0009 SS_2017-08-08cc

Supporting Statement A

OCS Net Profit Share Payment Reporting–

30 CFR Part 1220

OMB Control Number 1012-0009

Terms of Clearance: None

General Instructions

A completed Supporting Statement A must accompany each request for approval of a collection of information. The Supporting Statement must be prepared in the format described below, and must contain the information specified below. If an item is not applicable, provide a brief explanation. When the question “Does this ICR contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods?” is checked "Yes," then a Supporting Statement B must be completed. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) reserves the right to require the submission of additional information with respect to any request for approval.

Specific Instructions

A. Justification

1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary.

Identify any legal or administrative requirements that necessitate the collection.

This ICR affects only oil and gas leases on submerged Federal lands on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).

General Information

The Secretary of the U. S. Department of the Interior (Secretary) is responsible for collecting royalties from lessees who produce minerals from leased Federal and Indian lands and the OCS. Under various laws, the Secretary’s responsibility is to manage mineral resources production on Federal and Indian lands and the OCS, collect the royalties and other mineral revenues due, and distribute the funds collected under those laws. ONRR performs the royalty management functions and assists the Secretary in carrying out the Department’s responsibility.

When a company or an individual enters into a lease to explore, develop, produce, and dispose of minerals from Federal and Indian lands and the OCS, that company or individual agrees to pay the lessor or his designee a share in a value of production from the leased lands. The mineral laws require the lessee or his designee to report various kinds of information to the lessor relative to the disposition of the leased minerals. Such information is generally available within the records of the lessee or others involved in developing, transporting, processing, purchasing, or selling of such minerals.

Specific ICR Information

We have posted the laws, listed below, pertaining to mineral leases on Federal and Indian lands and the OCS at http://onrr.gov/Laws_R_D_/PublicLawsAMR.htm:

• Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended, 30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.

• Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act of 1953, as amended, 43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.

• Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act of 1982, as amended, 30 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.

• Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Simplification and Fairness Act of 1996, as amended, 30 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.

Title 30 CFR part 1220 covers the net profit share lease (NPSL) program and establishes reporting requirements for determining the net profit share base under § 1220.021 and calculating net profit share payments due the Federal government for the production of oil and gas from leases under § 1220.022. ONRR collects and uses this information to determine all allowable direct and allocable joint costs and credits under § 1220.011 incurred during the lease term, appropriate overhead allowance permitted on these costs under § 1220.012, and allowances for capital recovery calculated under § 1220.020. We also collect this information to ensure that royalties or net profit share payments are accurately valued and appropriately paid.

NPSL Bidding System

To encourage exploration and development of oil and gas leases on submerged Federal lands on the OCS, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) promulgated regulations at 30 CFR part 560—Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing. BOEM also promulgated specific implementing regulations for the NPSL bidding system at § 560.202(d). BOEM established the NPSL bidding system to balance a fair market return to the Federal government for the lease of its public lands with a fair profit to companies risking their investment capital. The system provides an incentive for early and expeditious exploration and development and provides for sharing the risks by the lessee and the Federal government. The NPSL bidding system incorporates a fixed capital recovery system as a means through which the lessee recovers costs of exploration and development from production revenues, along with a reasonable return on investment.

NPSL Capital Account

The Federal government does not receive a profit share payment from an NPSL until the lessee shows a credit balance in its capital account; that is, cumulative revenues and other credits exceed cumulative costs. Lessees multiply the credit balance by the net profit share rate (30 to

50 percent), resulting in the amount of net profit share payment due the Federal government.

ONRR requires lessees to maintain an NPSL capital account for each lease under § 1220.010, which transfers to a new owner when sold. Following the cessation of production, lessees are also required to provide either an annual or a monthly report to the Federal government, using data from the capital account until the lease is terminated, expired, or relinquished.

