[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 71 (Monday, April 14, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18144-18145]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-9470]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of extension and revision of a currently approved 
information collection.

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SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and 
respondent burden, MMS invites the public and other Federal agencies to 
comment on a proposal to extend and revise the currently approved 
collection of information discussed below. The Paperwork Reduction act 
of 1995 (PRA) provides that an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a 
person is not required to respond to, a collection of information 
unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) control number.

DATE: Submit written comments by June 13, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to the Rules Processing Team, 
Minerals Management Service, Mail Stop 4700, 381 Elden Street, Herndon, 
Virginia 20170-4817.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alexis London, Rules Processing Team, 
telephone (703) 787-1600.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

    Title: 30 CFR Part 254, Oil Spill Response Requirements for 
Facilities Located Seaward of the Coast Line.
    Abstract: The Federal Water Pollution Control Act as amended by the 
Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA) requires that a spill-response plan be 
submitted for offshore facilities prior to February 18, 1993. The OPA 
specifies that after that date, an offshore facility may not handle, 
store, or transport oil unless a plan has been submitted. In order to 
meet the deadline and assure that spill-response plans of sufficient 
quality were being developed, MMS issued an interim final rule (IFR) 
and the OMB approved the information collection requirements. MMS 
subsequently issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPR0 incorporating 
the experience gained with the IFR and OMB approved the revised 
information collection requirements. MMS has now published a final rule 
(62 FR 13991) which supersedes the IFR effective June 23, 1997. The 
final rule changes the structure of the regulation, thereby changing 
the citations for the information collections. However, no significant 
changes to the information collection resulted from the comments 
received in response to the NPR and restructuring.
    The MMS uses the information collected under Part 254 to determine 
the response capability of the owner/operator. The requirements allow 
the Regional Supervisor to verify compliance with the requirements of 
OPA. The final rule removes any duplicative reporting requirements in 
30 CFR part 250, subpart C. If MMS did not collect the information we 
would be unable to comply with the mandates of the OPA.
    The collection does not include proprietary or confidential 
information and no items of a sensitive nature are collected. The 
requirement to respond is mandatory. Description of Respondents: Owners 
or operators of an oil handling, storage, or transportation facility 
which is located seaward of the coast line.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 270.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 28,756 burden hours. Based on $35 per 
hour, the cost to respondents is $1,005,410.
    Estimated Other Annual Costs to Respondents: MMS has identified no 
other cost burdens on respondents for providing this information.
    OMB Number: 1010-0091.
    Comments: The MMS will summarize written responses to this notice 
and address them in its submission for OMB approval. All comments will 
become a matter of public record. We will also consult with a 
representative sample of respondents. The estimates shown above are 
those currently approved by OMB for this collection of information. As 
a result of the consultations and

[[Page 18145]]

comments we receive, we will make any necessary adjustments for our 
submission to OMB. In calculating the burden, MMS may have assumed that 
respondents perform many of the requirements and maintain records in 
the normal course of their activities. MMS considers these to be usual 
and customary. Commenters are invited to provide information if they 
disagree with this assumption and they should tell us what the burden 
hours and costs imposed by this collection of information are.
    (1) The MMS specifically solicits comments on the following 
questions:
    (a) Is the proposed collection of information necessary for the 
proper performance of MMS's functions, and will it be useful?
    (b) Are the estimates of the burden hours of the proposed 
collection reasonable?
    (c) Do you have any suggestions that would enhance the quality, 
clarity, or usefulness of the information to be collected?
    (d) Is there a way to minimize the information collection burden on 
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated electronic, mechanical, or other forms of information 
technology?
    (2) In addition, the PRA requires agencies to estimate the total 
annual cost burden to respondents or recordkeepers resulting from the 
collection of information. The MMS needs your comments on this item. 
Your response should split the cost estimate into two components:
    (a) Total capital and startup cost component and
    (b) Annual operation, maintenance; and purchase of services 
component.
    Your estimates should consider the costs to generate, maintain, and 
disclose or provide the information. You should describe the methods 
you use to estimate major cost factors, including system and technology 
acquisition, expected useful life of capital equipment, discount 
rate(s), and the period over which you incur costs. Capital and startup 
costs include, among other items, computers and software you purchase 
to prepare for collecting information; monitoring, sampling, drilling, 
and testing equipment; and record storage facilities. Generally, your 
estimates should not include equipment or services purchased: (1) 
Before October 1, 1995; (2) to comply with requirements not associated 
with the information collection; (3) for reasons other than to provide 
information or keep records for the Government; or (4) as part of 
customary and usual business or private practices.
    Bureau Clearance Officer: Jo Ann Lauterbach, (202) 208-7744.

    Dated: April 3, 1997.
E. P. Danenberger,
Chief, Engineering and Operations Division.
[FR Doc. 97-9470 Filed 4-11-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-M