Source: https://regulations.justia.com/regulations/fedreg/2005/06/21/05-12134.html
Timestamp: 2020-07-10 20:21:15
Document Index: 422644161

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 250', 'art 218', 'art 218', 'art 218', 'art 218', '§ 218', '§ 218', '§ 218', 'art 218', '§ 218', '§ 218', '§ 218', 'art 243', 'art 218', 'art 218', 'art 218', 'art\n218', 'art 218']

Agency Information Collection Activities: Submitted for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Review; Comment Request, 35695-35698 [05-12134] :: Minerals Management Service :: Department Of The Interior :: Regulation Tracker :: Justia
Justia Regulation Tracker Department Of The Interior Minerals Management Service Agency Information Collection Activities: Submitted for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Review; Comment Request, 35695-35698 [05-12134]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Submitted for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Review; Comment Request, 35695-35698 [05-12134]
Download as PDF 35695 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 118 / Tuesday, June 21, 2005 / Notices Citation 30 CFR 250 subpart B Reporting & recordkeeping requirement Hour burden Average No. annual responses Annual burden hours 211 through 228 ................ Submit EP and accompanying information (including forms MMS–137, MMS 138, MMS–NEW used in GOMR) and provide notifications. Submit amended, modified, revised, or supplemental EP, or resubmit disapproved EP. Submit DPP or DOCD and accompanying information (including forms MMS–137, MMS 139, MMS–NEW used in GOMR) and provide notifications. Submit amended, modified, revised, or supplemental DPP or DOCD, or resubmit disapproved DPP or DOCD. Submit information on preliminary plans for leases or units in vicinity of proposed development and production activities. Submit various applications .......................................... 640 .......................... 200 plans ................ 128,000 120 .......................... 224 changed plans 26,880 690 .......................... 110 plans ................ 75,900 GOM 95 .................. Pacific 600 .............. 250 changed plans 1 changed plan ....... 23,750 600 2 .............................. 1 response .............. 2 Burdens included under appropriate subpart or form (1010–0044; 1010–0059; 1010– 0058; 1010–0050) 2 .............................. 313 records ............. 1 .............................. 30 plans .................. 2 .............................. 2 each for 33 wells = 66. 750 .......................... 68 plans .................. 443 .......................... 30 documents ......... 2 .............................. 25 requests ............. 0 232(d); 234; 235(a); 281(d)(3); 283; 284; 285. 241 through 262 ................ 267(d); 272(a); 273, 283; 284; 285. 269(b) ................................ 281(a) ................................ 282 .................................... 282(b) ................................ 288 through 294 ................ 296 through 298 ................ 200 through 299 ................ Total Burden .............. Retain monitoring data/information .............................. Submit monitoring plans ............................................... Submit monitoring reports and data (including form MMS–141 used in GOMR). Submit DWOP .............................................................. Submit CID ................................................................... General departure and alternative compliance requests not specifically covered elsewhere in subpart B regulations. ....................................................................................... Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ‘‘Non-Hour Cost’’ Burden: We have identified no paperwork ‘‘non-hour cost’’ burdens associated with the 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 December 17, 2004, we published a Federal Register VerDate jul<14>2003 22:07 Jun 20, 2005 Jkt 205001 ................................. notice (69 FR 75562) announcing that we would submit this ICR to OMB for approval. The notice provided the required 60-day comment period. In addition, § 250.199 provides the OMB control number for the information collection requirements imposed by the 30 CFR 250 regulations and forms. The regulation also informs the public that they may comment at any time on the collections of information and provides 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. 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 21, 2005. Public Comment Procedure: MMS’s practice is to make comments, including names and addresses of respondents, available for public review. If you wish your name and/or address to be withheld, you must state this prominently at the beginning of your comment. MMS will honor the request to the extent allowable by the law; however, anonymous comments will not be considered. All submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, will be PO 00000 Frm 00081 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 1,516 ....................... 