Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 108 / Monday, June 8, 2009 / Notices 27163 

section 5703 of Title 5, United States 

Code. 

Note: Employees of the Federal 

Government are not eligible for nomination 

or appointment to ISAC. 

Submitting Nominations 

Nominations should be typed and 

must include each of the following: 

1. A brief summary of no more than 

two (2) pages explaining the nominee’s 

suitability to serve on the ISAC. 

2. A re ́sume ́ or curriculum vitae. 

3. At least two (2) letters of reference. 

All required documents must be 

compiled and submitted in one 

complete nomination package. This 

office will not assemble nomination 

packages from documentation sent 

piecemeal. Incomplete submissions 

(missing one or more of the items 

described above) will not be considered. 

Nominations should be postmarked no 

later than July 23, 2009, to Dr. 

Christopher Dionigi, Acting Executive 

Director, National Invasive Species 

Council (OS/NISC), Regular Mail: 1849 

C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20240; 

Express Mail: 1201 Eye Street, NW., 5th 

Floor, Washington, DC 20005. 

The Secretary of the Interior, on 

behalf of the other members of NISC, is 

actively soliciting nominations of 

qualified minorities, women, persons 

with disabilities and members of low 

income populations to ensure that 

recommendations of the ISAC take into 

account the needs of the diverse groups 

served. 

Dated: June 3, 2009. 

Christopher P. Dionigi, 

Acting Executive Director, National Invasive 

Species Council. 

[FR Doc. E9–13312 Filed 6–5–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–RK–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Minerals Management Service 

[Docket No. MMS–2008–OMM–0041] 

MMS Information Collection Activity: 

1010–0048, Geological and 

Geophysical (G&G) Explorations of the 

Outer Continental Shelf, Revision of a 

Collection; Submitted for Office of 

Management and Budget Review; 

Comment Request 

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service 

(MMS), Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of extension of an 

information collection (1010–0048). 

SUMMARY: To comply with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 

(PRA), we are notifying the public that 

we have submitted to the Office of 

Management and Budget an information 

collection request (ICR) to renew 

approval of the paperwork requirements 

in the regulations under 30 CFR part 

251, ‘‘Geological and Geophysical (G&G) 

Explorations of the Outer Continental 

Shelf,’’ and related documents. This 

notice also provides the public a second 

opportunity to comment on the 

paperwork burden of these regulatory 

requirements. 

DATES: Submit written comments by 

July 8, 2009. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

by any either of the following methods 

listed below. 

• Either by fax (202) 395–5806 or 

email (OIRA_DOCKET@omb.eop.gov) 

directly to the Office of Information and 

Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Attention: 

Desk Officer for the Department of the 

Interior (1010–0048). 

• Electronically: go to http:// 

www.regulations.gov. Under the tab 

More Search Options, click Advanced 

Docket Search, then select Minerals 

Management Service from the agency 

drop-down menu, then click submit. In 

the Docket ID column, select MMS– 

2008–OMM–0041 to submit public 

comments and to view supporting and 

related materials available for this 

rulemaking. Information on using 

Regulations.gov, including instructions 

for accessing documents, submitting 

comments, and viewing the docket after 

the close of the comment period, is 

available through the site’s User Tips 

link. The MMS will post all comments. 

• Mail or hand-carry comments to the 

Department of the Interior; Minerals 

Management Service; Attention: Cheryl 

Blundon; 381 Elden Street, MS–4024; 

Herndon, Virginia 20170–4817. Please 

reference Information Collection 1010– 

0048 in your subject line and mark your 

message for return receipt. Include your 

name and return address in your 

message text. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Cheryl Blundon, Regulations and 

Standards Branch, (703) 787–1607. You 

may also contact Cheryl Blundon to 

obtain a copy, at no cost, of the 

regulations and the form that require the 

subject collection of information. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Title: 30 CFR Part 251, Geological and 

Geophysical (G&G) Explorations of the 

Outer Continental Shelf. 

Form: MMS–327, Application for 

Permit to Conduct Geological or 

Geophysical Exploration for Mineral 

Resources or Scientific Research in the 

Outer Continental Shelf. 

OMB Control Number: 1010–0048. 

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 

(Secretary) to prescribe rules and 

regulations to administer leasing of the 

OCS. Such rules and regulations will 

apply to all operations conducted under 

a lease. 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. 