NPSL Inventories

The NPSL lessees must notify BOEM of their intent to take inventory so that the BOEM Director may be represented at the taking of inventory under § 1220.032. Each lessee must file a report after each inventory is taken, reporting the controllable material under § 1220.031.

NPSL Audits

When non-operators of an NPSL call for an audit, they must notify ONRR. When ONRR calls for an audit, the lessee must notify all non-operators on the lease. These requirements are located at § 1220.033.

2. Indicate how, by whom, and for what purpose the information is to be used. Except for a new collection, indicate the actual use the agency has made of the information received from the current collection. Be specific. If this collection is a form or a questionnaire, every question needs to be justified.

Under the NPSL bidding system, a notice of an OCS lease sale is published in the Federal Register with a net profit share rate and a capital recovery factor (CRF) established for each tract within the sale. The regulations allow the lessee to inflate certain costs by multiplying those costs by the CRF. However, the calculation of this allowance differs by time period, within and outside the capital recovery period. The capital recovery period begins with the issue date of the lease and ends when one of the following occurs:

(1) The lessee completes the last well on the first platform specified in the development and production plan.

(2) The balance in the capital account changes from a debit to a credit.

(3) The lessee chooses to terminate the capital recovery period.

During the capital recovery period, the lessee calculates a cost base consisting of allowable direct and allocable joint costs plus a 4-percent overhead allowance, less production revenues and other credits received during the month. This cost base is multiplied by the CRF established for the lease, resulting in the allowance for capital recovery. This allowance can be deducted from current revenue and other credits within the capital account. For example, if the CRF is 0.5, the lessee effectively adds another 50 percent of all allowable costs to the capital account. Once the capital recovery period is closed, it cannot be re-opened, and the lessee no longer is eligible for the allowance for capital recovery. However, the lessee then changes the overhead allowance to 10 percent.

The lessee is required to maintain an NPSL capital account. The capital account balance represents the cumulative total of all costs and credits received over the life of the lease. When companies enter into NPSL agreements, they agree to submit reports required under § 1220.031. There are no specific formats required for these reports. ONRR uses the data submitted in these reports to verify costs, revenues or credits, and net profit share payments due. Not collecting this information would limit the Secretary’s ability to discharge fiduciary duties and may also result in the inability to confirm the accurate royalty value.

All information submitted is taken directly from the lessee's own records. No unique information is required. Six leases, all in the Gulf of Mexico, are producing leases for which monthly reports are submitted. Currently, these six producing leases are profitable.

3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses, and the basis for the decision for adopting this means of collection. Also describe any consideration of using information technology to reduce burden and specifically how this collection meets GPEA requirements.

The ONRR program is moving to fully implement the Government Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA). However, our GPEA Plan indicates that the use of information technology is not practicable for this information collection because of the small number of lessees and the variety and complexity of computer programs that reporting companies use.

Currently, only fourteen lessees will possibly report monthly. Because of the limited number of leases involved and lessee respondents (less than 20) and their differing and complex system designs, ONRR has not attempted to interface the companies' systems with ONRR systems. Therefore, at this time, the companies submit electronically their information to a standard workflow email inbox [[email protected]] for processing by ONRR.

4. Describe efforts to identify duplication. Show specifically why any similar information already available cannot be used or modified for use for the purposes described in Item 2 above.

Reports and other information are unique for each individual lease. Each lease is numbered for identification, and the lessees must file a separate report for each lease. No other Federal government agency collects this information.

5. If the collection of information impacts small businesses or other small entities, describe any methods used to minimize burden.

This collection of information does not have a significant economic effect on a substantial number of small entities.

Due to the extremely difficult and expensive processes associated with deepwater exploration and drilling, few small businesses were involved in the initial lease acquisitions. However, a few small businesses now own leases through purchases from larger companies or operate leases through farm-outs. Some of these purchased or farm-out properties may include NPSL lease terms. There are no special provisions for mitigating reporting requirements for small businesses in these circumstances; however, ONRR assists small entities by maintaining regular and routine contact with these lessees as they file their reports. In addition, ONRR provides toll-free telephone assistance to lessees, answering their questions regarding NPSL regulations and responding to other concerns related to NPSLs. Since NPSLs are ongoing and require constant monitoring, numerous contacts have been developed and maintained over many years, providing timely opportunities to discuss any concerns regarding the information collected.

