10900 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 34 / Tuesday, February 20, 2001 / Notices

Dated: January 29, 2001.

Phillip C. Perlewitz,

Chief, Branch of Solid Minerals.

[FR Doc. 01–3472 Filed 2–16–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–22–P

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 of a

currently approved information

collection (OMB Control Number 1010–

0051).

SUMMARY: To comply with the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

(PRA), we are 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)

is titled ‘‘30 CFR 250, Subpart L, Oil and

Gas Production Measurement, Surface

Commingling, and Security.’’

DATES: Submit written comments by

April 23, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Mail or hand-carry

comments to the Department of the

Interior; Minerals Management Service;

Attention: Rules Processing Team; Mail

Stop 4024; 381 Elden Street; Herndon,

Virginia 20170–4817. If you wish to email comments, the e-mail address is:

rules.comments@mms.gov. Reference

‘‘Information Collection 1010–0051’’ in

your e-mail subject line. Include your

name and return address in your e-mail

message and mark your message for

return receipt.

Our practice is to make comments,

including names and home addresses of

respondents, available for public review

during regular business hours.

Individual respondents may request that

we withhold their home address from

the record, which we will honor to the

extent allowable by law. There may be

circumstances in which we would

withhold from the record a respondent’s

identity, as allowable by the law. If you

wish us to withhold your name and/or

address, you must state this

prominently at the beginning of your

comment. However, we will not

consider anonymous comments. We

will make all submissions from

organizations or businesses, and from

individuals identifying themselves as

representatives or officials of

organizations or businesses, available

for public inspection in their entirety.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Alexis London, Rules Processing Team,

telephone (703) 787–1600. You may also

contact Alexis London to obtain a copy

at no cost of the regulations that require

the subject collection of information.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: 30 CFR part 250, Subpart L, Oil

and Gas Production Measurement,

Surface Commingling, and Security.

OMB Control Number: 1010–0051.

Abstract: The Outer Continental Shelf

(OCS) Lands Act, 43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.,

gives the Secretary (Secretary) of the

Department of the Interior (DOI) the

responsibility to preserve, protect, and

develop oil and gas resources in the

OCS. This must be 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;

balance orderly energy-resources

development with protection of the

human, marine, and coastal

environment; ensure the public a fair

and equitable return on OCS resources;

and preserve and maintain free

enterprise competition. The Federal Oil

and Gas Royalty Management Act of

1982 (30 U.S.C. 1701, et seq.) at section

1712(b)(2) prescribes that an operator

will ‘‘develop and comply with such

minimum site security measures as the

Secretary deems appropriate, to protect

oil or gas produced or stored on a lease

site or on the Outer Continental Shelf

from theft.’’ These authorities and

responsibilities are among those

delegated to MMS under which we

issue regulations governing oil and gas

and sulphur operations in the OCS. This

information collection request addresses

the regulations at 30 CFR part 250,

subpart L, Oil and Gas Production

Measurement, Surface Commingling,

and Security, and the associated

supplementary notices to lessees and

operators intended to provide

clarification, description, or explanation

of these regulations.

MMS uses the information collected

under subpart L to ensure that the

volumes of hydrocarbons produced are

measured accurately, and royalties are

paid on the proper volumes.

Specifically, MMS needs the

information to:

• Determine if measurement

equipment is properly installed,

provides accurate measurement of

production on which royalty is due, and

is operating properly;

• Obtain rates of production data in

allocating the volumes of production

measured at royalty sales meters, which

can be examined during field

inspections;

• Ascertain if all removals of oil and

condensate from the lease are reported;

• Determine the amount of oil that

was shipped when measurements are

taken by gauging the tanks rather than

being measured by a meter;

• Ensure that the sales location is

secure and production cannot be

removed without the volumes being

recorded; and

• Review proving reports to verify

that data on run tickets are calculated

and reported accurately.

Responses are mandatory. No

questions of a ‘‘sensitive’’ nature are

asked. MMS will protect proprietary

information according to 30 CFR

250.196 (Data and information to be

made available to the public) and 30

CFR part 252 (OCS Oil and Gas

Information Program).

Frequency: The frequency varies by

section, but is primarily monthly or ‘‘on

occasion.’’

Estimated Number and Description of

Respondents: Approximately 130

Federal OCS oil and gas or sulphur

lessees.

Estimated Annual Reporting and

Recordkeeping ‘‘Hour’’ Burden: The

currently approved ‘‘hour’’ burden for

this information collection is a total of

5,330 hours. The following chart

summarizes the components of this

burden and estimated burdens per

response or record. In calculating the

burden, 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 250 subpart L Reporting or recordkeeping requirement Hour burden per response or

record

Reporting Requirements

1202(a)(1), (b)(1) ............................. Submit liquid hydrocarbon measurement procedures application and/

or changes.

8 hours.

1202(a)(4) ........................................ Copy & send pipeline (retrograde) condensate volumes upon request 3⁄4 hour.

1202(c)(4) * ...................................... Copy & send all liquid hydrocarbon run tickets monthly ....................... 1 minute.

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 34 / Tuesday, February 20, 2001 / Notices 10901

Citation 30 CFR 250 subpart L Reporting or recordkeeping requirement Hour burden per response or

record

1202(d)(4) ........................................ Request approval for proving on a schedule other than monthly ......... 1 hour.

1202(d)(5) * ...................................... Copy & submit liquid hydrocarbon royalty meter proving reports

monthly & request waiver as needed.

1 minute.

1202(f)(2) * ....................................... Copy & submit mechanical-displacement prover & tank prover calibration reports.10 minutes.

1202(l)(2) * ....................................... Copy & submit royalty tank calibration charts before using for royalty

measurement.

10 minutes.

1202(l)(3) * ....................................... Copy & submit inventory tank calibration charts upon request ............ 1⁄4 hour.

1203(b)(1) ........................................ Submit gas measurement procedures application and/or changes ...... 8 hours.

1203(b)(6), (8), (9) * ........................ Copy & submit gas quality and volume statements upon request

(80% of these will be routine; 20% will take longer).

80% @ 5 mins.

20% @ 30 mins.

1203(c)(4) * ...................................... Copy & submit gas meter calibration reports upon request ................. 5 minutes.

1203(e)(1) * ...................................... Copy & submit gas processing plant records upon request ................. 1⁄2 hour.

1203(f)(5) ......................................... Copy & submit measuring records of gas lost or used on lease upon

request.

5 minutes.

1204(a)(1) ........................................ Submit commingling application and/or changes .................................. 8 hours.

1204(a)(2) ........................................ Provide state production volumetric and/or fractional analysis data

upon request.

1 hour.

1205(a)(4) ........................................ Report security problems (telephone) ................................................... 1⁄4 hour.

Recordkeeping Requirements

1202(c)(1), (2) ................................. Record observed data, correction factors & net standard volume on

royalty meter and tank run tickets.

Respondents record these items

as part of normal business

records & practices to verify accuracy of production measured

for sale purposes.

1202(e) ............................................ Record master meter calibration runs ...................................................

1202(h)(1), (2), (3), (4) .................... Record mechanical-displacement prover, master meter, or tank prover proof runs.

1202(i)(1)(iv), (2)(iii) ........................ Record liquid hydrocarbon royalty meter malfunction and repair or adjustment on proving report; record unregistered production on run

ticket.

1202(j) ............................................. List Cpl and Ctl factors on run tickets ...................................................

1202(e)(6) ........................................ Retain master meter calibration reports for 2 years ............................. 1 minute.

1202(k)(5) ........................................ Retain liquid hydrocarbon allocation meter proving reports for 2 years 1 minute.

1202(l)(3) ......................................... Retain liquid hydrocarbon inventory tank calibration charts for as long

as tanks are in use.

5 minutes.

1203(c)(4) ........................................ Retain calibration reports for 2 years .................................................... 1 minute.

1203(f)(4) ......................................... Document & retain measurement records on gas lost or used on

lease for 2 years.

1 minute.

1204(b)(3) ........................................ Retain well test data for 2 years ........................................................... 2 minutes.

1205(a)(2) ........................................ Post signs at royalty or inventory tank used in royalty determination

process.

1 hour.

1205(b)(3), (4) ................................. Retain seal number lists for 2 years ..................................................... 2 minutes.

* Respondents gather this information as part of their normal business practices. MMS only requires copies of readily available documents.

There is no burden for testing, meter reading, document preparation, etc.

Estimated Annual Reporting and

Recordkeeping ‘‘Non-Hour Cost’’

Burden: We have identified no ‘‘nonhour’’ costs burdens.

Comments: The PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501,

et seq.) 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 OMB control number.

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 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.

We will summarize written responses to

this notice and address them in our

submission for OMB approval,

including any appropriate adjustments

to the estimated burden.

Agencies must estimate both the

‘‘hour’’ burden and ‘‘non-hour cost’’

burden to respondents or recordkeepers

resulting from the collection of

information. We have not identified any

non-hour cost burdens for the

information collection aspects of 30 CFR

part 250, subpart L. Therefore, if you

have 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. 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, and

record storage facilities. Generally, your

estimates should not include equipment

or services purchased: (i) Before October

10902 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 34 / Tuesday, February 20, 2001 / Notices

1, 1995; (ii) to comply with

requirements not associated with the

information collection; (iii) for reasons

other than to provide information or

keep records for the Government; or (iv)

as part of customary and usual business

or private practices.

Dated: February 6, 2001.

E.P. Danenberger,

Chief, Engineering and Operations Division.

[FR Doc. 01–4059 Filed 2–16–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–MR–U

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service

Environmental Documents Prepared

for Proposed Oil and Gas Operations

on the Alaska Outer Continental Shelf

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service

(MMS), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of the Availability of

Environmental Documents Prepared for

Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Mineral

Exploration Proposal on the Alaska

OCS.

