published 60-day FR, subpart K

Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 187 / Wednesday, September 26, 2012 / Notices

Reporting Burden .....................................................................................

Total Estimated Burden Hours:
2,118,814.
Status: Reinstatement with change of
a previously approved collection.
Authority: Section 3507 of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 35, as
amended.
Dated: September 19, 2012.
Colette Pollard,
Department Reports Management Officer,
Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012–23696 Filed 9–25–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210–67–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Safety and Environmental
Enforcement
[Docket ID BSEE–2012–0015; OMB Control
Number 1014–0019]

Information Collection Activities: Oil
and Gas Production Requirements;
Proposed Collection; Comment
Request
ACTION:

60-day Notice.

To comply with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(PRA), BSEE is inviting comments on a
collection of information that we will
submit to the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) for review and approval.
The information collection request (ICR)
concerns a revision to the paperwork
requirements in the regulations under
Subpart K, Oil and Gas Production
Requirements.
DATE: You must submit comments by
November 26, 2012.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
by either of the following methods listed
below.
• Electronically: go to http://
www.regulations.gov. In the entry titled
Enter Keyword or ID, enter BSEE–2012–
0015 then click search. Follow the
instructions to submit public comments
and view all related materials. We will
post all comments.
• Email [email protected].
Mail or hand-carry comments to the
Department of the Interior; Bureau of
Safety and Environmental Enforcement;
Regulations and Standards Branch;
Attention: Cheryl Blundon; 381 Elden
Street, HE3313; Herndon, Virginia
20170–4817. Please reference ICR 1014–
0019 in your comment and include your
name and return address.

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SUMMARY:

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Number of
respondents

Annual
responses

3,144

53.274

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Cheryl Blundon, Regulations and
Standards Branch at (703) 787–1607 to
request additional information about
this ICR.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: 30
CFR Part 250, Subpart K, Oil and Gas
Production Requirements.
OMB Control Number: 1014–0019.
Form(s): BSEE–0126 and BSEE–0128.
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
to prescribe rules and regulations to
administer leasing of mineral resources
on the OCS. Such rules and regulations
will apply to all operations conducted
under a lease, right-of-way, or a right-ofuse and easement. 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 5(a) of the OCS Lands Act
requires the Secretary to prescribe rules
and regulations ‘‘to provide for the
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.’’
Section 1334(g)(2) states ‘‘* * * the
lessee shall produce such oil or gas, or
both, at rates * * * to assure the
maximum rate of production which may
be sustained without loss of ultimate
recovery of oil or gas, or both, under
sound engineering and economic
principles, and which is safe for the
duration of the activity covered by the
approved plan.’’
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 implementing policy,

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59209

Hours per
response

Burden hours

12.650

2,118,814

the Bureau of Safety and Environmental
Enforcement (BSEE) is required to
charge the full cost for services that
provide special benefits or privileges to
an identifiable non-Federal recipient
above and beyond those that accrue to
the public at large. Several requests for
approval required in Subpart K are
subject to cost recovery, and BSEE
regulations specify service fees for these
requests.
This ICR addresses our current
regulations governing oil and gas
production at 30 CFR Part 250, Subpart
K, associated forms, and related Notices
to Lessees (NTLs) and Operators. The
BSEE issued several NTLs to clarify and
provide additional guidance on some
aspects of the current Subpart K
regulations. This collection of
information will renew the approved
information collection for the current
Subpart K regulations (1014–0019).
Regulations at 30 CFR Part 250,
Subpart K, implement these statutory
requirements. We use the information in
our efforts to conserve natural resources,
prevent waste, and protect correlative
rights, including the Government’s
royalty interest. Specifically, BSEE uses
the information to:
• Evaluate requests to burn liquid
hydrocarbons and vent and flare gas to
ensure that these requests are
appropriate;
• Determine if a maximum
production or efficient rate is required;
and,
• Review applications for downhole
commingling to ensure that action does
not result in harm to ultimate recovery.
However, in this ICR, we have also
clarified some sections of Form BSEE–
0126. These clarifications pose minor
edits and they are as follows:
In Block No. 88, TYPE OF REQUEST,
we added the word ‘‘Reestablish’’; in
Block No. 108, we revised the block that
read ‘‘API @ 60° F’’ to now read as ‘‘API
@ 14.73 PSI & 60° F’’ and in Block No.
109, we revised the block from ‘‘SP GR
GAS’’ to now read as ‘‘SP GR GAS @
14.73 PSI & 60°F’’.
We use the information in Form
BSEE–0126, Well Potential Test Report,
for reservoir, reserves, and conservation
analyses, including the determination of
maximum production rates (MPRs)
when necessary for certain oil and gas
completions. The information obtained
from the well potential test is essential
to determine if an MPR is necessary for
a well and to establish the appropriate

