that
your entire comment–including your
personal identifying information–may
be made publicly available at any time.
While you can ask us in your comment
to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so.
BOEMRE Information Collection
Clearance Officer: Arlene Bajusz (202)
208–7744.
Dated: August 30, 2010.
Doug Slitor,
Acting Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory
Programs.
[FR Doc. 2010–22210 Filed 9–3–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Ocean Management,
Regulation and Enforcement
[Docket No. MMS–2010–OMM–0012]

BOEMRE Information Collection
Activity: 1010–0086, Sulphur
Operations, Extension of a Collection;
Submitted for Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) Review; Comment
Request
Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management, Regulation and
Enforcement (BOEMRE), Interior.
ACTION: Notice of extension of an
information collection (1010–0086).
AGENCY:

To comply with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(PRA), we are notifying the public that
we have submitted to OMB an
information collection request (ICR) to
renew approval of the paperwork
requirements in the regulations under
30 CFR 250, subpart P, Sulphur
Operations. This notice also provides
the public a second opportunity to
comment on the paperwork burden of
these regulatory requirements.

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SUMMARY:

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Submit written comments by
October 7, 2010.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments by either
fax (202) 395–5806 or e-mail
([email protected]) directly
to the Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Attention:
Desk Officer for the Department of the
Interior (1010–0086). Please also submit
a copy of your comments to BOEMRE by
any of the means below.
• Electronically: Go to http://
www.regulations.gov. In the entry titled
‘‘Enter Keyword or ID,’’ enter docket ID
MMS–2010–OMM–0012 then click
search. Follow the instructions to
submit public comments and view
supporting and related materials
available for this collection. The
BOEMRE will post all comments.
• E-mail:
[email protected]. Mail or
hand-carry comments to: Department of
the Interior; Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management, Regulation and
Enforcement; Attention: Cheryl
Blundon; 381 Elden Street, MS–4024;
Herndon, Virginia 20170–4817. Please
reference ICR 1010–0086 in your
comment and include your name and
return address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Cheryl Blundon, Regulations and
Standards Branch, (703) 787–1607. You
may also contact Cheryl Blundon to
obtain a copy, at no cost, of the
regulations that require the subject
collection of information.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: 30 CFR 250, subpart P, Sulphur
Operations.
OMB Control Number: 1010–0086.
Abstract: The Outer Continental Shelf
(OCS) Lands Act, as amended (43 U.S.C.
1331 et seq. and 43 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.),
authorizes the Secretary of the Interior
(Secretary) to prescribe rules and
regulations to manage the mineral
resources of the OCS. Such rules and
regulations will apply to all operations
conducted under a lease, right-of-use
and easement, and pipeline right-ofway. Operations on the OCS must
preserve, protect, and develop mineral
resources in a manner that is consistent
with the need to make such resources
available to meet the Nation’s energy
needs as rapidly as possible; to balance
orderly energy resource development
with protection of human, marine, and
coastal environments; to ensure the
public a fair and equitable return on the
resources of the OCS; and to preserve
and maintain free enterprise
competition.
Section 5(a) of the OCS Lands Act
requires the Secretary to prescribe rules
and regulations ‘‘to provide for the
DATES:

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prevention of waste, and conservation of
the natural resources of the Outer
Continental Shelf, and the protection of
correlative rights therein’’ and to include
provisions ‘‘for the prompt and efficient
exploration and development of a lease
area.’’ These authorities and
responsibilities are among those
delegated to the Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management, Regulation and
Enforcement (BOEMRE) to ensure that
operations in the OCS will meet
statutory requirements; provide for
safety and protection of the
environment; and result in diligent
exploration, development, and
production of OCS leases. This ICR
addresses the regulations at 30 CFR 250,
subpart P, Sulphur Operations, and any
associated supplementary Notices to
Lessees and Operators (NTLs) intended
to provide clarification, description, or
explanation of these regulations.
Currently, BOEMRE regulates one
sulphur lease on the OCS, but it is not
active. Therefore, this information
collection and its relevant hours
represent one respondent.
Regulations implementing these
responsibilities are under 30 CFR 250,
subpart P. Responses are mandatory. No
questions of a sensitive nature are
asked. The BOEMRE protects
information considered proprietary
according to 30 CFR 250.197, ‘‘Data and
information to be made available to the
public or for limited inspection,’’ and
the Freedom of Information Act (5
U.S.C. 552) and its implementing
regulations (43 CFR 2).
The BOEMRE uses the information
collected to ascertain the condition of
drilling sites for the purpose of
preventing hazards inherent in sulphur
drilling and production operations and
to evaluate the adequacy of equipment
and/or procedures to be used during the
conduct of drilling, well-completion,
well-workover, and production
operations. The BOEMRE uses the
information to:
• Ascertain that a discovered sulphur
deposit can be classified as capable of
production in paying quantities.
• Ensure accurate and complete
measurement of production to
determine the amount of sulphur
royalty payments due the United States;
and that the sale locations are secure,
production has been measured
accurately, and appropriate follow-up
actions are initiated.
• Review expected oceanographic
and meteorological conditions to ensure
the integrity of the drilling unit (this
information is submitted only if it is not
otherwise available).
• Review hazard survey data to
ensure that the lessee or operator will

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