The OCS Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1340) 

also states that ‘‘any person authorized 

by the Secretary may conduct geological 

and geophysical explorations in the 

[O]uter Continental Shelf, which do not 

interfere with or endanger actual 

operations under any lease maintained 

or granted pursuant to this OCS Lands 

Act, and which are not unduly harmful 

to aquatic life in such area.’’ The section 

further requires that permits to conduct 

such activities may only be issued if it 

is determined that the applicant is 

qualified; the activities are not 

polluting, hazardous, or unsafe; they do 

not interfere with other users of the 

area; and they do not disturb a site, 

structure, or object of historical or 

archaeological significance. Applicants 

for permits are required to submit Form 

MMS–327 to provide the information 

necessary to evaluate their 

qualifications. Upon approval, 

respondents are issued a permit. 

The OCS Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1352) 

further requires that certain costs be 

reimbursed to the parties submitting 

required G&G information and data. 

Under the OCS Lands Act, permittees 

are to be reimbursed for the costs of 

reproducing any G&G data required to 

be submitted. Permittees are to be 

reimbursed also for the reasonable cost 

of processing geophysical information 

required to be submitted when 

processing is in a form or manner 

required by the Director of the Minerals 

Management Service (MMS) and is not 

used in the normal conduct of the 

business of the permittee. 

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 the Office of Management 

and Budget (OMB) Circular A–25, 

authorize Federal agencies to recover 

the full cost of services that confer 


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27164 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 108 / Monday, June 8, 2009 / Notices 

special benefits. Under the Department 

of the Interior’s (DOI) implementing 

policy, the MMS is required to charge 

the full cost for services that provide 

special benefits or privileges to an 

identifiable non-Federal recipient above 

and beyond those that accrue to the 

public at large. The G&G permits are 

subject to cost recovery, and MMS 

regulations specify the filing fee for the 

application. 

Regulations to carry out these 

responsibilities are contained in 30 CFR 

part 251. This is a routine renewal 

request of the currently approved 

information collection (IC) aspects of 

these regulations. 

Responses are generally on occasion 

or as specified in each permit and the 

responses are mandatory or are required 

to obtain or retain a benefit. No 

questions of a sensitive nature are 

asked. The MMS protects information 

according to the Freedom of Information 

Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and its implementing 

regulations (43 CFR part 2), and under 

regulations at 30 CFR 251. 

The MMS uses the information to 

ensure there is no environmental 

degradation, personal harm or unsafe 

operations and conditions, damage to 

historical or archaeological sites, or 

interference with other uses; to analyze 

and evaluate preliminary or planned 

drilling activities; to monitor progress 

and activities in the OCS; to acquire 

G&G data and information collected 

under a federal permit offshore; and to 

determine eligibility for reimbursement 

from the government for certain costs. 

The information is necessary to 

determine if the applicants for permits 

or filers of notices meet the 

qualifications specified by the OCS 

Lands Act. The MMS uses information 

collected to understand the G&G 

characteristics of oil- and gas-bearing 

physiographic regions of the OCS. It 

aids the Secretary in obtaining a proper 

balance among the potentials for 

environmental damage, the discovery of 

oil and gas, and adverse impacts on 

affected coastal states. Information from 

permittees is necessary to determine the 

propriety and amount of 

reimbursement. 

Form MMS–327 is also submitted to 

MMS under 30 CFR 251 for approval. 

The MMS needs this information to 

determine if permittees have the 

necessary qualifications pertinent to 

G&G explorations or scientific research. 

Frequency: Responses are generally 

on occasion or as specified in each 

permit. 

Estimated Number and Description of 

Respondents: Potentially 130 

respondents (OCS Federal oil, gas, and 

sulphur permittees and notice filers). 

Estimated Reporting and 

Recordkeeping Hour Burden: The 

estimated annual hour burden for this 

information collection is a total of 1,243 

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. 

Citation 30 CFR 251 Reporting and recordkeeping requirement Hour burden Average number of annual 

responses 

Annual burden 

hours 

Non-hour cost burden 

30 CFR 251.1 through 251.6 

251.4(a), (b); 251.5(a), 

(b), (d); 251.6; 251.7.

Apply for permits (Form MMS–327) to conduct G&G 

exploration, including deep stratigraphic tests/revisions when necessary.

3 144 applications ............... 432 

144 applications × $2,012 = $289,728 

251.4(b); 251.5(c), (d); 

251.6.

File notices to conduct scientific research activities, 

including notice to MMS prior to beginning and 

after concluding activities.

1 3 notices ........................... 3 

251.6(b); 251.7(b)(5) ........ Notify MMS if specific actions should occur; report 

archaeological resources (no instances reported 

since 1982).

