30310 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 99 / Tuesday, May 22, 2012 / Notices 

Dated: May 16, 2012. 

Mary Josie Blanchard, 

Deputy Director, Office of Environmental 

Policy and Compliance. 

[FR Doc. 2012–12413 Filed 5–21–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–79–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Bureau of Safety and Environmental 

Enforcement 

[Docket ID BSEE–2012–0009; OMB Control 

Number 1014–0005] 

Information Collection Activities: Relief 

or Reduction in Royalty Rates; 

Proposed Collection; Comment 

Request 

ACTION: 60-day Notice. 

SUMMARY: To comply with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 

(PRA), 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 

30 CFR 203, Relief or Reduction in 

Royalty Rates. 

DATES: You must submit comments by 

July 23, 2012. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

by either of the following methods listed 

below. 

• Electronically: go to http:// 

www.regulations.gov. In the entry titled 

‘‘Enter Keyword or ID,’’ enter BSEE– 

2012–0009 then click search. Follow the 

instructions to submit public comments 

and view all related materials. We will 

post all comments. 

• Email nicole.mason@bsee.gov. Mail 

or hand-carry comments to the 

Department of the Interior; Bureau of 

Safety and Environmental Enforcement; 

Regulations Development Branch; 

Attention: Nicole Mason; 381 Elden 

Street, HE–3313; Herndon, Virginia 

20170–4817. Please reference ICR 1014– 

0005 in your comment and include your 

name and return address. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Nicole Mason, Regulations Development 

Branch at (703) 787–1605 to request 

additional information about this ICR. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Title: 30 CFR part 203, Relief or 

Reduction in Royalty Rates. 

OMB Control Number: 1014–0005. 

Abstract: The Outer Continental Shelf 

(OCS) Lands Act, as amended by Public 

Law 104–58, Deep Water Royalty Relief 

Act (DWRRA), gives the Secretary of the 

Interior (Secretary) the authority to 

reduce or eliminate royalty or any net 

profit share specified in OCS oil and gas 

leases to promote increased production. 

The DWRRA also authorized the 

Secretary to suspend royalties when 

necessary to promote development or 

recovery of marginal resources on 

producing or non-producing leases in 

the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) west of 87 

degrees, 30 minutes West longitude. 

Section 302 of the DWRRA provides 

that new production from a lease in 

existence on November 28, 1995, in a 

water depth of at least 200 meters, and 

in the GOM west of 87 degrees, 30 

minutes West longitude qualifies for 

royalty suspension in certain situations. 

To grant a royalty suspension, the 

Secretary must determine that the new 

production or development would not 

be economic in the absence of royalty 

relief. The Secretary must then 

determine the volume of production on 

which no royalty would be due in order 

to make the new production from the 

lease economically viable. This 

determination is be done on a case-bycase basis. Production from leases in the 

same water depth and area issued after 

November 28, 2000, also can qualify for 

royalty suspension in addition to any 

that may be included in their lease 

terms. 

In addition, 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 (DOI) implementing 

policy, BSEE is required to charge fees 

for services that provide special benefits 

or privileges to an identifiable nonFederal recipient above and beyond 

those which accrue to the public at 

large. 

Regulations at 30 CFR part 203 

implement these statutes and policy and 

require respondents to pay a fee to 

request royalty relief. Section 30 CFR 

203.3 states that, ‘‘We will specify the 

necessary fees for each of the types of 

royalty-relief applications and possible 

BSEE audits in a Notice to Lessees. We 

will periodically update the fees to 

reflect changes in costs as well as 

provide other information necessary to 

administer royalty relief.’’ 

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 impacts to 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 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. 

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 2) and under 

regulations at 30 CFR 203.63, Does my 

application have to include all leases in 

the field, and 30 CFR 250.197, Data and 

information to be made available to the 

public or for limited inspection. No 

items of a sensitive nature are collected. 

Responses are mandatory or are 

required to obtain or retain a benefit. 

Frequency: On occasion. 

Description of Respondents: Potential 

respondents comprise Federal oil, gas, 

or sulphur lessees and/or operators. 

Estimated Reporting and 

Recordkeeping Hour Burden: The 

currently approved annual reporting 

burden for this collection is 2,635 hours. 

The following table 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 203 and related 

NTL(s) Reporting or recordkeeping requirement 

Hour burden 

Application fees 

2(b); 3; 4; 70 ......................................... These sections contain general references to submitting reports, applications, requests, copies, demonstrating qualifications, for BSEE approval 

burdens covered under specific requirements.