6. Describe the consequence to Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently, as well as any technical or legal obstacles to reducing burden.

By regulation, ONRR is required to gather this information. Title I of the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act of 1982 (30 U.S.C. 1711) requires that the Secretary “. . . establish a

. . . system to provide the capability to accurately determine oil and gas royalties, interest, fines, penalties, fees, deposits, and other payments owed and to collect and account for such amounts in a timely manner.” By regulation, the lessee must submit either annual or monthly reports related to NPSLs. Less frequent collection of information places the lessee in noncompliance with the regulations and may also result in loss of net profit share payments to the Federal government.

7. Explain any special circumstances that would cause an information collection to be conducted in a manner:

* requiring respondents to report information to the agency more often than quarterly;

Title 30 CFR part 1220 requires that respondents submit annual, monthly, and on occasion inventory reports for NPSL. Respondents submit annual reports until the account has paid out. When accounts are paid out, respondents are required to report monthly capital account plus form ONRR-2014, Report of Sales and Royalty Remittance (OMB Control Number 1012-0004). Respondents also submit an inventory report on occasion or every 3 years.

* requiring respondents to prepare a written response to a collection of information in fewer than 30 days after receipt of it;

There are no special circumstances with respect to 5 CFR 1320.5(d)(2)(ii).

* requiring respondents to submit more than an original and two copies of any document;

There are no special circumstances with respect to 5 CFR 1320.5(d)(2)(iii).

* requiring respondents to retain records, other than health, medical, government contract, grant-in-aid, or tax records, for more than three years;

RSFA section 4(f) requires that Federal oil and gas lessees maintain records for seven years after the obligation becomes due.

* in connection with a statistical survey that is not designed to produce valid and reliable results that can be generalized to the universe of study;

There are no special circumstances with respect to 5 CFR 1320.5(d)(2)(v).

* requiring the use of a statistical data classification that has not been reviewed and approved by OMB;

There are no special circumstances with respect to 5 CFR 1320.5(d)(2)(vi) as this collection is not a statistical survey and does not use statistical data classification.

* that includes a pledge of confidentiality that is not supported by authority established in statute or regulation, that is not supported by disclosure and data security policies that are consistent with the pledge, or which unnecessarily impedes sharing of data with other agencies for compatible confidential use; or

There are no special circumstances with respect to 5 CFR 1320.5(d)(2)(vii) as this collection does not include a pledge of confidentiality not supported by statute or regulation.

* requiring respondents to submit proprietary trade secrets or other confidential information unless the agency can demonstrate that it has instituted procedures to protect the information’s confidentiality to the extent permitted by law.

There are no special circumstances with respect to 5 CFR 1320.5(d)(2)(viii) as this collection does not require proprietary, trade secret, or other confidential information not protected by agency procedures. We protect this information under the standards identified in Item 10 below.

8. If applicable, provide a copy and identify the date and page number of publication in the Federal Register of the agency’s notice, required by 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting comments on the information collection prior to submission to OMB. Summarize public comments received in response to that notice and in response to the PRA statement associated with the collection over the past three years, and describe actions taken by the agency in response to these comments. Specifically address comments received on cost and hour burden.

Describe efforts to consult with persons outside the agency to obtain their views on the availability of data, frequency of collection, the clarity of instructions and recordkeeping, disclosure, or reporting format (if any), and on the data elements to be recorded, disclosed, or reported.

Consultation with representatives of those from whom information is to be obtained or those who must compile records should occur at least once every three years—even if the collection of information activity is the same as in prior periods. There may be circumstances that may preclude consultation in a specific situation. These circumstances should be explained.

