84 FR 35421 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Decommissioning Activities

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) proposes to renew an information collection with revisions.

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 141 (Tuesday, July 23, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35421-35422]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2019-15663]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement

[Docket ID BSEE-2019-0003; 190E1700D2 ETISF0000 EAQ000 EEEE500000; OMB 
Control Number 1014-0010]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Decommissioning 
Activities

AGENCY: Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) proposes to renew 
an information collection with revisions.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
September 23, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments on this information collection request 
(ICR) by either of the following methods listed below:
     Electronically go to http://www.regulations.gov. In the 
Search box, enter BSEE-2019-0003 then click search. Follow the 
instructions to submit public comments and view all related materials. 
We will post all comments.
     Email [email protected], fax (703) 787-1546, or mail or 
hand-carry comments to the Department of the Interior; Bureau of Safety 
and Environmental Enforcement; Regulations and Standards Branch; ATTN: 
Nicole Mason; 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, VA 20166. Please reference 
OMB Control Number 1014-0010 in the subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact Nicole Mason by email at [email protected] or 
by telephone at (703) 787-1607.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, we provide the general public and other Federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on new, proposed, revised, and 
continuing collections of information. This helps us assess the impact 
of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's 
reporting burden. It also helps the public understand our information 
collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired 
format.
    We are soliciting comments on the proposed ICR that is described 
below. We are especially interested in public comments addressing the 
following issues: (1) Is the collection necessary to the proper 
functions of BSEE; (2) Will this information be processed and used in a 
timely manner; (3) Is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) How might 
BSEE enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and (5) How might BSEE minimize the burden of this 
collection on the respondents, including through the use of information 
technology.
    Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request 
to OMB to approve this ICR. 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.
    Abstract: The regulations at 30 CFR part 250, subpart Q, concern 
the decommissioning regulatory requirements of oil, gas, and sulphur 
operations in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) and are the subject of 
this collection. This request also covers any related Notices to 
Lessees and Operators (NTLs) that BSEE issues to clarify, supplement, 
or provide additional guidance on some aspects of our regulations.
    The BSEE uses the information collected under the Subpart Q 
regulations to ensure that operations on the OCS are carried out in a 
safe and pollution-free manner, do not interfere with the rights of 
other users on the OCS, and balance the protection and development of 
OCS resources. Specifically, we use the information collected to:
     To determine the necessity for allowing a well to be 
temporarily abandoned, the lessee/operator must demonstrate that there 
is a reason for not permanently plugging the well, and the temporary 
abandonment will not interfere with fishing, navigation, or other uses 
of the OCS. We use the information and documentation to verify that the 
lessee/operator is diligently pursuing the final disposition of the 
well and has performed the temporary plugging of the wellbore.
     To ensure the information submitted in initial 
decommissioning plans in the Alaska and Pacific OCS Regions will permit 
BSEE to become

[[Page 35422]]

involved on the ground floor planning of platform removals anticipated 
to occur in these OCS regions.
     To ensure that all objects (wellheads, platforms, etc.) 
installed on the OCS are properly removed using procedures that will 
protect marine life and the environment during removal operations, and 
the site cleared so as not to conflict with or harm other uses of the 
OCS.
     To ensure that information regarding decommissioning a 
pipeline in place will not constitute a hazard to navigation and 
commercial fishing operations, unduly interfere with other uses of the 
OCS, such as sand resource areas for coastal restoration projects, or 
have adverse environmental effects.
     To verify that decommissioning activities comply with 
approved applications and procedures and are satisfactorily completed.
     To evaluate and approve the adequacy of the equipment, 
materials, and/or procedures that the lessee or operator plans to use 
during well modifications and changes in equipment, etc.
     To help BSEE better estimate future decommissioning costs 
for OCS leases, rights-of-way, and rights of use and easements. BSEE's 
future decommissioning cost estimates may then be used by BOEM to set 
necessary financial assurance levels to minimize or eliminate the 
possibility that the government will incur abandonment liability. The 
information will assist BSEE and BOEM in meeting their stewardship 
responsibilities and in their roles as regulators.
    Title of Collection: 30 CFR part 250, subpart Q, Oil and Gas and 
Sulfur Operations in the OCS--Decommissioning Activities.
    OMB Control Number: 1014-0010.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Potential respondents comprise Federal 
OCS oil, gas, and sulfur lessees/operators and holders of pipeline 
rights-of-way.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: Not all of the 
potential respondents will submit information in any given year and 
some may submit multiple times.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 3,656.
    Estimated Completion Time per Response: Varies from 15 minutes to 
28 hours, depending on activity.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 16,099.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Frequency of Collection: Submissions are generally on occasion, 
varies by section, and annual.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: $1,686,396.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required 
to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a 
currently valid OMB control number.
    The authority for this action is the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

    Signed:
Stacey Noem,
Acting Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. 2019-15663 Filed 7-22-19; 8:45 am]
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