0 


srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 99 / Tuesday, May 22, 2012 / Notices 30311 

Citation 30 CFR 203 and related 

NTL(s) Reporting or recordkeeping requirement 

Hour burden 

Application fees 

Royalty Relief for Ultra-Deep Gas Wells and Deep Gas Wells on Shallow Water Leases 

31(c) ...................................................... Request a refund of or recoup royalties from qualified ultra-deep wells.. ...... 1 

35(d); 44(e) ........................................... Request to extend the deadline for beginning production with required supporting documentation.4 

41(d) ...................................................... Request a refund of or recoup royalties from qualified wells >200 meters 

but <400 meters.

1 

35(a); 44(a); 47(a) ................................. Notify BSEE of intent to begin drilling ............................................................. 1 

35(c), (d); 44(b), (d), (e) ........................ Notify BSEE that production has begun, request confirmation of the size of 

RSV, provide supporting documentation.

2 

46 .......................................................... Provide data from well to confirm and attest well drilled was an unsuccessful certified well with supporting documentation and request supplement.8 

49(b) ...................................................... Notify BSEE or decision to exercise option to replace one set of deep gas 

royalty suspension terms for another set of such terms.

0 

Note: BSEE SOL requires that this reg text stay for legacy purposes only. 

Last time any respondent could use was 2004; hence, no burden.

End of Life and Special Royalty Relief* 

51; 83; 84 ..............................................

NTL .......................................................

Application—leases that generate earnings that cannot sustain continued 

production (end-of-life lease); required supporting documentation.

100 

Application = $8,000 

Audit = $12,500 

52 .......................................................... Demonstrate ability to qualify for royalty relief or to re-qualify ....................... 1 

55 .......................................................... Renounce relief arrangement (end-of-life) (seldom, if ever will be used; 

minimal burden to prepare letter).

1 

80 NTL .................................................. Application—apart from formal programs for royalty relief for marginal producing lease (Special Case Relief); required supporting documentation.250 

Application = $8,000** 

Audit = $12,500 

80 NTL .................................................. Application—apart from formal programs for royalty relief for marginal expansion project or marginal non-producing lease (Special Case Relief); 

required supporting documentation.

1,000 

Application = $19,500** 

Audit = $18,750 

CPA Report 

81; 83–90 .............................................. Required reports; extension justification ......................................................... Burden included with applications. 

1 CPA report × $45,000 

Deep Water Royalty Relief Act (DWRAA) 

61; 62; 64; 65; 71; 83; 85–89; NTL ...... Application—preview assessment (seldom if ever will be used as applicants 

generally opt for binding determination by BSEE instead) and required 

supporting documentation.

900 

Application = $28,500 

62; 64; 65; 71; 83; 85–89 ..................... Application—leases in designated areas of GOM deep water acquired in 

lease sale before 11/28/95 or after 11/28/00 and are producing (deep 

water expansion project); required supporting documentation.

2,000 

Application = $19,500 

62; 64; 65; 71; 81; 83; 85–89; NTL ...... Application—leases in designated areas of deep water GOM, acquired in 

lease sale before 11/28/95 or after 11/28/00 that have not produced (preact or post-2000 deep water leases); required supporting documentation.

2,000 

Application = $34,000* 

Audit = $12,500 

70; 81; 90; 91 ........................................ Submit fabricator’s confirmation report; extension justification ....................... 20 

70; 81; 90; 92; NTL ............................... Submit post-production development report; extension justification. # Reserve right to audit (1 audit every 6 years) after production starts to confirm cost estimates of the application.50 

Audit = $18,750 

74; 75; NTL ........................................... Redetermination and required supporting documentation .............................. 500 

Application = $16,000* 

77 .......................................................... Renounce relief arrangement (deep water) (seldom, if ever will be used; 

minimal burden to prepare letter).

1 

79(a) ...................................................... Request reconsideration of BSEE field designation ....................................... 0 

This was a regulatory requirement for leases issued prior to 1995.

79(c) ...................................................... Request extension of deadline to start construction ....................................... 2 

83; NTL ................................................. Application—short form to add or assign pre-Act lease and required supporting documentation.40 

Application = $1,000 

81(d) ...................................................... Retain supporting cost records for post-production development/fabrication 

reports (records retained as usual/customary business practice; minimal 

burden to make available at BSEE request).

8 

* CPA certification expense burden also imposed on applicant. 

** These applications currently do not have a set fee since they are done on a case-by-case basis. 

Note: Applications include numerous items such as: transmittal letters, letters of request, modifications to applications, reapplications, etc. 


srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
30312 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 99 / Tuesday, May 22, 2012 / Notices 

Estimated Reporting and 

Recordkeeping Non-Hour Cost Burden: 

There are non-hour costs associated 

with this information collection. The 

currently approved non-hour cost 

burden is $122,024. This estimate is 

based on: 

(a) Applications and audit fees. The 

total annual estimated cost burden for 

these fees is $77,024 (refer to the table). 

