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[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 196 (Thursday, October 12, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47576-47578]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-22015]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

[MMAA104000; OMB Control Number 1010-0082; Docket ID: BOEM-2018-0016]

Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; 30 CFR 581, 
Leasing of Minerals Other Than Oil, Gas, Sulphur in the Outer 
Continental Shelf

AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is proposing to renew an 
information collection with revisions.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
November 13, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on this information collection request 
(ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget's Desk Officer for the 
Department of the Interior by email at [email protected]; or 
via facsimile to (202) 395-5806. Please provide a copy of your comments 
to Information Collection Clearance Officer, Anna Atkinson, Bureau of 
Ocean Energy Management, 45600 Woodland Road, VAM-DIR, Sterling, 
Virginia 20166; or by email to [email protected]. Please reference 
OMB Control Number 1010-0082 in the subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact Anna Atkinson, Office of Policy, Regulations, 
and Analysis by email, or by telephone at 703-787-1025. You may also 
view the ICR at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, we provide the general public and other Federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on new, proposed, revised, and 
continuing collections of information. This helps us assess the impact 
of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's 
reporting burden. It also helps the public understand our information 
collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired 
format.
    A Federal Register notice with a 60-day public comment period 
soliciting comments on this collection of information was published on 
April 14, 2017 (82 FR 18008). No comments were received.
    We are again soliciting comments on the proposed ICR that is 
described below. We are especially interested in public comment 
addressing the following issues: (1) Is the collection necessary to the 
proper functions of BOEM; (2) will this information be processed and 
used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) 
how might BOEM enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (5) how might BOEM minimize the burden 
of this collection on the respondents, including through the use of 
information technology?
    Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. 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.
    Abstract: The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (Act), as amended 
(43 U.S.C. 1334 and 43 U.S.C. 1337(k)), authorizes the Secretary of the 
Interior to administer the provisions relating to the leasing of the 
Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), and to prescribe such rules and 
regulations as may be necessary to carry out such provisions. 
Additionally, the Act authorizes the Secretary to implement regulations 
to grant to qualified persons, offering the highest cash bonuses on the 
basis of competitive bidding, leases of any mineral other than oil, 
gas, and sulphur. This applies to any area of the OCS not then under 
lease for such mineral upon such royalty, rental, and other terms and 
conditions as the Secretary may prescribe at the time of offering the 
area for lease.
    Regulations at 30 CFR part 581 implement these statutory 
requirements. There has been no leasing activity on the OCS for 
minerals other than oil, gas, or sulphur under these regulations for 
several years, and BOEM has not received information under this Part of 
its regulation. However, there is potential for a person, entity, or 
company to request that minerals other than oil, gas, or sulfur be 
offered for lease. Therefore, we are renewing OMB approval for this 
information collection.
    BOEM will use the information required by 30 CFR part 581 to 
determine if statutory and regulatory

[[Page 47577]]

requirements are met prior to the issuance of a lease. Among other 
things, BOEM will use the information to:
     Evaluate the area and minerals requested by the lessee to 
assess the viability of offering leases for sale;
     Request the state(s) to initiate the establishment of a 
joint group to assess the proposed action;
     Ensure excessive overriding royalty interests are not 
created that would put economic constraints on all parties involved;
     Document that a leasehold or geographical subdivision has 
been surrendered by the record title holder; and
     Determine if activities on the proposed lease area(s) will 
have a significant impact on the environment.
    We protect proprietary information in accordance with the 
provisions of the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552), the 
Department of the Interior's implementing regulations (43 CFR part 2), 
and BOEM's regulation at 30 CFR 581.7.
    Title of Collection: 30 CFR 581, Leasing of Minerals Other than 
Oil, Gas, and Sulphur in the Outer Continental Shelf.
    OMB Control Number: 1010-0082.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: As there are no active respondents, we 
estimated the potential annual number of respondents to be one. 
Potential respondents are potential OCS lessees, state governments, and 
OCS lessees.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 10 responses.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 984 hours.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Frequency of Collection: Annually.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: We have identified one 
non-hour cost burden for this collection, a $50 required or non-
required filing document fee under 30 CFR 581.41.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: We expect the 
burden estimate for the renewal will be 984 hours, which reflects a 
decrease of 280 hour burdens.
    In calculating the burdens, responses to requests for information 
and interest or proposed notices of sale pursuant to 30 CFR 581.12 and 
581.16 do not constitute information collection under 5 CFR 
1320.3(h)(4). These inquiries are general solicitations of public 
comment, so BOEM has removed the burden hours associated with them, 
reflecting a decrease of 280 hour burdens.
    The following table details the individual BOEM components and 
respective hour burden estimates of this ICR. 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.

