Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2009/10/06/E9-24094/mms-information-collection-activity-1010-0006-leasing-of-sulphur-or-oil-and-gas-in-the-outer
Timestamp: 2017-09-23 18:46:25
Document Index: 169068218

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 256', 'art 260', 'art 256', 'art 260', 'art 2', 'art 256', 'art 250', '§\u2009256', '§\u2009256', '§\u2009256']

Federal Register :: MMS Information Collection Activity: 1010-0006, Leasing of Sulphur or Oil and Gas in the Outer Continental Shelf and Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing, Extension of a Collection; Comment Request
A Notice by the Minerals Management Service on 10/06/2009
Submit written comments by December 7, 2009.
74 FR 51316
51316-51318 (3 pages)
E9-24094
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/E9-24094 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/E9-24094
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. The information collection request (ICR) concerns the paperwork requirements in the regulations under 30 CFR 256, “Leasing of Sulphur or Oil and Gas in the Outer Continental Shelf,” and 30 CFR 260, “Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing.”
Electronically: go to http://www.regulations.gov. In the entry titled “Enter Keyword or ID,” enter docket ID MMS-2009-OMM-0013 then click search. Under the tab “View by Docket Folder” you can submit public comments and view supporting and related materials available for this collection of information. The MMS will post all comments.
Title: 30 CFR Part 256, “Leasing of Sulphur or Oil and Gas in the Outer Continental Shelf,” and 30 CFR Part 260, “Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing.”
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. Also, the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (EPCA) prohibits certain lease bidding arrangements (42 U.S.C. 6213(c)).
These authorities and responsibilities are among those delegated to the MMS under which we issue regulations governing oil and gas and sulphur operations in the OCS. This ICR addresses the regulations at 30 CFR Part 256, “Leasing of Sulphur or Oil and Gas in the OCS,” 30 CFR Part 260, “OCS Oil and Gas Leasing,” and the associated supplementary Notices to Lessees and Operators (NTLs) intended to provide clarification, description, or explanation of these regulations. This ICR also concerns the use of forms to process bonds per subpart I, Bonding, the transfer of interest in leases per subpart J, Assignments, Transfers and Extensions, and the filing of relinquishments per subpart K, Termination of Leases. The forms are:
We will protect specific individual replies from disclosure as proprietary information according to section 26 of the OCS Lands Act, the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and its implementing regulations (43 CFR part 2), and 30 CFR 256.10(d). No items of a sensitive nature are collected. Responses are mandatory or are required to obtain or retain a benefit.
Description of Respondent s: Respondents comprise Federal oil and gas or sulphur lessees and/or operators.
Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: The currently approved annual reporting burden for this collection is 17,103 hours. 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.
Citation 30 CFR part 256 and NTLs
Subparts G, H, I, J: 37; 53; 68; 70; 71; 72; 73 Request approval for various operations or submit plans or applications. Burden included with other approved collections in 30 CFR Part 250 (1010-0114, 1010-0141, 1010-0142, 1010-0149, 1010-0151) 0
Subpart B: All sections Submit suggestions and relevant information in response to request for comments on proposed 5-year leasing program, including information from States/local governments. Not considered IC as defined in 5 CFR 1320.3(h)(9) 0
Subpart D: All sections Submit response to Call for Information and Nominations on areas for leasing of minerals in specified areas in accordance with an approved leasing program, including information from States/local governments. Not considered IC as defined in 5 CFR 1320.3(h)(9) 0
Subpart F: 31 States or local governments submit comments/recommendations on size, timing, or location of proposed lease sale 4
Subpart G: 35; 46(d), (e) Establish a Company File for qualification; submit updated information, submit qualifications for lessee/bidder, request exception 2
41; 43; 46(g) Submit qualification of bidders for joint bids and statement or report of production, along with supporting information/appeal 2
44; 46 Submit bids and required information 5
47(c) File agreement to accept joint lease on tie bids 31/2
47(e)(1), (e)(3) Request for reconsideration of bid rejection. Not considered IC as defined in 5 CFR 1320.3(h)(9) 0
47(f), (i); 50 Execute lease (includes submission of evidence of authorized agent and request for dating of leases) 1
Subpart I: 52(f)(2), (g)(2) Submit authority for Regional Director to sell Treasury or alternate type of securities 2
53(a), 53(b); 54 OCS Mineral Lessee's and Operator's Bond (Form MMS-2028) 1/4
53(c), (d), (f); 54(e) Demonstrate financial worth/ability to carry out present and future financial obligations, request approval of another form of security, or request reduction in amount of supplemental bond required 31/2
54 OCS Mineral Lessee's and Operator's Supplemental Plugging & Abandonment Bond (Form MMS-2028A) 1/4
55 Notify MMS of any lapse in previous bond/action filed alleging lessee, surety, or guarantor is insolvent or bankrupt 1
56 Provide plan/instructions to fund lease-specific abandonment account and related information; request approval to withdraw funds 12
57 Provide third-party guarantee, indemnity agreement, financial information, related notices, reports, and annual update; notify MMS if guarantor becomes unqualified 19
57(d)(3); 58 Notice of and request approval to terminate period of liability, cancel bond, or other security 1/2
59(c)(2) Provide information to demonstrate lease will be brought into compliance 16
Subpart J: 62; 63; 64; 65; 67 File application and required information for assignment or transfer for approval/comment on filing fee (Forms MMS-150 and MMS-151) 1 $186 per application.
63; 64(a)(8) Submit non-required documents, for record purposes, which respondents want MMS to file with the lease document. Accepted on behalf of lessees as a service, MMS does not require nor need the filiings 0 $27 per filing.
64(a)(7) File required instruments creating or transferring working interests, etc., for record purposes 1
Subpart K: 76; 92(a) File written request for relinquishment (Form MMS-152) 1
77(c) Comment on lease cancellation (MMS expects 1 in 10 years) 1
Subpart N: 92(a) Request a bonus or royalty credit; submit supporting documentation 1
95 Request approval to transfer bonus or credit to another party; submit supporting information 1
124(a) Request MMS to reconsider field assignment of a lease. Exempt under 5 CFR 1230.4(a)(2), (c) 0
§ 256.64, Form MMS-150—Assignment of Record Title Interest in Federal OCS Oil and Gas Lease, $186/per response.
§ 256.64, Form MMS-151—Assignment of Operating Rights Interest in Federal OCS Oil and Gas Lease, $186/per response.
§ 256.64, Non-required document filing fee, $27/per response.
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 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 Start Printed Page 51318burden 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.