75562 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 242 / Friday, December 17, 2004 / Notices 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service 

Agency Information Collection 

Activities: Proposed Collection; 

Comment Request

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service 

(MMS), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of extension of an 

information collection (1010–0151). 

SUMMARY: To comply with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 

(PRA), MMS 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 the paperwork requirements in 

the rulemaking for 30 CFR 250, Subpart 

B, ‘‘Plans and Information.’’

DATES: Submit written comments by 

February 15, 2005.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

by any of the following methods listed 

below. Please use the Information 

Collection Number 1010–0151 as an 

identifier in your message. 

• Public Connect on-line commenting 

system, https://ocsconnect.mms.gov.

Follow the instructions on the Web site 

for submitting comments. 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://

www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions on the Web site for 

submitting comments. 

• E-mail MMS at 

rules.comments@mms.gov. Identify with 

the Information Collection number in 

the subject line. 

• Fax: 703–787–1093. Identify with 

the Information Collection Number. 

• Mail or hand-carry comments to the 

Department of the Interior; Minerals 

Management Service; Attention: Rules 

Process Team (RPT); 381 Elden Street, 

MS–4024; Herndon, Virginia 20170–

4817. Please reference ‘‘Information 

Collection 1010–0151’’ in your 

comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Cheryl Blundon, Rules Processing Team 

at (703) 787–1600. You may also contact 

Cheryl Blundon to obtain a copy, at no 

cost, of the regulation and associated 

forms that require the subject collection 

of information.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: 30 

CFR 250, Subpart B, ‘‘Plans and 

Information.’’

OMB Control Number: 1010–0151. 

Abstract: 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 

(Secretary) to prescribe rules and 

regulations to administer leasing of the 

OCS. Such rules and regulations will 

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 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. Sections 11 and 25 of the 

amended OCS Lands Act require the 

holders of OCS oil and gas or sulphur 

leases to submit exploration plans (EPs) 

or development and production plans 

(DPPs) to the Secretary for approval 

prior to commencing these activities. 

Section 43 U.S.C. 1356 requires the 

issuance of ‘‘* * * regulations which 

require that any vessel, rig, platform, or 

other vehicle or structure * * * (2) 

which is used for activities pursuant to 

this subchapter, comply * * * with 

such minimum standards of design, 

construction, alteration, and repair as 

the Secretary * * * establishes. * * *’’

Section 43 U.S.C. 1332(6) also states, 

‘‘operations in the [O]uter Continental 

Shelf should be conducted in a safe 

manner * * * to prevent or minimize 

the likelihood of * * * physical 

obstruction to other users of the water 

or subsoil and seabed, or other 

occurrences which may cause damage to 

the environment or to property, or 

endanger life or health.’’ These 

authorities and responsibilities are 

among those delegated to the Minerals 

Management Service (MMS) to ensure 

that operations in the OCS will meet 

statutory requirements; provide for 

safety and protection of the 

environment; and result in diligent 

exploration, development, and 

production of OCS leases. 

MMS proposed a complete revision of 

the 30 CFR 250, subpart B regulations 

(67 FR 35372, May 17, 2002), and OMB 

approved the information collection 

requirements under control number 

1010–0151, expiration June 2005. This 

submission is a renewal of the 

information requirements for the 

rulemaking and is required to prevent 

the expiration of OMB approval under 

1010–0151; the ICR reflects what we 

expect to be in our final rulemaking, 

which is in surnaming. 

Specifically, MMS uses the 

information to evaluate, analyze, 

determine, or ensure that:

∑ Ancillary activities comply with 

appropriate laws or regulations and are 

conducted safely, protect the 

environment, and do not interfere or 

conflict with the other uses of the OCS 

(i.e., military use, subsistence activity). 

∑ Points of contact and responsible 

parties are designated for proposed 

activities. 

∑ Surveying, monitoring, or other 

activities do not interfere or conflict 

with preexisting and other uses of the 

area. 

∑ Plans or actions meet or implement 

lease stipulation requirements. 

