83 FR 16898 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Relief or Reduction in Royalty Rates

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 74 (April 17, 2018)

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

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 74 (Tuesday, April 17, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16898-16899]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-07974]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement

[Docket ID BSEE-2018-0012; 189E1700D2 ET1SF0000.PSB000.EEEE500000; OMB 
Control Number 1014-0005]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Relief or Reduction in 
Royalty Rates

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.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
June 18, 2018.

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-2018-0012 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: 
Kelly Odom; 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, VA 20166. Please reference 
OMB Control Number 1014-0005 in the subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact Kelly Odom by email at [email protected] or 
by telephone at (703) 787-1775.

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

[[Page 16899]]

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 203, concern relief or 
reduction in royalty rates 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 to make decisions on the economic 
viability of leases requesting a suspension or elimination of royalty 
or net profit share. These decisions have enormous monetary impact on 
both the lessee and the Federal Government. Royalty relief can lead to 
increased production of natural gas and oil, creating profits for 
lessees, and royalty and tax revenues for the Federal Government that 
they might not otherwise receive. We could not make an informed 
decision without the collection of information required by 30 CFR part 
203.
    Title of Collection: 30 CFR part 203, Relief or Reduction in 
Royalty Rates.
    OMB Control Number: 1014-0005.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Potential respondents comprise Federal 
OCS oil, gas, and sulfur lessees/operators.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: Varies, 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: 16.
    Estimated Completion Time per Response: Varies from 1 hour to 2,000 
hours, depending on activity.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 724.
    Respondent's Obligation: Most responses are mandatory, while others 
are required to obtain or retain benefits.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: We have identified 
application and audit fees; as well as an independent certified public 
accountant report. The non-hour cost burdens associated with this 
collection of information amount to $27,950.
    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).

    Dated: March 15, 2018.
Doug Morris,
Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. 2018-07974 Filed 4-16-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-VH-P