As required in 5 CFR 1320.8(d), ONRR published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register on May 5, 2017 (82 FR 21261). We did not receive any comments in response to the Federal Register notice available at www.regulations.gov.

Our outreach to two respondents showed that none of the contacts had read and/or remembered the published Federal Register notice on the renewal of this ICR. We sent copies of the notice via electronic mail soliciting comments from two respondents. The following two respondents are the only respondents that provided feedback via [email or phone]:

Contacts made / comments received:

Shell Oil Company

Houston, TX

ConocoPhillips

Tulsa, OK

Public Comments: The burden hour estimate of 2,400 hours annually for the current 14 lessees of producing NPSLs is a reasonable estimate. The instructions on the handling of NPSLs are clear. The recordkeeping requirements are easy to understand. The reporting format follows the standard ONRR-2014 format so it’s easy to understand.

ONRR Response: No changes to the burden hours are necessary.

ONRR and the respondents find it helpful to maintain regular and routine contact on these leases as the respondents file their reports. In addition, ONRR provides toll-free telephone assistance to respondents, answers their questions regarding NPSL regulations, and responds to the respondents’ concerns related to NPSLs. Since NPSL leases are ongoing and require constant monitoring, numerous contacts have been developed and maintained over many years, providing timely opportunities to discuss any concerns regarding the information collected.

9. Explain any decision to provide any payment or gift to respondents, other than remuneration of contractors or grantees.

ONRR will not provide any payment or gift to respondents in this collection.

10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for the assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.

Respondents may provide proprietary, commercial, or financial information, relating to minerals they removed from the NPSLs, to ONRR. The FOGRMA, as amended, (30 U.S.C. 1733), the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C 552 (b)(4)), and its implementing regulations establish standards to protect trade secrets and other proprietary information. In addition, ONRR has strict security measures in place for storage and access of proprietary information.

11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered private. This justification should include the reasons why the agency considers the questions necessary, the specific uses to be made of the information, the explanation to be given to persons from whom the information is requested, and any steps to be taken to obtain their consent.

This information collection does not include sensitive or private questions.

12. Provide estimates of the hour burden of the collection of information. The statement should:

* Indicate the number of respondents, frequency of response, annual hour burden, and an explanation of how the burden was estimated. Unless directed to do so, agencies should not conduct special surveys to obtain information on which to base hour burden estimates. Consultation with a sample (fewer than 10) of potential respondents is desirable. If the hour burden on respondents is expected to vary widely because of differences in activity, size, or complexity, show the range of estimated hour burden, and explain the reasons for the variance. Generally, estimates should not include burden hours for customary and usual business practices.

There are 14 respondents (Federal net profit share oil and gas OCS lessees). Based on current data, we estimate the average number of annual responses is 267, and the total annual burden is 2,451 hours, for 2,437 reporting hours and 14 recordkeeping hours. We have not included in our estimates certain requirements performed in the normal course of business and considered usual and customary.

* If this request for approval covers more than one form, provide separate hour burden estimates for each form and aggregate the hour burdens.

There are no forms for this ICR.

* Provide estimates of annualized cost to respondents for the hour burdens for collections of information, identifying and using appropriate wage rate categories. The cost of contracting out or paying outside parties for information collection activities should not be included here. Instead, this cost should be included under “Annual Cost to Federal Government.”

Summary of Information Collections

Information Collections (and 30 CFR Reference*)	Requirement to Respond	Frequency of Response	Number of Annual Responses	Annual Burden Hours	Annual Cost ($61/hr.)
1. Establish and maintain NPSL capital account (§ 1220.010)	Mandatory	Annually	1	1	$61
2. Reporting and Payment requirements (§ 1220.031(a), (c), (d), & (e)) (§ 1220.031(b))	Mandatory	Annually & on occasion Monthly	42 168	182 2,184	$11,102 $133,224
3. Inventorying controllable materials (§ 1220.032(b))	Mandatory	On occasion	14	14	$854
4. Auditing NPSL lease (§ 1220.033(b)(1) & (2)	Mandatory	On occasion	28	56	$3,416
Subtotals			253	2,437	$148,657
5. Recordkeeping (§ 1220.030)	Mandatory	As requested	14	14	$854
TOTAL			267	2,451	$149,511

*See Burden Breakdown table for complete citation.