∑ Proposed exploration, drilling, 

production, and pipeline activities are 

conducted in a safe and acceptable 

manner for the location and water depth 

proposed and conserve reservoir energy 

to allow enhanced recovery operations 

in later stages of lease development. 

∑ Unnecessary or incompatible 

facilities are not installed on the OCS. 

∑ Shallow drilling hazards (such as 

shallow gas accumulations or mud slide 

areas) are avoided. 

∑ Areas are properly classified for 

H2S, and appropriate procedures are in 

place. 

∑ Appropriate oil spill planning 

measures and procedures are 

implemented. 

∑ Expected meteorological conditions 

at the activity site are accommodated. 

∑ Environmentally sensitive areas are 

identified, and the direct and 

cumulative effects of the activities are 

minimized. 

∑ Offshore and onshore air quality is 

not significantly affected by the 

proposed activities. 

∑ Waste disposal methods and 

pollution mitigation techniques are 

appropriate for local conditions. 

∑ State CZM requirements have been 

met. 

∑ Archaeological or cultural 

resources are identified and protected 

from unreasonable disturbances. 

∑ Socioeconomic effects of the 

proposed project on the local 

community and associated services have 

been determined. 

∑ Support infrastructures and 

associated traffic are adequately covered 

in plans. 

The following forms used in the Gulf 

of Mexico Region (GOMR) are also 

submitted to MMS. With the exception 

of the last form, OMB approved these 

forms as part of the information 

collection for the current subpart B 

regulations. 

∑ Form MMS–137 (Plan Information 

Form) is submitted to summarize plan 

information. MMS uses the information 

to assist in data entry and review of 

submitted OCS plans. This form asks 

for, in either fill in the blanks or check 

marks: General information relating to 

the company; description of proposed

Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 242 / Friday, December 17, 2004 / Notices 75563

activities; tentative schedule of 

proposed activities; description(s) of 

drilling rig, production platform, lease 

term pipelines; proposed well structure 

location; and anchor locations for 

drilling rig or construction barge. 

∑ Forms MMS–138 (GOM Air 

Emissions Calculations for Exploration 

Plans) and MMS–139 (GOM Air 

Emissions Calculations for Development 

Operations Coordination Documents 

(DOCDs)) are submitted to standardize 

the way potential air emissions are 

estimated and approved as part of the 

OCS plan. These forms are intended to 

be thorough but flexible to meet the 

needs of different operators. The data 

from these forms determine the air 

emissions on the environment. These 

forms consist of: Title sheet, factors 

sheet, emissions spreadsheet and a 

summary sheet which will describe and 

calculate emissions from an activity. 

Respondents are asked to categorize 

emissions into 9 factors: natural gas 

prime movers, diesel-fired prime 

movers, heaters/boilers/firetubes/NGfired, gas glares, liquid flares, tanks, 

fugitives, glycol dehydrator vent, and 

gas venting. 

∑ Form MMS–141 (ROV Survey 

Report) is submitted to report the 

observations and information recorded 

from 2 sets of ROV monitoring surveys 

to identify high-density biological 

communities that may occur on the 

seafloor in deep water. The form asks 

respondents for general operator/facility 

information and a transect drawing of 

the survey pattern made by the ROV; a 

video tape (VHS) and transcript of what 

was visualized at the bottom throughout 

deployment (the form includes a guide 

to animal groups and a guide to physical 

features), and any additional imagery 

that helps depict bottom conditions. We 

use the information when such areas are 

found to help design mitigation 

measures to avoid these areas in the 

future. We also use the information to 

help assess the effectiveness of 

avoidance criteria and expand the 

knowledge base regarding the benthic 

habitats of the deep water seafloor. 

∑ Form MMS–NEW (Environmental 

Impact Analysis Matrix) is a new fill in 

the blank matrix form proposed to be 

submitted to identify the environmental 

impact-producing factors (IPFs) for the 

listed environmental resources. We use 

the information to assess impact and 

determine compliance with the National 

Environmental Policy Act. A form 

number will be assigned when final 

regulations take effect. Respondents are 

asked to fill in the blank by placing an 

‘‘x’’ in the space under each IPF 

category associated with the proposed 

activity that may impact a particular 

environmental resource. The 

environmental resources listed on this 

form are: Site-specific at Offshore 

Location such as chemosynthetic 

communities, water quality, fisheries to 

name a few; Vicinity of Offshore 

Location such as essential fish habitat; 

Coastal and Onshore such as beaches 

and wetlands. 