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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 187 / Wednesday, September 26, 2012 / Notices

rate. The information in Form BSEE–
0128, Semiannual Well Test Report, is
used to evaluate the results of well tests
to determine if reservoirs are being
depleted in a manner that will lead to
the greatest ultimate recovery of
hydrocarbons. This information is
collected to determine the capability of
hydrocarbon wells and to evaluate and
verify an operator’s approved maximum
production rate if assigned.
We protect proprietary information
according to the Freedom of Information
Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and its implementing
regulations (43 CFR 2), and 30 CFR

250.197, Data and information to be
made available to the public or for
limited inspection, 30 CFR part 252,
OCS Oil and Gas Information Program.
Proprietary information concerning
geological and geophysical data will be
protected according to 43 U.S.C. 1352.
Responses are mandatory or are
required to obtain or retain a benefit.
Frequency: On occasion, monthly,
semi-annually, annually, and as a result
of situations encountered depending
upon the requirements.
Description of Respondents: Potential
respondents comprise Federal oil, gas,
or sulphur lessees and/or operators.

Estimated Reporting and
Recordkeeping Hour Burden: The
currently approved annual reporting
burden for this collection is 43,396
hours. The following chart details the
individual components and respective
hour burden estimates of this ICR. 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.

Hour burden

30 CFR Part 250 Subpart K
and related NTLs

Reporting & recordkeeping requirement
Non-hour cost $ burden
WELL TESTS/SURVEYS and CLASSIFYING RESERVOIRS

1151(a)(1), (c); 1167 ...........

Conduct well production test; submit Form BSEE–0126 (Well Potential Test Report)
and supporting information within 15 days after end of test period.

3.

1151(a)(2), (c); 1167 ...........

Conduct well production test; submit Form BSEE–0128 (Semiannual Well Test Report) and supporting information within 45 days after end of calendar half-year.

0.1 to 3.*

1151(b) ................................

Request extension of time to submit results of semi-annual well test .........................

0.5.

1152(b), (c); ........................

Request approval to conduct well testing using alternative procedures ......................

0.5.

1152(d) ................................

Provide advance notice of time and date of well tests .................................................

0.5.

APPROVALS PRIOR TO PRODUCTION
1156; 1167 ..........................

Request approval to produce within 500 feet of a unit or lease line; submit supporting information/documentation; notify adjacent operators and provide BSEE
proof of notice date.

5.
$3,608 per request.

1156(b); 1158(b) .................

Notify adjacent operators submit letters of acceptance or objection to BSEE within
30 days after notice; include proof of notice date.

.5.

1157; 1167 ..........................

Request approval to produce gas-cap gas in an oil reservoir with an associated gas
cap, or to continue producing an oil well showing characteristics of a gas well
with an associated gas cap; submit producing an oil well showing characteristics
of a gas well with an associated gas cap; submit supporting information.

12
$4,592 per request.

1158; 1167 ..........................

Request approval to downhole commingle hydrocarbons; submit supporting information; notify operators and provide proof of notice date.

6.
$5,357 per request.

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FLARING, VENTING, and BURNING HYDROCARBONS
1160; 1161; 1163(e) ...........

Request approval to flare or vent natural gas or exceed specified time limits/volumes; submit evaluation/documentation; report flare/vent information due to blow
down of transportation pipelines within 72 hours after incident.

1160(b); 1164(b)(1), (2) ......

H2S Contingency, Exploration, or Development and Production Plans and, Development Operations Coordination
Documents—burdens covered under 1014–0018 and BOEM’s 1010–0151. Monitor air quality and report—burdens
covered under BOEM’s 1010–0057.

1162; 1163(e) ......................

Request approval to burn produced liquid hydrocarbons; demonstrate no risk and/or
submit documentation re transport. If approval needed, submit documentation
with relevant information re hydrocarbons burned under the approval.

0.5.

1163 ....................................

Initial purchase and installation of gas meters to measure the amount of gas flared
or vented.