We based our cost estimates for industry on the expectation that an accountant will perform all requirements. We estimate the total annual reporting burden is 2,451 hours. Based on a cost factor of $61 per hour for industry accountants, we estimate the total annual cost to industry is $149,511 [$61 x 2,451 hours = $149,511]. The respondents submit their responses annually, monthly, and on occasion.

We used tables from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to estimate the hourly cost for industry accountants in the Houston metropolitan area. These statistics are located at http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_26420.htm#13-0000. Based on BLS, National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates for industry accountants, we estimate that the hourly cost factor would be $61 = [$43.22 [mean hourly wage] x 1.4 benefit cost factor = $60.508, rounded to $61]. We added a multiplier of 1.4 (based on BLS News Release USDL 17-0770 dated June 9, 2017, at http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/ecec.pdf) for benefits.

The last OCS lease sale involving NPSLs was in August 1983. Leases issued from 1980 through 1983 totaled 209, including 14 offshore Alaska leases and 51 offshore Atlantic leases. Of the 209 leases, 203 have terminated, expired, or been relinquished; and 6 are still active.

The following table shows the estimated burden hours by CFR section and paragraph.

SECTION A.12 BURDEN HOUR DETAIL

Citation 30 CFR 1220		Reporting & Recordkeeping Requirement	Hour Burden	Number of Annual Responses	Annual Burden Hours
PART 1220—accounting procedures for determining net profit share payment for outer continental shelf oil and gas leases
§ 1220.010 NPSL capital account.
1220.010(a)		(a) For each NPSL tract, an NPSL capital account shall be established and maintained by the lessee for NPSL operations . . .	1	1	1
§ 1220.030 Maintenance of records.
1220.030(a) and (b)		(a) Each lessee . . .shall establish and maintain such records as are necessary . . .	1	14	14
§ 1220.031 Reporting and payment requirements.
1220.031(a)		(a) Each lessee subject to this part shall file an annual report during the period from issuance of the NPSL until the first month in which production revenues are credited to the NPSL capital account . . .	1	14	14
1220.031(b)		(b) Beginning with the first month in which production revenues are credited to the NPSL capital account, each lessee . . .shall file a report for each NPSL, not later than 60 days following the end of each month . . .	13	168	2,184
1220.031(c)		(c) Each lessee subject to this Part 1220 shall submit, together with the report required . . .any net profit share payment due . . .	Burden hours covered under § 1220.031(b).
1220.031(d)		(d) Each lessee . . .shall file a report not later than 90 days after each inventory is taken . . .	8	14	112
1220.031(e)		(e) Each lessee . . .shall file a final report, not later than 60 days following the cessation of production . . .	4	14	56
§ 1220.032 Inventories.
1220.032(b)	(b) At reasonable intervals, but at least once every three years, inventories of controllable materiel shall be taken by the lessee. Written notice of intention to take inventory shall be given by the lessee at least 30 days before any inventory is to be taken so that the Director may be represented at the taking of inventory . . .		1	14	14
§ 1220.033 Audits.
1220.033(b)(1)		(b)(1) When nonoperators of an NPSL lease call an audit in accordance with the terms of their operating agreement, the Director shall be notified of the audit call . . .	2	14	28
1220.033(b)(2)		(b)(2) If DOI determines to call for an audit, DOI shall notify the lessee of its audit call and set a time and place for the audit . . .The lessee shall send copies of the notice to the nonoperators on the lease . . .	2	14	28
1220.033(e)		(e) Records required to be kept under § 1220.030(a) shall be made available for inspection by any authorized agent of DOI . . .	The Office of Regulatory Affairs determined that the audit process is exempt from the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 because ONRR staff asks non-standard questions to resolve exceptions.
TOTAL BURDEN				267	2,451

¹(14 NPSL reports x 12 months = 168 reports)

13. Provide an estimate of the total annual non-hour cost burden to respondents or recordkeepers resulting from the collection of information. (Do not include the cost of any hour burden already reflected in item 12.)