626 30 132 51,000 13,290 50 320,815 made available for public inspection in their entirety. MMS Information Collection Clearance Officer: Arlene Bajusz, (202) 208–7744. Dated: Feburary 22, 2005. E.P. Danenberger, Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Program. Editorial Note: This document was received in the Office of the Federal Register on June 15, 2005. [FR Doc. 05–12133 Filed 6–20–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Minerals Management Service Agency Information Collection Activities: Submitted for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Review; Comment Request Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior. ACTION: Notice of a revision of a currently approved information collection (OMB Control Number 1010– 0107). AGENCY: 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 (OMB) an information collection request (ICR) to renew approval of the paperwork requirements in the regulations under E:\FR\FM\21JNN1.SGM 21JNN1 35696 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 118 / Tuesday, June 21, 2005 / Notices 30 CFR part 218, subpart A—General Provisions; subpart B—Oil and Gas, General; and subpart E—Solid Minerals—General. This notice also provides the public a second opportunity to comment on the paperwork burden of these regulatory requirements. We changed the title of this ICR to clarify the regulatory language we are covering under 30 CFR part 218. The previous title of this ICR was ‘‘30 CFR Part 218, Subpart B—Oil and Gas, General.’’ The new title of this ICR is ‘‘30 CFR Part 218, Subpart A— General Provisions, § 218.42 Cross-lease netting in calculation of late-payment interest; Subpart B—Oil and Gas, General, §§ 218.52 How does a lessee designate a Designee? (Form MMS– 4425, Designation Form for Royalty Payment Responsibility) and 218.53 Recoupment of overpayments on Indian mineral leases; and Subpart E—Solid Minerals—General, § 218.203 Recoupment of overpayments on Indian mineral leases.’’ DATES: Submit written comments on or before July 21, 2005. ADDRESSES: Submit written comments by either FAX (202) 395–6566 or e-mail (OIRA_Docket@omb.eop.gov) directly to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for the Department of the Interior (OMB Control Number 1010–0107). Mail your comments to Sharron L. Gebhardt, Lead Regulatory Specialist, Minerals Management Service, Minerals Revenue Management, P.O. Box 25165, MS 302B2, Denver, Colorado 80225. If you use an overnight courier service or wish to hand-carry your comments, the address is Building 85, Room A–614, Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225. You may also e-mail your comments to us at mrm.comments@mms.gov. Include the title of the information collection and the OMB Control Number in the ‘‘Attention’’ line of your comment. Also include your name and return address. Submit electronic comments as an ASCII file avoiding the use of special characters and any form of encryption. If you do not receive a confirmation that we have received your e-mail, contact Ms. Gebhardt at (303) 231–3211. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sharron L. Gebhardt, telephone (303) 231–3211, FAX (303) 231–3781, e-mail Sharron.Gebhardt@mms.gov. You may also contact Sharron Gebhardt to obtain a copy, at no cost, of the form and regulations that require this collection of information. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: 30 CFR Part 218, Subpart A—General Provisions, § 218.42 Cross-lease netting VerDate jul<14>2003 22:07 Jun 20, 2005 Jkt 205001 in calculation of late-payment interest; Subpart B—Oil and Gas, General, §§ 218.52 How does a lessee designate a Designee? (Form MMS–4425, Designation Form for Royalty Payment Responsibility) and 218.53 Recoupment of overpayments on Indian mineral leases; and Subpart E—Solid Minerals— General, § 218.203 Recoupment of overpayments on Indian mineral leases. OMB Control Number: 1010–0107. Bureau Form Number: Form MMS– 4425. Abstract: The Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior is responsible for matters relevant to mineral resource development on Federal and Indian lands and the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The Secretary, under the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 1923) and the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1353), is responsible for managing the production of minerals from Federal and Indian lands and the OCS, collecting royalties from lessees who produce minerals, and distributing the funds collected in accordance with applicable laws. The Secretary has a trust responsibility to manage Indian lands and seek advice and information from Indian beneficiaries. The MMS performs the royalty