[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 58 (Thursday, March 26, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16019-16022]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-06907]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement

[Docket ID BSEE-2015-0001; OMB Control Number 1014-0021; 15XE1700DX 
EEEE500000 EX1SF0000.DAQ000]


Information Collection Activities: Operations for Minerals Other 
Than Oil, Gas, and Sulphur in the OCS; Proposed Collection; Comment 
Request

AGENCY: Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, Interior.

ACTION: 60-Day notice.

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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 Operations in the Outer 
Continental Shelf for Minerals Other than Oil, Gas, and Sulphur.

DATES: You must submit comments by May 26, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods 
listed below.
    <bullet> Electronically go to http://www.regulations.gov. In the 
Search box, enter BSEE-2015-0001 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#ceada6abbcb7a2e0aca2bba0aaa1a08eacbdababe0a9a1b8"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e88b808d9a9184c68a849d868c8786a88a9b8d8dc68f879e">[email protected]</span></a>. Mail or hand-carry comments 
to the Department of the Interior; Bureau of Safety and Environmental 
Enforcement; Regulations and Standards Branch; ATTN: Cheryl Blundon; 
381 Elden Street, HE3314; Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817. Please 
reference ICR 1014-0021 in your comment and include your name and 
return address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl Blundon, Regulations and

[[Page 16020]]

Standards Branch at (703) 787-1607 to request additional information 
about this ICR.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: 30 CFR part 282, Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf 
for Minerals Other than Oil, Gas, and Sulphur.
    OMB Control Number: 1014-0021.
    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 to the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement 
(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 renewing this collection of information.
    BSEE will use the information required by 30 CFR 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.
    We protect proprietary information according to the Freedom of 
Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and DOI's implementing regulations (43 
CFR 2), and Sec. Sec.  282.5, 282.6, and 282.7. Responses are mandatory 
or are required to obtain or retain a benefit.
    Frequency: On occasion and as a result of situations encountered 
depending upon the requirements.
    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 56 hours and 
$100,000 non-hour cost burdens. In this submission, we are requesting 
the same hour and non-hour cost burdens. 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.

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                                         Reporting or
       Citation 30 CFR 282               recordkeeping         Hour burden    Average number of    Annual burden
                                          requirement                          annual responses        hours
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                                                        Non-hour cost burden
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                                               Subpart A--General
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5................................  Request non-disclosure                10  1 request..........              10
                                    of data and information.
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6................................  Governor(s) of adjacent                1  1 submission.......               1
                                    State(s) request for
                                    proprietary data,
                                    information, samples,
                                    etc., and disclosure
                                    agreement with BSEE.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7................................  Governor of affected                   1  1 request..........               1
                                    State requests
                                    negotiation to settle
                                    jurisdictional
                                    controversy, etc;
                                    enters into an
                                    agreement with BSEE.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal...............................................................  3 responses........              12
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                            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.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11(d)(4).........................  State requests different               1  1 request..........               1
                                    method of allocating
                                    production.
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[[Page 16021]]

 
12(f); 13(d); 28(c)..............  Request approval(s) of                20  1 request..........              20
                                    applicable applications
                                    and/or plans; including
                                    environmental
                                    information, monitoring
                                    program, and various
                                    requests for approval;
                                    submit modifications as
                                    appropriate.
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12(h)............................  Request departures from     Burden covered under 30 CFR 250,                0
                                    the operating                   Subpart A, 1014-0022.
                                    requirements.
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13(b), (f)(2); 31................  Request suspension or                  2  1 request..........               2
                                    temporary prohibition
                                    or production or
                                    operations; include all
                                    documentation--or any
                                    other information BSEE
                                    may require.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13(d); 13(e)(2)..................  Submit a Delineation,      BOEM requirement--covered under 30
                                    Testing, or Mining Plan          CFR 582, 1010-0081.
                                    or revised Plan.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13(e)............................  Submit site-specific                   8  1 study............               8
                                    study plan and results..
                                                                            ------------------------------------
                                   ........................  ..............     1 study x $100,000 = $100,000.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14...............................  Submit response copy of                2  1 response.........               2
                                    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                1  1 notification.....               1
                                    serious injury; fire,
                                    exploration, or other
                                    hazardous event,
                                    pollution etc.; submit
                                    report.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
27(d)(2).........................  Request reimbursement                  2  1 request..........               2
                                    for furnishing food,
                                    quarters, and
                                    transportation for BSEE
                                    representatives (no
                                    requests received in
                                    many years; minimal
                                    burden).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
27(e)............................  Identify vessels,                      1  1 sign.............               1
                                    platforms, structures,
                                    etc. with signs.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
27(f)(2).........................  Log all drill holes                    3  1 log..............               3
                                    susceptible to logging;
                                    submit copies of logs
                                    to BSEE.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
27(h)(3), (4)....................  Mark equipment; record                 1  1 notification.....               1
                                    items lost overboard;
                                    notify BSEE.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
27(k)............................  Enter weight or quantity   BOEM requirement--covered under 30               0
                                    and quality of each              CFR 582, 1010-0081.
                                    mineral produced.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
28(d)............................  Demonstrate                            1  1 demonstration....               1
                                    effectiveness
                                    procedure(s) for
                                    mitigating
                                    environmental impacts.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal...............................................................  7 responses........              10
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Subpart E--Appeals
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
50...............................  File an appeal..........       Burden exempt under 5 CFR                    0
                                                                      1320.4(a)(2), (c).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total Burden...........................................................  16 responses.......              56
                                  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        $100,000 non-hour cost burden.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Non-Hour Cost Burden: We have 
identified one non-hour cost burdens for this collection. Pursuant to 
Sec.  282.13(e)(1), a site-specific study to determine and evaluate 
hazards that results in a suspension of operation would have a non-hour 
cost burden. Since this has not been done to date, we

[[Page 16022]]

estimated that the cost of such a study for industry would be 
approximately $100,000 to comply with the requirement. We have not 
identified any other non-hour cost burdens associated with this 
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 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: March 20, 2015.
Robert W. Middleton,
Deputy Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. 2015-06907 Filed 3-25-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-VH-P


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