1 1 notice ............................. 1 

Subtotal ..................... .................................................................................... ........................ 148 responses .................. 436 

$289,728 non-hour cost burden 

30 CFR 251.7 through 251.9 

251.7 ................................ Submit information on test drilling activities under a 

permit, including Forms MMS–123 and MMS– 

123S.

Burden included under 1010–0141 0 

251.7(c) ............................ Enter into agreement for group participation in test 

drilling, including publishing summary statement; 

provide MMS copy of notice/list of participants (no 

agreements submitted since 1989).

1 1 agreement ..................... 1 

251.7(d) ............................ Submit bond(s) on deep stratigraphic test ................ Burden included under 30 CFR part 256 

(1010–0006) 

0 

251.8(a) ............................ Request reimbursement for certain costs associated 

with MMS inspections (no requests in many 

years. OCS Lands Act requires Government reimbursement).

1 1 request .......................... 1 


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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 108 / Monday, June 8, 2009 / Notices 27165 

Citation 30 CFR 251 Reporting and recordkeeping requirement Hour burden Average number of annual 

responses 

Annual burden 

hours 

Non-hour cost burden 

251.8(b), (c) ...................... Submit modifications to, and status/final reports on, 

activities conducted under a permit.

2 55 submissions × 3 reports = 165.330 

251.9(c) ............................ Notify MMS to relinquish a permit ............................. 1⁄2 2 notices ........................... 1 

Subtotal ..................... .................................................................................... ........................ 169 responses .................. 333 

30 CFR 251.10 through 251.13 

251.10(c) .......................... File appeals ............................................................... Exempt under 5 CFR 1320.4(a)(2), (c) 0 

251.11; 251.12 ................. Notify MMS and submit G&G data and/or information collected under a permit and/or processed by 

permittees or 3rd parties, including reports, logs 

or charts, results, analyses, descriptions, etc.

4 40 submissions ................. 160 

251.13 .............................. Request reimbursement for certain costs associated 

with reproducing data/information.

2 40 submissions ................. 80 

Subtotal ..................... .................................................................................... ........................ 80 responses .................... 240 

30 CFR 251.14 

251.14(a) .......................... Submit comments on MMS intent to disclose data 

and/or information to the public.

1 1 submission .................... 1 

251.14(c)(2) ...................... Submit comments on MMS intent to disclose data 

and/or information to an independent contractor/ 

agent.

1 1 submission .................... 1 

251.14(c)(4) ...................... Contractor/agent submits written commitment not to 

sell, trade, license, or disclose data and/or information without MMS consent.

1 1 submission .................... 1 

251.1–251.14 ................... General departure and alternative compliance requests not specifically covered elsewhere in part 

251 regulations.

1 1 request .......................... 1 

Subtotal ..................... .................................................................................... ........................ 4 responses ...................... 4 

Extension for Permit Form & Recordkeeping 

Permit form (Form MMS– 

327).

Request extension of permit time period .................. 1 100 extensions ................. 100 

Retain G&G data/information for 10 years and make 

available to MMS upon request.

1 130 recordkeepers ........... 130 

Subtotal ..................... .................................................................................... ........................ 230 responses .................. 230 

Total burden ....... .................................................................................... ........................ 631 responses .................. 1,243 

$289,728 non-hour cost burden 

Estimated Reporting and 

Recordkeeping Non-Hour Cost Burden: 

We have identified one paperwork nonhour cost burden associated with this 

collection of information. Under 

251.5(a), there is an application fee of 

$2,012. We have not identified any 

other paperwork non-hour cost burden 

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: 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 

proposed collection of information is 

necessary for the agency to perform its 

duties, including whether the 

information is useful; (b) evaluate the 

accuracy of the agency’s estimate 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 

automated collection techniques or 

other forms of information technology. 

To comply with the public 

consultation process, on March 31, 


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27166 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 108 / Monday, June 8, 2009 / Notices 

2009, we published a Federal Register 

notice (74 FR 14576) announcing that 

we would submit this ICR to OMB for 

approval. The notice provided the 

required 60-day comment period. In 

addition, § 251.15 provides the OMB 

control number for the information 

collection requirements imposed by the 

30 CFR part 251 regulations and form. 

The regulation and form also inform the 

public that they may comment at any 

time on the collection of information 

and provide the address to which they 

should send comments. We have 

received no comments in response to 

these efforts. 