management functions and assists the Secretary in carrying out the Department’s trust responsibility. This ICR includes unique reporting circumstances including designation of designee, cross-lease netting in calculation of late-payment interest, and tribal permission for recoupment on Indian leases. Applicable citations of the laws pertaining to mineral leases include Public Law 97–451—Jan. 12, 1983 (Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act of 1982 [FOGRMA]); Public Law 104–185—Aug. 13, 1996 (Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Simplification and Fairness Act of 1996 [RSFA]), as corrected by Public Law 104–200—Sept. 22, 1996); and the Indian Mineral Development Act of 1982 (25 U.S.C. 2101 et seq.). Public laws pertaining to mineral royalties are located on our Web site at http:// www.mrm.mms.gov/Laws_R_D/ PublicLawsAMR.htm. Designation of Designee The RSFA established that owners of, primarily, operating rights or, secondarily, lease record title (both referred to as ‘‘lessees’’) are responsible for making royalty and related payments on Federal oil and gas leases. These RSFA requirements were promulgated in regulations at 30 CFR 218.52. It is common, however, for a payor rather than a lessee to make these payments. When a payor makes payments on PO 00000 Frm 00082 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 behalf of a lessee, RSFA section 6(g) requires that the lessee designate the payor as its designee and notify MMS of this arrangement in writing. The MMS designed Form MMS–4425, Designation Form for Royalty Payment Responsibility, to request all the information necessary for lessees to comply with these RSFA requirements when they choose to designate an agent to pay for them. The MMS requires this information to ensure proper mineral revenue collection. Cross-Lease Netting in Calculation of Late-Payment Interest Regulations at 30 CFR 218.54 require MMS to assess interest on unpaid or underpaid amounts. The MMS distributes these interest revenues to states, Indians, and the U.S. Treasury, based on financial lease distribution information. Current regulations at 30 CFR 218.42 provide that an overpayment on a lease or leases may be offset against an underpayment on a different lease or leases to determine the net payment subject to interest, when certain conditions are met. This is called cross-lease netting. However, RSFA sections 6(a), (b), and (c) require MMS to pay interest on lessees’ Federal oil and gas overpayments made on or after February 13, 1997 (6 months after the August 13, 1996, enactment of RSFA). The MMS implemented this RSFA provision in 1997 and began calculating interest on both underpayments and overpayments for Federal oil and gas leases, making the cross-lease netting provisions at 30 CFR 218.42 no longer applicable for these leases. The MMS is currently developing regulations to amend 30 CFR 218.42 to limit its applicability to payments made under Indian tribal leases and Federal leases for minerals other than oil and gas. The MMS estimates that, in about seven cases per year, lessees must comply with the provisions of 30 CFR 218.42(b) and (c) for Indian tribal leases or Federal leases other than oil and gas, demonstrating that cross-lease netting is correct by submitting production reports, pipeline allocation reports, or other similar documentary evidence. This information is necessary for MMS to determine the correct amount of interest owed by the lessee and to ensure proper value is collected. Tribal Permission for Recoupment on Indian Leases In order to report cross-lease netting on Indian leases, lessees must also comply with regulations at 30 CFR 2l8.53(b) and 218.203(b), allowing only lessees with written permission from E:\FR\FM\21JNN1.SGM 21JNN1 35697 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 118 / Tuesday, June 21, 2005 / Notices the tribe to recoup overpayments on one lease against a different lease for which the tribe is the lessor. The payor must furnish MMS with a copy of the tribe’s written permission. Generally, a payor may recoup an overpayment against the current month’s royalties or other revenues owed on the same tribal lease. For any month, a payor may not recoup more than 50 percent of the royalties or other revenues owed in that month, under an individual allotted lease, or more than 100 percent of the royalties or other revenues owed in that month, under a tribal lease. Lessees use Form MMS–2014, Report of Sales and Royalty Remittance (burden hours covered under ICR 1010–0140, expires October 31, 2006), for oil and gas lease recoupments and Form MMS–4430, Solid Mineral Production and Royalty Report (burden hours covered under ICR 1010–0120, expires October 31, 2007), for solid mineral lease recoupments. The MMS requires tribal permission to ensure tribes and individual Indian mineral owners receive correct revenues from production on their leases. The MMS is requesting OMB’s approval to continue to collect this information. Not collecting this information would limit the Secretary’s ability to discharge his/her duties and may also result in loss of royalty payments. Proprietary information submitted is protected, and there are no questions of a sensitive nature included in this information collection. Frequency: On occasion. Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: 1,613 Federal and Indian lessees. Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping ‘‘Hour’’ Burden: 1,220 hours. We have not included in our estimates certain requirements performed in the normal course of business and considered usual and customary. The following chart shows the estimated burden hours by CFR section and paragraph: RESPONDENTS’ ESTIMATED ANNUAL BURDEN HOURS Citation 30 CFR 218 Hour burden Reporting and recordkeeping requirement Average number of annual responses Annual burden Hours Subpart A—General Provisions—Cross-lease netting in calculation of late-payment interest. 218.42(b) and (c) .............. Cross-lease netting in calculation of late-payment interest. (b) Royalties attrib2 uted to production from a lease or leases which should have been attributed to production from a different lease or leases may be offset * * * if * * * the payor submits production reports, pipeline allocation reports, or other similar documentary evidence pertaining to the specific production involved which verifies the correct production information * * *. (c) If MMS assesses late-payment interest and the payor asserts that some or all of the interest is not owed * * * the burden is on the payor to demonstrate that the exception applies * * . Subpart B—Oil and Gas, General—How does a lessee designate a Designee? 218.52 (a), (c), and (d) ..... How does a lessee designate a Designee? (a) If you are a lessee under 30 U.S.C. 1701(7), and you want to designate a person to make all or part of the payments due under a lease on your behalf * * * you must notify MMS * * * in writing of such designation * * *. (c) If you want to terminate a designation * * * you must provide [the following] to MMS in writing * * *. (d) MMS may require you to provide notice when there is a change in the percentage of your record title or operating rights ownership.. The MMS currently uses Form MMS–4425, Designation Form for Royalty Payment Responsibility to collect this information. 0.75 7 14 1,600 1,200 5 5 1 1 1,613 1,220 Subpart B—Oil and Gas, General—Recoupment of overpayments on Indian mineral leases. 218.53 ............................... (b)Recoupment of overpayments on Indian mineral leases. (b) With written permission authorized by tribal statute or resolution, a payor may recoup an overpayment against royalties or other revenues owed * * * under other leases * * *. A copy of the tribe’s written permission must be furnished to MMS * * *. 1 Subpart E—Solid Minerals—General—Recoupment of overpayments on Indian mineral leases. 218.203 (b) ....................... Recoupment of overpayments on Indian mineral leases. (b) With written permission authorized by tribal statute or resolution, a payor may recoup an overpayment against royalties or other revenues owed in that month under other leases for which that tribe is the lessor. A copy of the tribe’s written permission must be furnished to MMS * * * [following] instructions * * *. Total Burden .............. .................. We are revising this ICR to include regulations at 30 CFR 218.42(b) and (c) Cross-lease netting in calculation of late- VerDate jul<14>2003 22:07 Jun 20, 2005 1 Jkt 205001 payment interest and 30 CFR 218.203(b) Recoupment of overpayments on Indian mineral leases, which were not included PO 00000 Frm 00083 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 in the previous renewal. Burden hours for 30 CFR 218.57, which were included in the previous renewal, are now E:\FR\FM\21JNN1.SGM 21JNN1 35698 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 118 / Tuesday, June 21, 2005 / Notices covered in ICR 1010–0120 (expires October 31, 2007). Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping ‘‘Non-hour’’ Cost Burden: We have identified no ‘‘nonhour’’ cost burdens. Public Disclosure Statement: 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. Comments: Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA 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, we published a notice in the Federal Register on October 19, 2004 (69 FR 61519), announcing that we would submit this ICR to OMB for approval. The notice provided the required 60-day comment period. We received no comments relevant to the Federal Register notice. 