[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 43 (Friday, March 5, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10301-10305]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-4695]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service

[Docket No. MMS-2009-OMM-0013]


MMS Information Collection Activity: 1010-0006, Leasing of 
Sulphur or Oil and Gas in the Outer Continental Shelf and Outer 
Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing, Extension of a Collection; 
Submitted for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Review; Comment 
Request

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of extension of an information collection (1010-0006).

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SUMMARY: To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), we 
are notifying the public that we have submitted to OMB an information 
collection request (ICR) to renew approval of the paperwork 
requirements in the regulations under 30 CFR 256, ``Leasing of Sulphur 
or Oil and Gas in the Outer Continental Shelf,'' and 30 CFR 260, 
``Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing,'' and related documents. 
This notice also provides the public a second opportunity to comment on 
the paperwork burden of these regulatory requirements.

DATES: Submit written comments by April 5, 2010.

[[Page 10302]]


ADDRESSES: Submit comments by either fax (202) 395-5806 or e-mail 
(<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1c53554e5d4358535f5759485c73717e3279736c327b736a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="256a6c77647a616a666e6071654a48470b404a550b424a53">[email protected]</span></a>) directly to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for the Department of 
the Interior (1010-0006). Please also submit a copy of your comments to 
MMS by any of the means below.
    <bullet> Electronically: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. In the 
entry titled ``Enter Keyword or ID,'' enter docket ID MMS-2009-OMM-0013 
then click search. Under the tab ``View By Relevance'' you can submit 
public comments and view supporting and related materials available for 
this collection of information. The MMS will post all comments.
    <bullet> Mail or hand-carry comments to the Department of the 
Interior; Minerals Management Service; Attention: Cheryl Blundon; 381 
Elden Street, MS-4024; Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817. Please reference 
Information Collection 1010-0006 in your subject line and include your 
name and return address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl Blundon, Regulations and 
Standards Branch, (703) 787-1607. You may also contact Cheryl Blundon 
to obtain a copy, at no cost, of the regulation and forms that require 
the subject collection of information.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: 30 CFR 256, Leasing of Sulphur or Oil and Gas in the Outer 
Continental Shelf, and 30 CFR 260, Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas 
Leasing.
    Forms: MMS-150, MMS-151, MMS-152, MMS-2028, and MMS-2028A.
    OMB Control Number: 1010-0006.
    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. Also, the Energy 
Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (EPCA) prohibits certain lease 
bidding arrangements (42 U.S.C. 6213(c)).
    The Independent Offices Appropriations Act of 1952, 31 U.S.C. 9701, 
authorizes Federal agencies to recover the full cost of services that 
provide special benefits. Under the Department of the Interior's policy 
implementing this Act, the Minerals Management Service (MMS) is 
required to charge the full cost for services that provide special 
benefits or privileges to an identifiable non-Federal recipient above 
