[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 50 (Wednesday, March 14, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15118-15121]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-6155]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement

[Docket ID No. BSEE-2011-0005; OMB Number 1014-NEW]


Information Collection Activities: Operations in the Outer 
Continental Shelf for Minerals Other Than Oil, Gas, and Sulphur; 
Submitted for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Review; Comment 
Request

ACTION: 30-day Notice.

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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) for approval of the paperwork requirements in 
the regulations under Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf for 
Minerals Other than Oil, Gas, and Sulphur. This notice also provides 
the public a second opportunity to comment on the revised paperwork 
burden of these regulatory requirements.

DATES: You must submit comments by April 13, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments by either fax (202) 395-5806 or email 
(<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#155a5c47544a515a565e5041557a78773b707a653b727a63"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3d72746f7c6279727e7678697d52505f1358524d135a524b">[email protected]</span></a>) directly to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for the Department of 
the Interior (1014-NEW). Please provide a copy of your comments to BSEE 
by any of the means below.
    <bullet> Electronically: go to http://www.regulations.gov. In the 
entry titled, ``Enter Keyword or ID,'' enter BSEE-2011-0005 then click 
search. Follow the instructions to submit public comments and view all 
related materials. We will post all comments.
    <bullet> Email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f99a919c8b8095d79b958c979d9697b99b8a9c9cd79e968f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d2b1bab7a0abbefcb0bea7bcb6bdbc92b0a1b7b7fcb5bda4">[email protected]</span></a>, fax (703) 787-1546, or mail 
or hand-carry comments to: Department of the

[[Page 15119]]

Interior; Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement; Attention: 
Cheryl Blundon; 381 Elden Street, HE3313; Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817. 
Please reference 1014--NEW in your comment and include your name and 
return address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl Blundon, Regulations 
Development Branch, (703) 787-1607, to request additional information 
about this ICR. To see a copy of the entire ICR submitted to OMB, go to 
http://www.reginfo.gov (select Information Collection Review, Currently 
Under Review).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: 30 CFR 282, Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf for 
Minerals Other than Oil, Gas, and Sulphur.
    OMB Control Number: 1014-NEW.
    Abstract: The Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lands Act, as amended 
(43 U.S.C. 1334 and 43 U.S.C. 1337(k)), authorizes the Secretary of the 
Interior to implement regulations to grant leases of any mineral other 
than oil, gas, and sulphur to qualified parties. This regulation 
governs mining operations within the OCS and establishes a 
comprehensive leasing and regulatory program for such minerals. This 
regulation has been designed to (1) recognize the differences between 
the OCS activities associated with oil, gas, and sulphur discovery and 
development and those associated with the discovery and development of 
other minerals; (2) facilitate participation by States directly 
affected by OCS mining activities; (3) provide opportunities for 
consultation and coordination with other OCS users and uses; (4) 
balance development with environmental protection; (5) insure a fair 
return to the public; (6) preserve and maintain free enterprise 
competition; and (7) encourage the development of new technology.
    The authorities and responsibilities described above are among 
those delegated BSEE. Therefore, this ICR addresses the regulations at 
30 CFR 282, Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf for Minerals 
Other than Oil, Gas, and Sulphur. It should be noted that there has 
been no activity in the OCS for minerals other than oil, gas and 
sulphur for many years and no information collected. However, because 
these are regulatory requirements, the potential exists for information 
to be collected; therefore, we are requesting this collection of 
information be approved by OMB.
    To accommodate the split of regulations from the Bureau of Ocean 
Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement to BSEE, BSEE is 
requesting OMB approval of the already approved burden hours under 
1010-0081 to reflect BSEE's new 1014 numbering system.
    Responses are mandatory. No questions of a sensitive nature are 
asked. BSEE protects proprietary information according to the Freedom 
of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and its implementing regulations (43 
CFR 2), and 30 CFR 282.5, 282.6, and 282.7.
    BSEE collects information required under part 282 to determine if 
lessees are complying with the regulations that implement the mining 
operations program for minerals other than oil, gas, and sulphur. 
Specifically, BSEE will use the information:
    <bullet> To ensure that operations for the production of minerals 
other than oil, gas, and sulphur in the OCS are conducted in a manner 
that will result in orderly resource recovery, development, and the 
protection of the human, marine, and coastal environments.
    <bullet> To ensure that adequate measures will be taken during 
operations to prevent waste, conserve the natural resources of the OCS, 
and to protect the environment, human life, and correlative rights.
    <bullet> To determine if suspensions of activities are in the 
national interest, to facilitate proper development of a lease 
including reasonable time to develop a mine and construct its 
supporting facilities, and to allow for the construction or negotiation 
for use of transportation facilities.
    <bullet> To identify and evaluate the cause(s) of a hazard(s) 
generating a suspension, the potential damage from a hazard(s) and the 
measures available to mitigate the potential for damage.
    <bullet> For technical evaluations that provide a basis for BSEE to 
make informed decisions to approve, disapprove, or require modification 
of the proposed activities.
    Frequency: On occasion, and as a result of situations encountered.
    Description of Respondents: Potential respondents comprise Federal 
oil, gas, or sulphur lessees and/or operators.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: The estimated 
annual hour burden for this information collection is a total of 56 
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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                                             Reporting or recordkeeping                                                                    Annual burden
           Citation 30 CFR 282                       requirement              Hour burden        Average Number of annual responses            hours
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                        Non-hour cost burden
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                                                                   Subpart A--General
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5.......................................  Request non-disclosure of data                10  1 request...................................              10
                                           and information.
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6.......................................  Governor(s) of adjacent State(s)               1  1 submission................................               1
                                           request for proprietary data,
                                           information, samples, etc., and
                                           disclosure agreement with BSEE.
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7.......................................  Governor of affected State                     1  1 request...................................               1
                                           requests negotiation to settle
                                           jurisdictional controversy,
                                           etc; enters into an agreement
                                           with BSEE.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal............................  ................................  ..............  3 Responses.................................              12
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[[Page 15120]]