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 21, 2005. Public Comment Policy: We will post all comments in response to this notice on our Web site at http:// www.mrm.mms.gov/Laws_R_D/InfoColl/ InfoColCom.htm. We will also make copies of the comments available for public review, including names and addresses of respondents, during regular business hours at our offices in Lakewood, Colorado. Upon request, we will withhold an individual respondent’s home address from the public record, as allowable by law. There also may be circumstances in which we would withhold a respondent’s identity, as allowable by VerDate jul<14>2003 22:07 Jun 20, 2005 Jkt 205001 law. If you request that we withhold your name and/or address, state your request 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. MMS Information Collection Clearance Officer: Arlene Bajusz (202) 208–7744. Dated: April 14, 2005. Lucy Querques Denett, Associate Director for Minerals Revenue Management. [FR Doc. 05–12134 Filed 6–20–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Minerals Management Service Agency Information Collection Activities: Submitted for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Review; Comment Request Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior. ACTION: Notice of an extension of a currently approved information collection (OMB Control Number 1010– 0122). AGENCY: SUMMARY: To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), we are notifying the public that we have submitted to OMB an information collection request (ICR) to renew approval of the paperwork requirements in the regulations under 30 CFR 243. This notice also provides the public a second opportunity to comment on the paperwork burden of these regulatory requirements. We changed the title of this ICR to clarify the regulatory language we are covering under 30 CFR 243. The previous title of this ICR was ‘‘30 CFR Part 243— Suspensions Pending Appeal and Bonding.’’ The new title of this ICR is ‘‘30 CFR 243—Suspensions Pending Appeal and Bonding—Minerals Revenue Management (Forms MMS– 4435, Administrative Appeal Bond; MMS–4436, Letter of Credit; and MMS– 4437, Assignment of Certificate of Deposit).’’ DATES: Submit written comments on or before July 21, 2005. ADDRESSES: Submit written comments by either FAX (202) 395–6566 or e-mail (OIRA_Docket@omb.eop.gov) directly to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Attention: Desk Officer PO 00000 Frm 00084 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 for the Department of the Interior (OMB Control Number 1010–0122). Mail your comments to Sharron L. Gebhardt, Lead Regulatory Specialist, Minerals Management Service, Minerals Revenue Management, P.O. Box 25165, MS 302B2, Denver, Colorado 80225. If you use an overnight courier service or wish to hand-carry your comments, our address is Building 85, Room A–614, Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225. You may also e-mail your comments to us at mrm.comments@mms.gov. Include the title of the information collection and the OMB Control Number in the ‘‘Attention’’ line of your comment. Also include your name and return address. Submit electronic comments as an ASCII file avoiding the use of special characters and any form of encryption. If you do not receive a confirmation that we have received your e-mail, contact Ms. Gebhardt at (303) 231–3211. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sharron L. Gebhardt, telephone (303) 231–3211, FAX (303) 231–3781, e-mail Sharron.Gebhardt@mms.gov. You may also contact Sharron Gebhardt to obtain a copy at no cost of the forms and regulations that require the subject collection of information. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: 30 CFR 243—Suspensions Pending Appeal and Bonding—Minerals Revenue Management (Forms MMS– 4435, Administrative Appeal Bond; MMS–4436, Letter of Credit; and MMS– 4437, Assignment of Certificate of Deposit). OMB Control Number: 1010–0122. Bureau Form Number: Forms MMS– 4435, MMS–4436, and MMS–4437. Abstract: The Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior is responsible for matters relevant to mineral resource development on Federal and Indian lands and the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The Secretary, under the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 (30 U.S.C. 1923) and the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1353), is responsible for managing the production of minerals from Federal and Indian lands and the OCS, collecting royalties from lessees who produce minerals, and distributing the funds collected in accordance with applicable laws. The Secretary has a trust responsibility to manage Indian lands and seek advice and information from Indian beneficiaries. The MMS performs the royalty management functions for the Secretary and assists the Secretary in carrying out the Department’s trust responsibility. Additional applicable citations of the laws pertaining to mineral leases include Public Law 97–451—Jan. 12, E:\FR\FM\21JNN1.SGM 21JNN1
[Pages 35695-35698]
[FR Doc No: 05-12134]
collection (OMB Control Number 1010-0107).
