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[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 232 (Tuesday, December 3, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72693-72699]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-28834]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement

[Docket ID BSEE-2013-0005; OMB Control Number 1014-NEW; 134E1700D2 
EEEE500000 ET1SF0000.DAQ000]

Information Collection Activities: Application for Permit To 
Modify; Proposed Collection; Comment Request

ACTION: 60-day notice.

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SUMMARY: To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 
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 
submission of this information collection request (ICR) is necessary so 
that both industry and BSEE have a better understanding of the 
regulatory requirements associated with all supporting data and 
information that is submitted with an Application for Permit to Modify 
(APM) under the multiple subparts. This ICR will separate out the hours 
and non-hour cost burdens associated with APMs from its currently 
approved IC into its own separate collection; it will also reflect more 
accurate burden estimates.

DATES: You must submit comments by February 3, 2014.

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-2013-0005 then click search. Follow the 
instructions to submit public comments and view all related materials. 
We will post all comments.
     Email cheryl.blundon@bsee.gov. Mail or hand-carry comments 
to the Department of the Interior; BSEE; Regulations and Standards 
Branch; Attention: Cheryl Blundon; 381 Elden Street, HE3313; Herndon, 
Virginia 20170-4817. Please reference ICR 1014-0017 in your comment and 
include your name and return address.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: 30 CFR 250, Application for Permit to Modify (APM), BSEE-
0124.
    Form: BSEE-0124.
    OMB Control Number: 1014-NEW.
    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 to prescribe rules and regulations to 
administer leasing of 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. Section 1332(6) states that 
``operations in the Outer Continental Shelf should be conducted in a 
safe manner by well trained personnel using technology, precautions, 
and other techniques sufficient to prevent or minimize the likelihood 
of blowouts, loss of well control, fires, spillages, physical 
obstructions to other users of the waters or subsoil and seabed, or 
other occurrences which may cause damage to the environment or to 
property or endanger life or health.''
    In addition to the general authority of OCSLA, 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. The 
Secretary has delegated some of the authority under FOGRMA to BSEE.
    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, the Bureau of Safety 
and Environmental Enforcement (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. Applications for permits to drill are subject to cost 
recovery, and BSEE regulations specify a service fee for this request.
    Regulations implementing these responsibilities are among those 
delegated to BSEE. The regulations at 30 CFR part 250 stipulate the 
various requirements that must be submitted with an Application for 
Permit to Modify (APM), Form BSEE-0124, which are the subject of this 
collection. Currently, an APM is covered under 30

[[Page 72694]]

CFR part 250, subpart D, 1014-0018, and when discussed in Subparts E, 
F, H, P, Q, they are cross referenced. It is difficult to correlate the 
APM burden requirements in the other subparts with their respective 
burden. By putting APMs, along with all the required documentation 
throughout the various subparts into one ICR, we feel that this 
situation will be alleviated and will reflect more accurate burden 
estimates. This request also covers the related Notices to Lessees and 
Operators (NTLs) that we issue to clarify, supplement, or provide 
additional guidance on some aspects of our regulations.
    In this ICR, we have included a certification statement on the form 
to state that false submissions are subject to criminal penalties. 
Also, we clarified some sections of Form BSEE-0124. This poses minor 
edits and they are as follows:
    Question 8 was split into 8a. and 8b. Current question 8 
is now 8a. Question 8b. asks for the well status (current), and
    Question 18 updated the regulatory citations.
    The BSEE uses the information to ensure safe well completion, 
workover and decommissioning operations and to protect the human, 
marine, and coastal environment. Among other things, BSEE specifically 
uses the information to ensure: The well completion, workover and 
decommissioning unit is fit for the intended purpose; equipment is 
maintained in a state of readiness and meets safety standards; each 
well completion, workover and decommissioning crew is properly trained 
and able to promptly perform well-control activities at any time during 
well operations; compliance with safety standards; and the current 
regulations will provide for safe and proper field or reservoir 
development, resource evaluation, conservation, protection of 
correlative rights, safety, and environmental protection. We also 
review well records to ascertain whether the operations have 
encountered hydrocarbons or H2S and to ensure that H2S detection 
equipment, personnel protective equipment, and training of the crew are 
adequate for safe operations in zones known to contain H2S and zones 
where the presence of H2S is unknown.
    We also use the information to determine the conditions of the site 
to avoid hazards inherent in well completion, workover and 
decommissioning operations. Specifically, we use the information to 
evaluate and approve the adequacy of the equipment, materials, and/or 
procedures that the lessee or operator plans to use during well 
completion, workover and decommissioning plan modifications and changes 
in major equipment. In addition, except for proprietary data, BSEE is 
required by the OCS Lands Act to make available to the public certain 
information that is submitted.
    The BSEE will protect proprietary information according to the 
Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and its implementing 
regulations (43 CFR part 2); 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. No items of a sensitive 
nature are collected. Responses are required to obtain or retain a 
benefit or they are mandatory.
    Frequency: On occasion and as required in the regulations.
    Description of Respondents: Potential respondents comprise Federal 
oil, gas, or sulphur lessees and/or operators.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: In this 
submission, we are estimating 9,770 burden hours. 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.
BILLING CODE 4310-VH-P

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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN03DE13.004

Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Non-Hour Cost Burden

    We have identified one non-hour cost burden for this collection. 
The 30 CFR part 250 regulations require a cost recovery fee of $125 
cost recovery fee (non-hour cost burden) for APM submittals. The 
application fee is 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. We estimate a 
total reporting non-hour cost burden of $361,625 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 
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 than 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 Comment Procedures: 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.

    Dated: November 22, 2013.
Robert W. Middleton,
Deputy Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. 2013-28834 Filed 12-2-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-VH-C
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