(b) The cost of report(s) prepared by 

independent certified public 

accountants. Under § 203.81, a report 

prepared by an independent certified 

public accountant must accompany the 

application and post-production report 

(expansion project, short form, and 

preview assessment applications are 

excluded). The OCS Lands Act 

applications will require this report 

only once; the DWRRA applications will 

require this report at two stages—with 

the application and post-production 

development report for successful 

applicants. We estimate approximately 

one report submitted at an average cost 

of $45,000 per report. We have not 

identified any other non-hour cost 

burdens for this collection. 

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 nonhour 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. 

Acting BSEE Information Collection 

Clearance Officer: Cheryl Blundon (703) 

787–1607. 

Dated: May 15, 2012. 

Robert W. Middleton, 

Acting Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory 

Programs. 

[FR Doc. 2012–12304 Filed 5–21–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–VH–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Fish and Wildlife Service 

[FWS–R5–R–2012–N062; BAC–4311–K9–S3] 

Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, 

Cayuga, Seneca, and Wayne Counties, 

NY; Draft Comprehensive 

Conservation Plan and Environmental 

Assessment 

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of availability; request 

for comments. 

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 

availability of a draft comprehensive 

conservation plan and environmental 

assessment (draft CCP/EA) for 

Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge 

(NWR), located in Cayuga, Seneca, and 

Wayne Counties, New York, for public 

review and comment. The draft CCP/EA 

describes our proposal for managing the 

refuge for the next 15 years. Also 

available for public review and 

comment are: (1) The draft findings of 

appropriateness and draft compatibility 

determinations for uses to be allowed 

upon initial completion of the plan if 

Service-preferred alternative B is 

selected, (2) the EA for the refuge’s hunt 

program, and (3) the EA for the refuge’s 

fire program. These are included as 

appendix B, appendix E, and appendix 

H, respectively, in the draft CCP/EA. 

DATES: To ensure consideration, please 

send your written comments no later 

than June 21, 2012. We will announce 

upcoming public meetings in local news 

media, via our project mailing list, and 

on our regional planning Web site: 

http://www.fws.gov/northeast/planning/ 

Montezuma/ccphome.html. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

or requests for copies or more 

information by any of the following 

methods. You may request hard copies 

or a CD–ROM of the documents. 

Email: northeastplanning@fws.gov. 

Please include ‘‘Montezuma NWR Draft 

CCP’’ in the subject line of the message. 

Fax: Attn: Lia McLaughlin, 413–253– 

8468. 

U.S. Mail: Lia McLaughlin, Natural 

Resource Planner, U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service, 300 Westgate Center 

Drive, Hadley, MA 01035. 

In-Person Drop-off, Viewing, or 

Pickup: Call 315–568–5987 to make an 

appointment (necessary for view/pickup 

only) during regular business hours at 

3395 Route 5/20 East, Seneca Falls, NY 

13148–9778. [For more information on 

locations for viewing or obtaining 

documents, see ‘‘Public Availability of 

Documents’’ under SUPPLEMENTARY

INFORMATION.] 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom 

Jasikoff, Refuge Manager, 315–568–5987 

(phone), or Lia McLaughlin, Planning 

Team Leader, 413–253–8575 (phone); 

northeastplanning@fws.gov (email). 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Introduction 

With this notice, we continue the CCP 

process for Montezuma NWR. We 

started this process through a notice in 

the Federal Register (75 FR 25286; May 

7, 2010). 

Montezuma NWR was established in 

1938 to provide nesting, feeding, and 

resting habitat for waterfowl and other 

migratory birds. Situated in Seneca, 

Wayne, and Cayuga Counties, the refuge 

currently encompasses 9,184 acres. 

Refuge habitats include emergent 

marshes and shallow water mudflats, 

open water, bottomland floodplain 

forest, old fields and shrublands, 

croplands, grassland, and successional 

forest. The refuge is part of the 

Montezuma Wetlands Complex, an area 

identified by the Service, the New York 

State Department of Environmental 

Conservation (NYSDEC), and other 

partners for its role in the conservation 

of migratory birds, particularly 

waterfowl. The refuge’s public use 

program provides wildlife-oriented 

educational and recreational 

opportunities compatible with refuge 

management objectives. Public use 

facilities and programs include several 

trails, a visitor center, observation 

towers and platforms, fishing access 

sites, hunting programs, trapping 

program, educational programs and 

materials, guided tours, and other 

special programs. 


srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES