Leasing of Sulfur or Oil and Gas in the Outer Continental Shelf (30 CFR parts 550, 556, and 560)
Revision of a currently approved collection
No
Regular
Approved with change
03/23/2023
10/18/2022
In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved for three years.
table that charts list comparision
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
03/31/2026
36 Months From Approved
03/31/2023
21,826
0
10,307
21,935
0
19,054
766,053
0
766,053
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 the OCS. Such rules and regulations 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 Nationâs energy needs as rapidly as possible; balance orderly energy resource development with protection of human, marine, and coastal environments; ensure the public a fair and equitable return on the resources of the OCS; and preserve and maintain free enterprise competition.
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 provide special benefits. Under the Department of the Interior's policy implementing this Act, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management 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. Instruments of transfer of a lease or interest are subject to cost recovery, and BOEM regulations specify the filing fee for these transfer applications.
These authorities and responsibilities are among those delegated to BOEM under which we issue regulations governing oil and gas and sulphur operations in the OCS. This information collection request addresses the regulations at 30 CFR 556, Leasing of Sulphur or Oil and Gas and Bonding Requirements in the OCS; 30 CFR 550, Subpart J, Pipelines and Pipelines Rights-of-Way; and 30 CFR 560, Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing; and the associated supplementary Notices to Lessees and Operators intended to provide clarification, description, or explanation of these regulations. This ICR also concerns the use of forms to process bonds, transfer interest in leases, and file relinquishments.
We expect the burden estimate for the renewal will be 21,935 hours with 21,826 responses, which reflects an increase of 2,881 hours and 11,628 responses. One hour of the increase accounts for Alaskaâs surety bond submission (30 CFR 550.1011), which was not previously included in the annual burden hours. The remaining increase of 2,880 annual burden hours accounts for submissions of documents under 30 CFR 556.715 and 556.808. Under the current 1010-0006, BOEM accounted for the burden hours to file the requisite fees under 30 CFR 556.715 and 556.808, but did not account for the burden hours to submit the requisite documents.
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:
(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;
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.
30 CFR Part 556 - Subpart K