$77,000 per meter.

1163(a)(1) ...........................

Notify BSEE when facility begins to process more than an average of 2,000 bopd
per month..

0.833

1163(b); ...............................

Report to ONRR hydrocarbons produced, including measured gas flared/vented and liquid hydrocarbon burned—
burden covered under 1012–0004.

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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 187 / Wednesday, September 26, 2012 / Notices

Hour burden

30 CFR Part 250 Subpart K
and related NTLs

Reporting & recordkeeping requirement

1163(a), (c), (d) ...................

Maintain records for 6 years detailing gas flaring/venting, liquid hydrocarbon burning;
flare/vent meter recordings; make available for inspection or provide copies upon
request.

13.

Submit monthly reports of flared or vented gas containing H2S ..................................

2.

1164(c) ................................

Non-hour cost $ burden

.5.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS
1165(b) ................................

Submit proposed plan and supporting information for enhanced recovery operations

12.

1165(c) ................................

Submit periodic reports of volumes of oil, gas, or other substances injected, produced, or produced for a second
time—burden covered under ONRR’s 1012–0004.

1166 ....................................

Alaska Region only: submit annual reservoir management report and supporting information: Required by State; New development not State; Annual revision.

1.
100.
20.

1150–1167 ..........................

General departure or alternative compliance requests not specifically covered elsewhere in Subpart K.

1.

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* Reporting burden for this form is estimated to average 0.1 to 3 hours per form depending on the number of well tests reported, including the
time for reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining data, and completing and reviewing the form.

Estimated Reporting and
Recordkeeping Non-Hour Cost Burden:
We have identified four non-hour cost
burdens for this collection. Section
250.1157 requires a fee ($4,592) for a gas
cap production request. Section
250.1156 requires a fee ($3,608) to
produce within 500 feet of a lease line
request. Section 250.1158 requires a fee
($5,357) for a downhole commingling
request. Section 250.1163 requires
purchase and installation of gas meters
($77,000) to measure the amount of gas
flared or vented for facilities that
produce more than 2,000 bopd. We have
not identified any other non-hour 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
displays a currently valid OMB control
number. Until OMB approves a
collection of information, you are not
obligated to respond.
Comments: Before submitting an ICR
to OMB, PRA section 3506(c)(2)(A)
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
collection is necessary or useful; (b)
evaluate the accuracy of the burden of
the proposed collection of information;
(c) enhance the quality, usefulness, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and (d) minimize the burden
on the respondents, including the use of
technology.

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Agencies must also estimate the nonhour paperwork cost burdens to
respondents or recordkeepers resulting
from the collection of information.
Therefore, if you have other than hour
burden costs to generate, maintain, and
disclose this information, you should
comment and provide your total capital
and startup cost components or annual
operation, maintenance, and purchase
of service components. For further
information on this burden, refer to 5
CFR 1320.3(b)(1) and (2), or contact the
Bureau representative listed previously
in this notice.
We will summarize written responses
to this notice and address them in our
submission for OMB approval. As a
result of your comments, we will make
any necessary adjustments to the burden
in our submission to OMB.
Public Comment Procedures: Before
including your address, phone number,
email 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.
Dated: September 18, 2012.
Robert W. Middleton,
Deputy Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory
Programs.
[FR Doc. 2012–23687 Filed 9–25–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–VH–P

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–R8–FHC–2012–N194;
FRES48010810420–L5–FY12]

Marine Mammals; Incidental Take
During Specified Activities; Proposed
Incidental Harassment Authorization
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of application;
request for comments.
AGENCY:

We, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service), have received
an application from Pacific Gas and
Electric Company (PG&E) for
authorization under the Marine
Mammal Protection Act of 1972
(MMPA) to take small numbers of
southern sea otters (Enhydra lutris
nereis) by harassment, as those terms are
defined in the statute and the Service
implementing regulations, incidental to
a marine geophysical survey. In
accordance with provisions of the
MMPA, we request comments on our
proposed authorization for the applicant
to incidentally take, by harassment,
small numbers of southern sea otters for
a period of 2.5 months beginning on
October 15, 2012, and ending December
31, 2012. We anticipate no take by
injury or death and include none in this
proposed authorization, which would
be for ‘‘take by harassment’’ only.
DATES: Comments and information must
be received by October 26, 2012.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
by any one of the following methods:
SUMMARY:

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