                                                  Burden Table
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                                       Reporting and/or
     Citation 30 CFR Part 581            recordkeeping         Hour burden    Average number of    Annual burden
                                        requirements *                         annual reponses         hours
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                                                     Non-hour cost burden(s) *
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                                               Subpart A--General
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6................................  Appeal decisions........    Exempt under 5 CFR 1320.4(a)(2),                0
                                                                             (c).
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9................................  Governor of affected                  16  1 request..........              16
                                    States initiates
                                    negotiations on
                                    jurisdictional
                                    controversy, etc., and
                                    enters agreement with
                                    BOEM.
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    Subtotal...............................................................  1..................              16
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                                          Subpart B--Leasing Procedures
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11(a), (c).......................  Submit request for                    60  1 request..........              60
                                    approval for mineral
                                    lease with required
                                    information.
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12...............................  Submit response to Call    Not considered IC as defined in 5                0
                                    for Information and               CFR 1320.3(h)(4).
                                    Interest on areas for
                                    leasing of minerals
                                    (other than oil, gas,
                                    sulphur) in accordance
                                    with approved lease
                                    program, including
                                    information from States/
                                    local governments,
                                    industry, Federal
                                    agencies.
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13...............................  States or local                      200  1 taskforce........             200
                                    governments establish
                                    task force; submit
                                    comments/
                                    recommendations on
                                    planning, coordination,
                                    consultation, and other
                                    issues that may arise
                                    in the leasing process.
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16...............................  Submit suggestions and     Not considered IC as defined in 5                0
                                    relevant information in           CFR 1320.3(h)(4).
                                    response to request for
                                    comments on the
                                    proposed leasing
                                    notice, including
                                    information from States/
                                    local governments.
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18; 20(e), (f); 26(a), (b).......  Submit bids (oral or                 250  1 response.........             250
                                    sealed) and required
                                    information.
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18(b)(3), (c); 20 (e), (f).......  Tie bids--submit oral                 20  1 response.........              20
                                    bids for highest bidder.
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[[Page 47578]]

                                                  Burden Table
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                                       Reporting and/or
     Citation 30 CFR Part 581            recordkeeping         Hour burden    Average number of    Annual burden
                                        requirements *                         annual reponses         hours
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                                                     Non-hour cost burden(s) *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20(a), (b), (c); 41(a)...........  Establish a company file              58  1 response.........              58
                                    for qualification,
                                    submit updated
                                    information, submit
                                    qualifications for
                                    lessee/bidder and
                                    required information.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
21(a); 47(c).....................  Request for                   Not considered IC per 5 CFR                   0
                                    reconsideration of bid              1320.3(h)(9).
                                    rejection/cancellation.
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21(b), (e); 23; 26(e), (i); 40(b)  Execute lease (includes              100  1 lease............             100
                                    submission of evidence
                                    of authorized agent and
                                    request for dating of
                                    leases); maintain
                                    auditable records
                                    related to 30 CFR
                                    Chapter XII, Subchapter
                                    A--[burden under ONRR
                                    requirements].
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    Subtotal...............................................................  6..................             688
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                                       Subpart C--Financial Considerations
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
31(b); 41........................  File application and                 160  1 application......             160
                                    required information
                                    for approval of
                                    assignment or transfer.
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32(b), (c).......................  File application for                  80  1 application......              80
                                    waiver, suspension, or
                                    reduction and required
                                    documentation.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
33; 41(c)........................  Submit surety or            Burden covered under 1010-0081.                 0
                                    personal bond.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal...............................................................  2..................             240
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                                   Subpart D--Assignments and Lease Extensions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
41...............................  Transfer application       $50 required or non-required filing document fee x
                                    filing fee.                                    1 = $50.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Subpart E--Termination of Leases
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
46...............................  File written request for              40  1..................              40
                                    relinquishment.
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    Total Burden...........................................................  10.................             984
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                                           $50 Non-Hour Cost Burden
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    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 OMB control number.
    The authority for this action is the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

    Dated: October 5, 2017.
Deanna Meyer-Pietruszka,
Chief, Office of Policy, Regulation and Analysis.
[FR Doc. 2017-22015 Filed 10-11-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P
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