30 CFR Part 551, Geological and Geophysical (G&G) Explorations of the OCS

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
Form BOEM-0327 551.1-551.6 -Permit Application Form Form and Instruction	Modified
0048 30-day 12-17-14.pdf Supplementary Document	2014-12-17
0048 SS exp 2015.doc Supporting Statement A	2014-12-10
0048 60-day 8-22-14.pdf Supplementary Document	2014-09-23
30 CFR 551 Text.docx Supplementary Document	2014-08-14

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
43747	551.1-551.6 -Permit Application Form Form and Instruction	Modified
188829	Extension for permit form and recordkeeping	Modified
188828	30 CFR 551.14	Modified
188827	30 CFR 551.10 through 551.13	Modified
188826	30 CFR 551.7 through 551.9	Modified
188824	30 CFR 551.1-551.6	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 1010-0048	ICR Reference No: 201408-1010-001
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201106-1010-004
Agency/Subagency: DOI/BOEM	Agency Tracking No: 1010-0048
Title: 30 CFR Part 551, Geological and Geophysical (G&G) Explorations of the OCS
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved with change	Conclusion Date: 02/13/2015
	Date Received in OIRA: 12/17/2014
Terms of Clearance: Pursuant to public comment, BOEM must review whether it is necessary to collect information on Simsource surveys. BOEM's findings must be reported in supporting statement part A when this control number is renewed.

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	02/28/2018	36 Months From Approved	02/28/2015
Responses	707	0	561
Time Burden (Hours)	40,954	0	1,033
Cost Burden (Dollars)	175,044	0	148,888

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Abstract: BOEM uses the information to ensure there is no environmental degradation, personal harm, damage to historical or archaeological sites, or interference with other uses; to analyze and evaluate preliminary or planned drilling activities; to monitor progress and activities in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS); to acquire G&G data and information; and to determine eligibility for reimbursement.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 43 USC 1331 et seq, and 1801 Name of Law: OCSLA
   US Code: 31 USC 9701 Name of Law: Independent Offices Appropriations Act
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	79 FR 49807	08/22/2014
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	79 FR 75174	12/17/2014
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? Yes

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 6

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
551.1-551.6 -Permit Application Form	BOEM-0327	Requirements for G&G Expplorations or Scientific Research on the OCS
30 CFR 551.1-551.6
Extension for permit form and recordkeeping
30 CFR 551.10 through 551.13
30 CFR 551.7 through 551.9
30 CFR 551.14

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	707	561	0	99	47	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	40,954	1,033	0	12,421	27,500	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	175,044	148,888	0	18,108	8,048	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: Burden Hours: The currently approved annual hour burden is 1,033 hours. This submission requests 40,954 hours. We made a program increase of 12,420 hours to allow for estimated G&G activity and permit applications for the Atlantic OCS (§§ 551.4-551.8), as a result of the BOEM Record of Decision identified in Item No.1. We also made a program increase of 1 hour to account for the BOEM regulatory portion of a requirement regarding test drilling under a permit (§§ 551.7, 551.8). This hour burden was originally covered under a joint Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement information collection that is now under the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement; therefore, BOEM is now covering the estimated burden. In addition, there is an adjustment increase of 27,500 hours due to re-estimating the number of annual responses and the amount of time required to respond, based on respondent consultations and public comment, primarily for permit applications. In response to public comments received, BOEM has increased the burden estimate for permit applications from 3 to 300 hours in the Gulf OCS Region and from 300 to 1,000 hours in the other OCS Regions. This change multiplied by the increased number of applications accounts for a significant increase in burden hours for this collection. Although the work required for industry to comply with MMPA, NEPA, and ESA requirements does not stem directly from BOEM's permit forms, industry has asked us to recognize the significant time constraints involved before they are able to apply for a BOEM permit. BOEM is therefore doing such in this renewal request. Non-Hour Costs: The currently approved annual reporting and recordkeeping non-hour cost burden is $148,888. This submission requests $175,044. We made a program increase of $18,108 for the permit application fees estimated for the Atlantic OCS as a result of the BOEM Record of Decision. We also made an adjustment increase of $8,048 due to the increase in the estimated number of annual permit applications submitted, primarily for the Alaska OCS.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $86,100

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Is the Supporting Statement intended to be a Privacy Impact Assessment required by the E-Government Act of 2002? No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

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Common Form ICR:  No

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On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).

The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(i) Why the information is being collected;

(ii) Use of information;

(iii) Burden estimate;

(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);

(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and

(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.

Certification Date: 12/17/2014

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