Sections 11 and 25 of the amended OCS Lands Act require the holders of OCS oil and gas or sulfur leases to submit exploration plans or development and production plans to the Secretary for approval prior to commencing leasing activities. As a Federal agency, BOEM has a continuing affirmative duty to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. This includes a substantive duty to carry out any agency action in a manner that is not likely to jeopardize protected species as well as a procedural duty to consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries before engaging in a discretionary action that may affect a protected species.
The regulations at 30 CFR 550, Subpart B, concern plans and information that must be submitted to conduct activities on a lease, right-of-use and easement, or unit and are the subject of this collection. BOEM and other Federal agencies (e.g., FWS, NOAA Fisheries) analyze and evaluate the information and data collected under Subpart B to ensure that planned operations are safe; will not adversely affect the marine, coastal, or human environment; and will conserve the resources of the OCS. BOEM uses the information to: (a) make an informed decision on whether to approve the proposed planning documents as submitted, or whether modifications are necessary without the analysis and evaluation of the required information.
Based on several information collection revisions, BOEM estimates the burden for the renewal will be 286,144 annual burden hours with 1,291 responses, and $3,688,524 non-hour cost burdens.
In calculating the information collection burdens, BOEM accounted for decreases in the number of plans submitted annually and for the changes resulting from the Gulf of Mexico Biological Opinion (GOM BiOp). Per the GOM BiOp, BOEM requires monthly marine mammal observation and monitoring reports and a final report within 90 days of the completion of an OCS survey. Because the GOM BiOp replaced BOEMâs NTL 2016-G02, which had required two reports each month, BOEM estimates an overall decrease in the burden related to these monitoring reports.
The GOM BiOp requires additional reporting if one or more individuals from a protected species are observed within an enclosed moon pool, which is an opening in the bottom of a marine platform, drill ship or vessel, through which deepwater drilling is done. The operator must report the observation within 24 hours and daily thereafter as long as any individuals from a protected species remain within the moon pool. With this new requirement, BOEM estimates a slight increase in annual reporting.
While the GOM BiOp increased certain reporting burdens for lessees and operators in the Gulf of Mexico, the overall non-hour costs are estimated to decrease slightly due to the anticipated reduction in the number of plans submitted to BOEM.
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.
Form BOEM-0141 280-282; 284 - Post-Approval Requirements for the EP, DPP, and DOCD
2023-14822_30 day notice_07132023.pdf
2023.05.03_0151 Supporting Statement.docx
200-209; 211-228; 231-285 - Contents of Exploration Plans (EP)