and beyond those that accrue to the public at large. Instruments of 
transfer of a lease or interest are subject to cost recovery, and MMS 
regulations specify the filing fee for these transfer applications.
    These authorities and responsibilities are among those delegated to 
the MMS under which we issue regulations governing oil and gas and 
sulphur operations in the OCS. This information collection request 
(ICR) addresses the regulations at 30 CFR 256, Leasing of Sulphur or 
Oil and Gas in the OCS, 30 CFR 260, Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas 
Leasing, and the associated supplementary Notices to Lessees and 
Operators (NTLs) intended to provide clarification, description, or 
explanation of these regulations. This ICR also concerns the use of 
forms to process bonds per subpart I, Bonding, the transfer of interest 
in leases per subpart J, Assignments, Transfers and Extensions, and the 
filing of relinquishments per subpart K, Termination of Leases. The 
forms are:
    <bullet> MMS-150, Assignment of Record Title Interest in Federal 
OCS Oil and Gas Lease,
    <bullet> MMS-151, Assignment of Operating Rights Interest in 
Federal OCS Oil and Gas Lease,
    <bullet> MMS-152, Relinquishment of Federal OCS Oil and Gas Lease,
    <bullet> MMS-2028, OCS Mineral Lessee's and Operator's Bond,
    <bullet> MMS-2028A, OCS Mineral Lessee's and Operator's 
Supplemental Plugging and Abandonment Bond.
    Regulations implementing these responsibilities are under 30 CFR 
part 256. Responses are mostly mandatory or required to obtain or 
retain a benefit. No questions of a sensitive nature are asked. The MMS 
protects information considered proprietary according to section 26 of 
the OCS Lands Act, the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and 
its implementing regulations (43 CFR part 2), and 30 CFR 256.10(d).
    The MMS uses the information required by 30 CFR part 256 to 
determine if applicants are qualified to hold leases in the OCS. 
Specifically, MMS uses the information to:
    <bullet> Verify the qualifications of a bidder on an OCS lease 
sale. Once the required information is filed with MMS, a qualification 
number is assigned to the bidder so that duplicate information is not 
required on subsequent filings.
    <bullet> Develop the semiannual List of Restricted Joint Bidders. 
This identifies parties ineligible to bid jointly with each other on 
OCS lease sales, under limitations established by the Energy Policy and 
Conservation Act.
    <bullet> Ensure the qualification of assignees and track operators 
on leaseholds. Once a lease is awarded, the transfer of a lessee's 
interest to another qualified party must be approved by an MMS Regional 
Director or Regional Supervisor. Also, a lessee may designate an 
operator to act on the lessee's behalf. This designation must be 
approved by MMS before the designated operator may begin operations.
    <bullet> Document that a leasehold or geographical subdivision has 
been surrendered by the record title holder.
    The MMS will use this information to update the corporate database 
which is used to determine what leases are available for a lease sale 
and the ownership of all OCS leases. Non-proprietary information is 
also publicly available from the MMS corporate database via the 
Internet.
    The MMS uses the information required by subpart J--Assignments, 
Transfers and Extensions, to track the ownership of leases as to record 
title, operating rights, and pipeline right-of-ways.
    The MMS also uses various forms relating to this subpart. The forms 
allow lessees to submit the required information in a standardized 
format that helps MMS process the data in a more timely and efficient 
manner. The five forms associated with this ICR and their purposes are:

MMS-150--Assignment of Record Title Interest in Federal OCS Oil and Gas 
Lease

MMS-151--Assignment of Operating Rights Interest in Federal OCS Oil and 
Gas Lease

    These two forms pertain to lease ownership and status information 
that are extremely important to the oil and gas industry as they 
strategize long-range planning for oil and gas development and the 
sharing of the expense and liabilities of OCS offshore drilling and 
development.

MMS-152--Relinquishment of Federal OCS Oil and Gas Lease Form

    Once a respondent submits this form, the lessee has relinquished 
their interest in the lease.

[[Page 10303]]

MMS-2028--Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Minerals Lessee's and 
Operator's Bond

MMS 2028A--Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Mineral Lessee's and 
Operator's Supplemental Plugging and Abandonment Bond

    The MMS uses these two forms to hold the surety libel for the 
obligations and liability of the principal/lessee or operator.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Description of Respondents: Potential respondents comprise Federal 
oil, gas, and sulphur lessees and operators.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: The estimated 
annual hour burden for this information collection is a total of 15,732 
hours. 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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                                                                                                Average number of annual
Citation 30 CFR Part 256 and NTLs    Reporting requirement             Hour burden                     responses                 Annual burden hours
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                                                                                                 Non-hour cost burdens
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                                                                  Subparts A through F
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Subparts A, C, E, H, L, M........  None.....................  Not applicable.                                               0.
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Subparts G, H, I, J: 37; 53; 68;   Request approval for       Burden included with other 30 CFR 250 approved collections.   0.
 70; 71; 72; 73.                    various operations or
                                    submit plans or
                                    applications. [Approved
                                    collections include 1010-
                                    0114, 1010-0141, 1010-
                                    0142, 1010-0149, 1010-
                                    0151].
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Subpart B: All sections..........  Submit suggestions and     Not considered IC as defined in 5 CFR 1320.3(h)(4).           0.
                                    relevant information in
                                    response to request for
                                    comments on proposed 5-
                                    year leasing program,
                                    including information
                                    from States/local
                                    governments.
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Subpart D: All sections..........  Submit response to Call    Not considered IC as defined in 5 CFR 1320.3(h)(4).           0.
                                    for Information and
                                    Nominations on areas for
                                    leasing of minerals in
                                    specified areas in
                                    accordance with an
                                    approved leasing
                                    program, including
                                    information from States/
                                    local governments.
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Subpart F: 31....................  States or local            4............................  10 responses.................  40.
                                    governments submit
                                    comments/recommendations
                                    on size, timing or
                                    location of proposed
                                    lease sale.
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    Subtotal.....................  .........................  .............................  10 responses.................  40 hours.
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                                                                        Subpart G
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Subpart G: 35; 46(d), (e)........  Establish a Company File   2............................  104 responses................  208.
                                    for pre-qualification;
                                    submit updated
                                    information, submit
                                    qualifications for
                                    lessee/bidder, request
                                    exception.
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41; 43; 46(g)....................  Submit qualification of    2............................  100 responses................  200.
                                    bidders for joint bids
                                    and statement or report
                                    of production, along
                                    with supporting
                                    information/appeal.
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44; 46...........................  Submit bids and required   5............................  2,000 bids...................  10,000.
                                    information.
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47(c)............................  File agreement to accept   3\1/2\.......................  2 agreements.................  7.
                                    joint lease on tie bids.
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47(e)(1), (e)(3).................  Request for                Not considered IC as defined in 5 CFR 1320.3(h)(9).           0.
                                    reconsideration of bid
                                    rejection.
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47(f), (i); 50...................  Execute lease (includes    1............................  852 leases...................  852.
                                    submission of evidence
                                    of authorized agent and
                                    request for dating of
                                    leases; lease
                                    stipulations).
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    Subtotal.....................  .........................  .............................  3,058 responses..............  11,267 hours.
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                                                                        Subpart I
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Subpart I: 52(f)(2), (g)(2)......  Submit authority for       2............................  10 submissions...............  20.
                                    Regional Director to
                                    sell Treasury or
                                    alternate type of
                                    securities.
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53(a), 53(b); 54.................  OCS Mineral Lessee's and   \1/4\........................  124 responses................  31.
                                    Operator's Bond (Form
                                    MMS-2028).
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[[Page 10304]]