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                                             Reporting or recordkeeping                                                                    Annual burden
           Citation 30 CFR 282                       requirement              Hour burden        Average Number of annual responses            hours
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                        Non-hour cost burden
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                Subpart B--Jurisdiction and Responsibilities of Director
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11(d)(1)................................  Request consolidation/                         1  1 request...................................               1
                                           unitization of two or more
                                           leases or lease portions into a
                                           single mining unit.
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11(d)(4)................................  State requests different method                1  1 Request...................................               1
                                           of allocating production.
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12(f)(l), (h); 13(d)....................  Request approval(s) of                        20  1 request...................................              20
                                           applicable applications and
                                           permits before commencing a
                                           mining operation under an
                                           approved plan(s).
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13(b), (f)(2); 31.......................  Request suspension or temporary                2  1 request...................................               2
                                           prohibition or production or
                                           operations.
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13(e)...................................  Submit site-specific study plan                8  1 study.....................................               8
                                           and results.
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                                                                                                            1 study x $100,000 = $100,000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14......................................  Submit ``green'' response copy                 2  1 response..................................               2
                                           of Form BSEE-1832 indicating
                                           date violations (INCs)
                                           corrected, etc.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal............................  ................................  ..............  6 Responses.................................              34
                                                                                           -------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                            $100,000 Non-hour cost burden
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Subpart C--Obligations and Responsibilities of Lessees
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
27(b)...................................  Request use of new or                          1  1 request...................................               1
                                           alternative technologies,
                                           techniques, etc..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
27(c)...................................  Notify BSEE of death or serious                1  1 notification..............................               1
                                           injury; fire, exploration, or
                                           other hazardous event; submit
                                           report.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
27(d)(2)................................  Request reimbursement for                      2  1 request...................................               2
                                           furnishing food, quarters, and
                                           transportation for BSEE
                                           representatives (no requests
                                           received in many years; minimal
                                           burden).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
27(e)...................................  Identify vessels, platforms,                   1  1 sign......................................               1
                                           structures, etc. with signs.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
27(f)(2)................................  Log all drill holes susceptible                3  1 log.......................................               3
                                           to logging; submit copies of
                                           logs to BSEE.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
27(h)(3), (4)...........................  Mark equipment; record items                   1  1 notification..............................               1
                                           lost overboard; notify BSEE.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
28(d)...................................  Demonstrate effectiveness                      1  1 demonstration.............................               1
                                           procedure(s) for mitigating
                                           environmental impacts.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal............................  ................................  ..............  7 Responses.................................              10
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   Subpart E--Appeals
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
50......................................  File an appeal..................  Burden exempt under 5 CFR 1320.4(a)(2), (c).                               0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total burden....................  ................................  ..............  16 Responses................................              56
                                                                                           -------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                            $100,000 non-hour cost burden
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Non-Hour Cost Burden: We have 
identified one paperwork non-hour cost burden associated with the 
collection of information. Under Sec.  282.13(e)(1), a site-specific 
study would be required to determine and evaluate hazards that results 
in a suspension of operation. Since this has not been done to date, 
BSEE estimated that this study would cost approximately $100,000. There 
are no other non-hour cost burdens associated with the collection of 
information.
    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

[[Page 15121]]

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 
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.
    To comply with the public consultation process, on December 22, 
2011, we published a Federal Register notice (76 FR 79705) announcing 
that we would submit this ICR to OMB for approval. The notice provided 
the required 60-day comment period. In addition, Sec.  282.0 provides 
the OMB control number for the information collection requirements 
imposed by the 30 CFR 282 regulations. 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.
    Public Availability of Comments: 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: March 2, 2012.
Douglas W. Morris,
Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. 2012-6155 Filed 3-13-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-VH-P


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