82 FR 13846 - Information Collection Activities: Oil and Gas and Sulfur Operations in the OCS-General; Proposed Collection; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 49 (March 15, 2017)

To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) is inviting comments on a collection of information that we will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The information collection request (ICR) concerns a renewal to the paperwork requirements in the regulations under subpart A, Oil and Gas and Sulfur Operations in the OCS--General.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 15, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13846-13853]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-05144]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement

[Docket ID BSEE-2017-0002; OMB Control Number 1014-0022; 17XE1700DX 
EEEE500000 EX1SF0000.DAQ000]


Information Collection Activities: Oil and Gas and Sulfur 
Operations in the OCS--General; Proposed Collection; Comment Request

ACTION: 60-Day notice.

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SUMMARY: To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the 
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) is inviting 
comments on a collection of information that we will submit to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The 
information collection request (ICR) concerns a renewal to the 
paperwork requirements in the regulations under subpart A, Oil and Gas 
and Sulfur Operations in the OCS--General.

DATES: You must submit comments by May 15, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods 
listed below.
     Electronically go to http://www.regulations.gov. In the 
Search box, enter BSEE-2017-0002 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 
ICR 1014-0022 in your comment and include your name and return address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nicole Mason, Regulations and 
Standards Branch, (703) 787-1607, to request additional information 
about this ICR.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: 30 CFR part 250, subpart A, Oil and Gas and Sulfur 
Operations in the OCS--General.
    Form(s): BSEE-0132, BSEE-0143, BSEE-1832.
    OMB Control Number: 1014-0022.
    Abstract: The Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lands Act at 43 U.S.C. 
1334 authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to prescribe rules and 
regulations necessary for the administration of the leasing provisions 
of the Act related to mineral resources on the OCS. Such rules and 
regulations will apply to all operations conducted under a lease, 
right-of-way, or a right-of-use and easement. 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 Nation's energy needs as rapidly as possible; to 
balance orderly energy resource development with protection of human, 
marine, and coastal environments; to ensure the public a fair and 
equitable return on the resources of the OCS; and to preserve and 
maintain free enterprise competition.
    In addition to the general rulemaking authority of the OCS Lands 
Act at 43 U.S.C. 1334, section 301(a) of the Federal Oil and Gas 
Royalty Management Act (FOGRMA), 30 U.S.C. 1751(a), grants authority to 
the Secretary to prescribe such rules and regulations as are reasonably 
necessary to carry out FOGRMA's provisions. While the majority of 
FOGRMA is directed to royalty collection and enforcement, some 
provisions apply to offshore operations. For example, section 108 of 
FOGRMA, 30 U.S.C. 1718, grants the Secretary broad authority to inspect 
lease sites for the purpose of determining whether there is compliance 
with the mineral leasing laws. Section 109(c)(2) and (d)(1), 30 U.S.C. 
1719(c)(2) and (d)(1), impose substantial civil penalties for failure 
to permit lawful inspections and for knowing or willful preparation or 
submission of false, inaccurate, or misleading reports, records, or 
other information. Because the Secretary has delegated some of the 
authority under FOGRMA to BSEE, 30 U.S.C. 1751 is included as 
additional authority for these requirements.
    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 confer special benefits. Under the 
Department of the Interior's implementing policy, BSEE is required to 
charge fees for services that provide special benefits or privileges to 
an identifiable non-Federal recipient above and beyond those which 
accrue to the public at large. A request for approval required in 30 
CFR 250.171 is subject to cost recovery, and BSEE regulations specify 
service fees for these requests in 30 CFR 250.125.
    Regulations implementing these responsibilities are among those 
delegated to BSEE. The regulations at 30