 
53(c), (d), (f); 54(e)...........  Demonstrate financial      3\1/2\.......................  165 submissions..............  578 (rounded).
                                    worth/ability to carry
                                    out present and future
                                    financial obligations,
                                    request approval of
                                    another form of
                                    security, or request
                                    reduction in amount of
                                    supplemental bond
                                    required.
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54...............................  OCS Mineral Lessee's and   \1/4\........................  136 responses................  34.
                                    Operator's Supplemental
                                    Plugging & Abandonment
                                    Bond (Form MMS-2028A).
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55...............................  Notify MMS of any lapse    1............................  3 notices....................  3.
                                    in previous bond/action
                                    filed alleging lessee,
                                    surety, or guarantor is
                                    insolvent or bankrupt.
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56...............................  Provide plan/instructions  12...........................  1 submission.................  12.
                                    to fund lease-specific
                                    abandonment account and
                                    related information;
                                    request approval to
                                    withdraw funds.
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57...............................  Provide third-party        19...........................  45 submissions...............  855.
                                    guarantee, indemnity
                                    agreement, financial
                                    information, related
                                    notices, reports, and
                                    annual update; notify
                                    MMS if guarantor becomes
                                    unqualified.
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57(d)(3); 58.....................  Notice of and request      \1/2\........................  378 requests.................  189.
                                    approval to terminate
                                    period of liability,
                                    cancel bond, or other
                                    security.
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59(c)(2).........................  Provide information to     16...........................  5 responses..................  80.
                                    demonstrate lease will
                                    be brought into
                                    compliance.
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    Subtotal.....................  .........................  .............................  867 responses................  1,802 hours.
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                                                                        Subpart J
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Subpart J: 62; 63; 64; 65; 67....  File application and       2 forms @ 30 min ea = 1 hr...  1,680 applications/forms.....  1,680.
                                    required information for
                                    assignment or transfer
                                    for approval/comment on
                                    filing fee (Forms MMS-
                                    150 and MMS-151).
                                                             -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                               1,680 Title/Rights (Transfer) Assignments @ $186-$312,480
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63; 64(a)(8).....................  Submit non-required        0............................  2,995 documents..............  0.
                                    documents, for record
                                    purposes, which
                                    respondents want MMS to
                                    file with the lease
                                    document. [Accepted on
                                    behalf of lessees as a
                                    service, MMS does not
                                    require nor need the
                                    filings.].
                                                             -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                               2,995 @ $27 ea = $80,865
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64(a)(7).........................  File required instruments  1............................  700 filings..................  700.
                                    creating or transferring
                                    working interests, etc.,
                                    for record purposes.
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    Subtotal.....................  .........................  .............................  5,375 responses..............  2,380 hours.
                                                             -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                            $393,345 non-hour cost burdens
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                                                                        Subpart K
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Subpart K: 76; 92(a).............  File written request for   1............................  240 relinquishments..........  240.
                                    relinquishment (Form MMS-
                                    152).
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77(c)............................  Comment on lease           1............................  1 comment....................  1.
                                    cancellation (MMS
                                    expects 1 in 10 years).
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    Subtotal.....................  .........................  .............................  241 responses................  241 hours.
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                                                                        Subpart N
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Subpart N: 92(a).................  Request a bonus or         1............................  1 request....................  1.
                                    royalty credit; submit
                                    supporting documentation.
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95...............................  Request approval to        1............................  1 request....................  1.
                                    transfer bonus or credit
                                    to another party; submit
                                    supporting information.
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[[Page 10305]]

 
    Subtotal.....................  .........................  .............................  2 responses..................  2 hours.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Citation 30 CFR Part 260        Reporting requirement             Hour burden              Average number of annual         Annual burden hours
                                                                                                        reponses
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124(a)...........................  Request MMS to reconsider              Exempt under 5 CFR 1320.4(a)(2), (c).             0.
                                    field assignment of a
                                    lease.
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    Total Reporting..............  .........................  9,553 Responses..............  .............................  15,732 Hours.
                                                             -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                            $393,345 Non-Hour Cost Burdens
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    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Non-Hour Cost Burden: We have 
identified three paperwork non-hour cost burdens associated with the 
collection of information. Sections 256.62 and 256.64(a) require 
respondents to pay service fees when submitting either a request for 
assignment of record title interest, assignment of operating rights 
interest, and/or to file documents for record purposes. The service 
fees are required to recover the Federal Government's processing costs. 
We have not identified any other non-hour cost burdens associated with 
this collection of information, and we estimate a total reporting non-
hour cost burden of $393,345.
    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: Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501, et 
seq.) 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.
    To comply with the public consultation process, on October 6, 2009, 
we published a Federal Register notice (74 FR 51316) announcing that we 
would submit this ICR to OMB for approval. The notice provided the 
required 60-day comment period. In addition, Sec.  256.0 provides the 
OMB control number for the information collection requirements imposed 
by the 30 CFR 256 regulations and their associated forms. The 
regulation also informs the public that they may comment at any time on 
the collections of information and provides the address to which they 
should send comments. We have received no comments in response to these 
efforts.
    If you wish to comment in response to this notice, you may send 
your comments to the offices listed under the ADDRESSES section of this 
notice. The OMB has up to 60 days to approve or disapprove the 
information collection but may respond after 30 days. Therefore, to 
ensure maximum consideration, OMB should receive public comments by 
April 5, 2010.
    Public Availability of Comments: Before including your address, 
phone number, e-mail 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.
    MMS Information Collection Clearance Officer: Arlene Bajusz (202) 
208-7744.

    Dated: January 19, 2010.
William S. Hauser,
Acting Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. 2010-4695 Filed 3-4-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P


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