We will protect information from 

respondents considered proprietary 

under the Freedom of Information Act 

(5 U.S.C. 552) and its implementing 

regulations (43 CFR Part 2) and under 

regulations at 30 CFR 250.196, ‘‘Data 

and information to be made available to 

the public’’. No items of a sensitive 

nature are collected. Responses are 

mandatory. 

Frequency: On occasion. 

Estimated Number and Description of 

Respondents: Approximately 150 

Federal OCS oil and gas or sulphur 

lessees. 

Estimated Reporting and 

Recordkeeping ‘‘Hour’’ Burden: The 

currently approved annual reporting 

burden for this collection is 267,880 

hours. During the interim period 

between proposed and final rules, OMB 

approved the renewal of the information 

collection burden in the current subpart 

B regulations (1010–0049). After 

consultations with respondents, we 

revised the estimates of the hour 

burdens and the annual number of 

responses. We have incorporated those 

updated burden adjustments in this 

renewal. Therefore, we are requesting an 

‘‘adjustment’’ increase of 52,935 hours 

for 1010–0151. The following chart 

details the individual components and 

respective hour burden estimates of this 

ICR. 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.

Citation

30 CFR 250

subpart B 

Reporting & recordkeeping requirement Hour burden 

200 through 206 .... General requirements for plans and information ....................................................................... Burden included with specific requirements below. 

208 ......................... Notify MMS and other users of the OCS before conducting ancillary activities ........................ 10. 

210(a) .................... Submit report summarizing & analyzing data/information obtained or derived from ancillary 

activities.

1. 

210(b) .................... Retain ancillary activities data/information ................................................................................. 2. 

211 through 228 .... Submit EP and accompanying information (including forms MMS–137, MMS–138, MMS–

NEW used in GOMR) and provide notifications.

640. 

232(d); 234; 235(a); 

281(d)(3); 283; 

284; 285.

Submit amended, modified, revised, or supplemental EP, or resubmit disapproved EP .......... 120. 

241 through 262 .... Submit DPP or DOCD and accompanying information (including forms MMS–137, MMS–

139, MMS–NEW used in GOMR) and provide notifications.

690. 

267(d); 272(a); 273; 

283; 284; 285.

Submit amended, modified, revised, or supplemental DPP or DOCD, or resubmit disapproved DPP or DOCD.GOM Region 95. 

Pacific Region 600. 

269(b) .................... Submit information on preliminary plans for leases or units in vicinity of proposed development and production activities.2. 

281(a) .................... Submit various applications ........................................................................................................ Burdens included under appropriate subpart or form 

(1010–0044;1010–0059; 

1010–0058; 1010–0050). 

282 ......................... Retain monitoring plans, data/information .................................................................................. 2. 

Submit monitoring plans ............................................................................................................. 1. 

282(b) .................... Submit monitoring reports and data (including form MMS–141 used in GOMR) ...................... 2. 

288 through 294 .... Submit DWOP ............................................................................................................................ 750. 

296 through 298 .... Submit CID ................................................................................................................................. 443. 

75564 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 242 / Friday, December 17, 2004 / Notices 

Citation

30 CFR 250

subpart B 

Reporting & recordkeeping requirement Hour burden 

200 through 299 .... General departure and alternative compliance requests not specifically covered elsewhere in 

subpart B regulations.

2. 

Estimated Reporting and 

Recordkeeping ‘‘Non-Hour Cost’’

Burden: We have identified no cost 

burdens for this collection.

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 

proposed collection of information is 

necessary for the agency to perform its 

duties, including whether the 

information is useful; (b) evaluate the 

accuracy of the agency’s estimate 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 

automated collection techniques or 

other forms of information technology. 