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CFR part 250, subpart A, concern the general regulatory requirements of 
oil, gas, and sulfur operations in the OCS (including the associated 
forms), 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 A 
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:
     Review records of formal crane operator and rigger 
training, crane operator qualifications, crane inspections, testing, 
and maintenance to ensure that lessees/operators perform operations in 
a safe and workmanlike manner and that equipment is maintained in a 
safe condition. The BSEE also uses the information to make certain that 
all new and existing cranes installed on OCS fixed platforms must be 
equipped with anti-two block safety devices, and to assure that uniform 
methods are employed by lessees for load testing of cranes.
     Review welding plans, procedures, and records to ensure 
that welding is conducted in a safe and workmanlike manner by trained 
and experienced personnel.
     Provide lessees/operators greater flexibility to comply 
with regulatory requirements through approval of alternative equipment 
or procedures and departures to regulations if they demonstrate equal 
or better compliance with the appropriate performance standards.
     Ensure that injection of gas promotes conservation of 
natural resources and prevents waste.
     Record the agent and local agent empowered to receive 
notices and comply with regulatory orders issued.
     Provide for orderly development of leases through the use 
of information to determine the appropriateness of lessee/operator 
requests for suspension of operations, including production.
     Improve safety and environmental protection on the OCS 
through collection and analysis of accident reports to ascertain the 
cause of the accidents and to determine ways to prevent recurrences.
     Ascertain when the lease ceases production or when the 
last well ceases production in order to determine the 180th day after 
the date of completion of the last production. The BSEE will use this 
information to efficiently maintain the lessee/operator lease status.
     Allow lessees/operators who exhibit unacceptable 
performance an incremental approach to improving their overall 
performance prior to a final decision to disqualify a lessee/operator 
or to pursue debarment proceedings through the execution of a 
performance improvement plan (PIP). The subpart A regulations do not 
address the actual process that we will follow in pursuing the 
disqualification of operators under Sec. Sec.  250.135 and 250.136; 
however, our internal enforcement procedures include allowing such 
operators to demonstrate a commitment to acceptable performance by the 
submission of a PIP.
    The forms associated with this information collection request are 
as follows:
    The BSEE Environmental Compliance Division has decided to 
discontinue use of BSEE Form-0011, Internet Based Safety and 
Environmental Enforcement Reporting System (Isee), due to an evolving 
program and changes in management. The information submitted under 
Sec.  250.193 instructs the public on what information and where to 
submit possible violations making the form obsolete.
    Form BSEE-1832, Incident(s) of Noncompliance (INCs), is used to 
determine that respondents have corrected all incident(s) of 
noncompliance identified during inspections. Everything on the INC form 
is filled out by a BSEE inspector/representative. The only thing 
industry does with this form is sign the document upon receipt and 
respond to BSEE when each INC has been corrected, no later than 14 days 
from the date of issuance.
    Form BSEE-0132, Hurricane and Tropical Storm Evacuation and 
Production Curtailment Statistics, is used in the Gulf of Mexico OCS 
Region (GOMR) to obtain general information such as company name, 
contact, date, time, telephone number; as well as number of platforms 
and drilling rigs evacuated and not evacuated, and production shut-in 
statistics for oil (BOPD) and gas (MMSCFD).
    Form BSEE-0143, Facility/Equipment Damage Report, is used to assess 
initial damage and then be aware of changes until the damaged structure 
or equipment is returned to service; as well as production rate at time 
of shut-in (BPD and/or MMCFPD), cumulative production shut-in (BPD and/
or MMCFPD), and estimated time to return to service (in days).
    Most responses are mandatory, while others are required to obtain 
or retain benefits, or are voluntary. No questions of a sensitive 
nature are asked. The BSEE protects information considered proprietary 
under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and DOI's 
implementing regulations (43 CFR part 2), and under regulations at 30 
CFR 250.197, Data and information to be made available to the public or 
for limited inspection, and 30 CFR part 252, OCS Oil and Gas 
Information Program.
    Frequency: On occasion, daily, weekly, monthly, and varies by 
section.
    Description of Respondents: Potential respondents comprise Federal 
OCS oil, gas, and sulfur lessees/operators and holders of pipeline 
rights-of-way.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: The estimated 
annual hour burden for this information collection is a total of 84,391 
hours and $1,371,458 non-hour costs. The following chart details the 
individual components and estimated hour burdens. In calculating the 
burdens, we assumed that respondents perform certain requirements in 
the normal course of their activities. We consider these to be usual 
and customary and took that into account in estimating the burden.
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    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Non-Hour Cost Burden: We have 
identified one non-hour cost burden. Requests for a Suspension of 
Operations or a Suspension of Production (Sec.  250.171) requires a 
cost recovery fee of $2,123. We have not identified any other non-hour 
cost burdens associated with this collection of information.
    Public Disclosure Statement: The PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.,) 
provides that an agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of 
information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. 
Until OMB approves a collection of information, you are not obligated 
to respond.
    Comments: Before submitting an ICR to OMB, PRA section 
3506(c)(2)(A) requires each agency ``. . . to provide notice . . . and 
otherwise consult with members of the public and affected agencies 
concerning each proposed collection of information. . .''. Agencies 
must specifically solicit comments to: (a) Evaluate whether the 
collection is necessary or useful; (b) evaluate the accuracy of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) enhance the 
quality, usefulness, and clarity of the information to be collected; 
and (d) minimize the burden on the respondents, including the use of 
technology.
    Agencies must also estimate the non-hour paperwork cost burdens to 
respondents or recordkeepers resulting from the collection of 
information. Therefore, if you have other non-hour burden costs to 
generate, maintain, and disclose this information, you should comment 
and provide your total capital and startup cost components or annual 
operation, maintenance, and purchase of service components. For further 
information on this burden, refer to 5 CFR 1320.3(b)(1) and (2), or 
contact the Bureau representative listed previously in this notice.
    We will summarize written responses to this notice and address them 
in our submission for OMB approval. As a result of your comments, we 
will make any necessary adjustments to the burden in our submission to 
OMB.
    Public Availability of Comments: Before including your address, 
phone

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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.
    BSEE Information Collection Clearance Officer: Nicole Mason, (703) 
787-1607.

    Dated: February 7, 2017.
Eric Miller,
Acting Deputy Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. 2017-05144 Filed 3-14-17; 8:45 am]
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