* The cost estimate should be split into two components: (a) a total capital and start-up cost component (annualized over its expected useful life) and (b) a total operation and maintenance and purchase of services component. The estimates should take into account costs associated with generating, maintaining, and disclosing or providing the information (including filing fees paid for form processing). Include descriptions of methods used to estimate major cost factors including system and technology acquisition, expected useful life of capital equipment, the discount rate(s), and the time period over which costs will be incurred. Capital and start-up costs include, among other items, preparations for collecting information such as purchasing computers and software; monitoring, sampling, drilling and testing equipment; and record storage facilities.

* If cost estimates are expected to vary widely, agencies should present ranges of cost burdens and explain the reasons for the variance. The cost of purchasing or contracting out information collection services should be a part of this cost burden estimate. In developing cost burden estimates, agencies may consult with a sample of respondents (fewer than 10), utilize the 60-day pre-OMB submission public comment process and use existing economic or regulatory impact analysis associated with the rulemaking containing the information collection, as appropriate.

* Generally, estimates should not include purchases of equipment or services, or portions thereof, made: (1) prior to October 1, 1995, (2) to achieve regulatory compliance with requirements not associated with the information collection, (3) for reasons other than to provide information or keep records for the government or (4) as part of customary and usual business or private practices.

ONRR has identified no non-hour cost burdens for this information collection.

14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal government. Also, provide a description of the method used to estimate cost, which should include quantification of hours, operational expenses (such as equipment, overhead, printing, and support staff), and any other expense that would not have been incurred without this collection of information.

To analyze, review, and process the information, the Federal government spends an average of ½ hour for each reporting burden hour spent by respondents. The total estimated Federal government time burden is 1,226 hours [2,451 respondent burden hours x ½ hour = 1,225.5 rounded to 1,226 hours], based on time or effort needed to verify costs, revenues or credits, and net profit share payments due. Most of the requirements are performed by a Federal government auditor paid at the Grade 12 level. Based on the United States Office of Personnel Management 2017 General Schedule, Grade 12, Step 5, pay scale for a government auditor in the Denver, Colorado metropolitan area, the estimated hourly labor cost is $68 per hour [$42.46 x 1.6 benefit cost factor = $67.93, rounded to $68]. We added a multiplier of 1.6 [based on BLS News Release USDL 17-0770 dated June 9, 2017, at http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/ecec.pdf] for benefits.

The annual cost to the Federal government for verification and reporting of NPSL leases is calculated as follows:

2,451 hours x ½ hour = 1,226 hours x $68 per hour = $83,368.

15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments in hour or cost burden.

Annual Hour Burden:

The current OMB-approved inventory is 2,451 annual burden hours. There is no program or adjustment change for this ICR.

16. For collections of information whose results will be published, outline plans for tabulation and publication. Address any complex analytical techniques that will be used. Provide the time schedule for the entire project, including beginning and ending dates of the collection of information, completion of report, publication dates, and other actions.

ONRR will not publish the data.

17. If seeking approval not to display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection, explain the reasons that display would be inappropriate.

This collection concerns regulatory requirements. There is no form associated with this ICR. ONRR will display the OMB approval expiration date on all appropriate material.

18. Explain each exception to the topics of the certification statement identified in “Certification for Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions.”

To the extent that the topics apply to this information collection, we are not making any exceptions to the “Certification for Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions.”

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