If you wish to comment in response 

to this notice, you may send your 

comments to the offices listed under the 

ADDRESSES section of this notice. The 

OMB has up to 60 days to approve or 

disapprove the information collection 

but may respond after 30 days. 

Therefore, to ensure maximum 

consideration, OMB should receive 

public comments by July 8, 2009. 

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. 

MMS Information Collection 

Clearance Officer: Arlene Bajusz (202) 

208–7744. 

Dated: April 17, 2009. 

E.P. Danenberger, 

Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs. 

[FR Doc. E9–13245 Filed 6–5–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Minerals Management Service 

[Docket No. MMS–2009–OMM–0007] 

MMS Information Collection Activity: 

1010–0177, Global Positioning System 

for MODUs, Extension of a Collection; 

Comment Request 

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service 

(MMS), Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of extension of an 

information collection (1010–00177). 

SUMMARY: To comply with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 

(PRA), MMS is inviting comments on a 

collection of information that we will 

submit to the Office of Management and 

Budget (OMB) for review and approval. 

This information collection request 

concerns the paperwork requirements in 

the regulations under 30 CFR 250, 

Subpart A, ‘‘General.’’ The MMS is 

renewing OMB approved Emergency 

Request 1010–0177 because information 

needs to be collected for a longer period 

than allowed in the Emergency Request. 

After a major weather event, like a 

hurricane, lessees and operators need to 

keep reporting new information to MMS 

until all MODUs are determined to be 

safe. 

DATES: Submit written comments by 

August 7, 2009. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Cheryl Blundon, Regulations and 

Standards Branch at (703) 787–1607. 

You may also contact Cheryl Blundon to 

obtain a copy, at no cost, of the 

regulations and the NTL that requires 

the subject collection of information. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

by either of the following methods listed 

below. 

• Electronically: Go to http:// 

www.regulations.gov. Under the tab 

More Search Options, click Advanced 

Docket Search, then select Minerals 

Management Service from the agency 

drop-down menu, then click submit. In 

the Docket ID column, select MMS– 

2009–OMM–0007 to submit public 

comments and to view supporting and 

related materials available for this 

information collection. Information on 

using Regulations.gov, including 

instructions for accessing documents, 

submitting comments, and viewing the 

docket after the close of the comment 

period, is available through the site’s 

User Tips link. The MMS will post all 

comments. 

• Mail or hand-carry comments to the 

Department of the Interior; Minerals 

Management Service; Attention: Cheryl 

Blundon; 381 Elden Street, MS–4024; 

Herndon, Virginia 20170–4817. Please 

reference Information Collection 1010– 

0177 in your subject line and mark your 

message for return receipt. Include your 

name and return address in your 

message text. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Title: 30 CFR 250, Subpart A, General, 

GPS (Global Positioning System) for 

MODUs 

OMB Control Number: 1010–0177. 

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 

(Secretary) to prescribe rules and 

regulations to administer leasing of the 

OCS. Such rules and regulations will 

apply to all operations conducted under 

a lease. 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; 

preserve and maintain free enterprise 

competition; and ensure that the extent 

of oil and natural gas resources of the 

OCS is assessed at the earliest 

practicable time. Section 43 U.S.C. 

1332(6) states that ‘‘operations in the 

outer Continental Shelf should be 

conducted in a safe manner by welltrained personnel using technology, 

precautions, and techniques sufficient 

to prevent or minimize the likelihood of 

blowouts, loss of well control, fires, 

spillages, physical obstruction 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.’’ 

To carry out these responsibilities, the 

Minerals Management Service (MMS) 

issues regulations to ensure that 

operations in the OCS will meet 

statutory requirements; provide for 

safety and protect the environment; and 

result in diligent exploration, 

development, and production of OCS 

leases. In addition, we also issue Notice 

to Lessees (NTLs) that provide 

clarification, explanation, and 

interpretation of our regulations. These 

NTLs are used to convey purely 

informational material and to cover 

situations that might not be adequately 

addressed in our regulations. 

Regulations at 30 CFR 250 implement 

these statutory requirements. We use the 

information for MMS to assess the 

whereabouts of any facility becoming 

unmoored due to extreme weather 

situations; as well as, to follow the path 

of that facility to determine if other 

facilities/pipelines, etc., were damaged 

in any way. The offshore oil and gas 

industry will use the information to 

determine the safest and quickest way to 

either remove the obstacles or to fix and 

reuse them. 

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 part 2) and under 

regulations at 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. 

Frequency: On occasion. 


cprice-sewell on PRODPC61 with NOTICES