Agencies must also estimate the ‘‘nonhour cost’’ burdens to respondents or 

recordkeepers resulting from the 

collection of information. Therefore, if 

you have 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. You 

should describe the methods you use to 

estimate major cost factors, including 

system and technology acquisition, 

expected useful life of capital 

equipment, discount rate(s), and the 

period over which you incur costs. 

Capital and startup costs include, 

among other items, computers and 

software you purchase to prepare for 

collecting information, monitoring, and 

record storage facilities. You should not 

include estimates for equipment or 

services purchased: (i) Before October 1, 

1995; (ii) to comply with requirements 

not associated with the information 

collection; (iii) for reasons other than to 

provide information or keep records for 

the Government; or (iv) as part of 

customary and usual business or private 

practices. 

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 Comment Policy: MMS’s 

practice is to make comments, including 

names and addresses of respondents, 

available for public review during 

regular business hours. If you wish your 

name and/or address to be withheld, 

you must state this prominently at the 

beginning of your comment. MMS will 

honor this request to the extent 

allowable by law; however, anonymous 

comments will not be considered. All 

submissions from organizations or 

businesses, and from individuals 

identifying themselves as 

representatives or officials of 

organizations or businesses, will be 

made available for public inspection in 

their entirety. 

MMS Information Collection 

Clearance Officer: Arlene Bajusz (202) 

208–7744.

Dated: December 13, 2004. 

E.P. Danenberger, 

Chief, Offshore Regulatory Programs.

[FR Doc. 04–27652 Filed 12–16–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service 

Fire Management Plans, Environmental 

Impact Statements, Guadalupe 

Mountains National Park and Big Bend 

National Park, TX, and Carlsbad 

Caverns National Park, NM

AGENCY: National Park Service, 

Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notices of Intent to prepare 

Environmental Assessments for the Fire 

Management Plans at Guadalupe 

Mountains National Park, Big Bend 

National Park, and Carlsbad Caverns 

National Park. 

SUMMARY: In Notices of Intent published 

October 10, 2002 (67 FR 63151) 

November 15, 2002 (67 FR 69239), and 

June 11, 2003 (68 FR 35002), the 

National Park Service (NPS) announced 

its intent to prepare EIS’s for the Fire 

Management Plans at Guadalupe 

Mountains National Park, Carlsbad 

Caverns National Park and Big Bend 

National Park, respectively. The NPS 

has since determined that 

environmental assessments (EA), rather 

than EIS’s, are the appropriate 

environmental documentation to 

proceed with for the Fire Management 

Plans at those parks.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NPS 

had begun working on EIS’s for the Fire 

Management Plans for each park 

following the publication of the Notices 

of Intent. Internal discussions and 

meetings, and comments from public 

scoping sessions helped frame the 

alternatives and issues related to each 

Fire Management Plan. In the 

development of each EIS, the effects of 

the alternatives have been examined in 

detail. Based on these findings and the 

input received during public scoping, 

the NPS has decided to proceed with an 

EA as the National Environmental 

Policy Act documentation for the 

update and review of these parks’ Fire 

Management Plans. 

At an undetermined date following 

the publication of this Notice of Intent, 

the parks will release their Fire 

Management Plan EA’s for 30-day 

public comment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John 

Lujan, Superintendent, Guadalupe 

Mountains National Park, HC 60 Box 

400, Salt Flat, TX 79847–9400, 

(915)828–3251 x104, 

GUMO_Superintendent@nps.gov., John 

King, Superintendent, Big Bend 

National Park, P.O. Box 129, Big Bend 

National Park, TX 79834–0129, 

(432)477–1101, 

BIBE_Superintendent@nps.gov, John 

Benjamin, Acting Superintendent, 

Carlsbad Caverns National Park, 3225 

National Parks Highway Carlsbad, NM 

88220, (505)785–3027 

CAVE_Superintendent@nps.gov.

Dated: October 13, 2004. 

Michael D. Snyder, 

Deputy Director, Intermountain Region, 

National Park Service.

[FR Doc. 04–27607 Filed 12–16–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4312–C4–P