SUMMARY: The Minerals Management

Service (MMS), in accordance with

Federal regulations (40 CFR 1501.4 and

1506.6) that implement the National

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA),

announces the availability of a NEPArelated Environmental Assessment

prepared by the MMS for oil and gas

exploration activities proposed on the

Alaska OCS. This listing includes the

only proposal for which the Alaska OCS

Office prepared a Finding of No

Significant Impact (FONSI) in the 3-

month period preceding this Notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For

matters pertaining to this notice, contact

Mr. Paul Stang (Alaska OCS Region,

Anchorage) at (907) 271–6045. The

FONSI and associated EA are available

for public inspection between the hours

of 7:45 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday

through Friday at: Minerals

Management Service, Alaska OCS

Region, Resource Center, 949 East 36th

Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska 99508–

4363, phone (907) 271–6070 or (907)

271–6621 or toll free at 1–800–764–

2627. Request may also be sent to MMS

at akwebmaster@mms.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

proposal is for exploratory-drilling

operations that would be conducted in

accordance with the OCS Lands Act.

The purpose of the Environmental

Assessment (EA) is to evaluate the

probable environmental effects of the

operations, described in the Exploration

Plan (EP) for McCovey #1 Well, Beaufort

Sea, Alaska, dated September 19, 2000.

The McCovey drill site would be located

approximately 12.5 miles northeast of

West Dock at Prudhoe Bay, 60 miles

northeast of Nuiqsut, 7 miles northwest

of Cross Island, and 110 miles northwest

of Kaktovik in the Beaufort Sea.

The methods by which the

exploratory well would be drilled are

detailed in the EP and in the associated

Environmental Report and Oil Discharge

Prevention and Contingency Plan.

Additional details about the proposed

operations are included in Federal

Register Notice 65 FR 60407 dated

October 11, 2000, summarizing Phillip’s

(Alaska) Inc. application for an

Incidental Harassment Authorization

from the National Marine Fisheries

Service.

Location: Lease:OCS–1577; Block:

6515.

EA Number: AK 00–01.

FONSI Date: October 19, 2000.

MMS prepares EA’s and FONSI’s for

proposals which relate to exploration

for oil and gas resources on the Alaska

OCS. The EA’s examine the potential

environmental effects of activities

described in the proposals and present

MMS conclusions regarding the

significance of those effects. The EA is

used as a basis for determining whether

or not approvals of the proposals

constitute major Federal actions that

significantly affect the quality of the

human environment in accordance with

NEPA 102(2)(C). A Finding Of No

Significant Impact (FONSI) is prepared

in those instances where MMS finds

that approval will not result in

significant effects on the quality of the

human environment. The FONSI briefly

presents the basis for that finding and

includes a summary or copy of the EA.

This Notice constitutes the public

Notice of Availability of environmental

documents required under the NEPA

regulations. Persons interested in

reviewing environmental documents for

the proposal listed above, or in

obtaining information about EA’s and

FONSI’s prepared for activities on the

Alaska OCS, are encouraged to contact

the Alaska OCS Regional Office of

MMS.

Dated: February 13, 2001.

Carolita U. Kallaur,

Associate Director for Offshore Minerals

Management.

[FR Doc. 01–4037 Filed 2–16–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service (MMS)

Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Gulf of

Mexico (GOM) Region, Proposed Use

of Floating Production, Storage and

Offloading (FPSO) Systems on the

GOM OCS

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of the final

environmental impact statement (EIS)

on the proposed use of FPSO systems on

the central and western GOM OCS.

The MMS prepared an EIS on FPSO

systems which will be used in

deepwater areas of the OCS in the GOM.

The MMS based the EIS analyses on

estimates of the kinds and amounts of

activity onshore and offshore that could

result from the deployment and use of

FPSO systems to produce oil and gas in

areas of the GOM where the present day

oil pipeline system does not yet extend.

The FPSO systems will produce the oil

in the conventional fashion, but will

store it on board rather than direct it

into pipelines. The FPSO systems will

be unloaded regularly by shuttle tankers

which will transport the oil to Gulf

Coast seaports.

You may obtain single copies of the

final EIS, or a CD version, from the

MMS, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region,

Attention: Public Information Office

(MS–5034), 1201 Elmwood Park

Boulevard, Room 114, New Orleans,

Louisiana 70123–2394, or by calling 1–

800–200–GULF.

You may look at copies of the final

EIS in the following libraries:

Texas

Abilene Christian University, Margaret

and Herman Brown Library, 1600

Campus Court, Abilene;

Alma M. Carpenter Public Library, 330

South Ann, Sourlake;

Aransas Pass Public Library, 110 North

Lamont Street, Aransas Pass;

Austin Public Library, 402 West Ninth

Street, Austin;

Bay City Public Library, 1900 Fifth

Street, Bay City;

Baylor University, 13125 Third Street,

Waco;

Brazoria County Library, 410 Brazoport

Boulevard, Freeport;

Calhoun County Library, 301 South

Ann, Port Lavaca;

Chambers County Library System, 202

Cummings Street, Anahuac;

Comfort Public Library, Seventh & High

Streets, Comfort;

Corpus Christi Central Library, 805

Comanche Street, Corpus Christi;