[[Page 35696]]
30 CFR part 218, subpart A--General Provisions; subpart B--Oil and Gas,
General; and subpart E--Solid Minerals--General. This notice also
part 218. The previous title of this ICR was ``30 CFR Part 218, Subpart
B--Oil and Gas, General.'' The new title of this ICR is ``30 CFR Part
218, Subpart A--General Provisions, Sec.  218.42 Cross-lease netting in
calculation of late-payment interest; Subpart B--Oil and Gas, General,
Sec. Sec.  218.52 How does a lessee designate a Designee? (Form MMS-
4425, Designation Form for Royalty Payment Responsibility) and 218.53
Recoupment of overpayments on Indian mineral leases; and Subpart E--
Solid Minerals--General, Sec.  218.203 Recoupment of overpayments on
Indian mineral leases.''
of the Interior (OMB Control Number 1010-0107). Mail your comments to
hand-carry your comments, the address is Building 85, Room A-614,
also contact Sharron Gebhardt to obtain a copy, at no cost, of the form
and regulations that require this collection of information.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: 30 CFR Part 218, Subpart A--General
Provisions, Sec.  218.42 Cross-lease netting in calculation of late-
payment interest; Subpart B--Oil and Gas, General, Sec. Sec.  218.52
How does a lessee designate a Designee? (Form MMS-4425, Designation
Form for Royalty Payment Responsibility) and 218.53 Recoupment of
overpayments on Indian mineral leases; and Subpart E--Solid Minerals--
General, Sec.  218.203 Recoupment of overpayments on Indian mineral
The Secretary has a trust responsibility to manage Indian lands and
seek advice and information from Indian beneficiaries. The MMS performs
the royalty management functions and assists the Secretary in carrying
out the Department's trust responsibility.
This ICR includes unique reporting circumstances including
designation of designee, cross-lease netting in calculation of late-
payment interest, and tribal permission for recoupment on Indian
leases. Applicable citations of the laws pertaining to mineral leases
include Public Law 97-451--Jan. 12, 1983 (Federal Oil and Gas Royalty
Management Act of 1982 [FOGRMA]); Public Law 104-185--Aug. 13, 1996
(Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Simplification and Fairness Act of 1996
[RSFA]), as corrected by Public Law 104-200--Sept. 22, 1996); and the
Indian Mineral Development Act of 1982 (25 U.S.C. 2101 et seq.). Public
laws pertaining to mineral royalties are located on our Web site at
http://www.mrm.mms.gov/Laws_R_D/PublicLawsAMR.htm.
The RSFA established that owners of, primarily, operating rights
or, secondarily, lease record title (both referred to as ``lessees'')
are responsible for making royalty and related payments on Federal oil
and gas leases. These RSFA requirements were promulgated in regulations
at 30 CFR 218.52. It is common, however, for a payor rather than a
lessee to make these payments. When a payor makes payments on behalf of
a lessee, RSFA section 6(g) requires that the lessee designate the
payor as its designee and notify MMS of this arrangement in writing.
The MMS designed Form MMS-4425, Designation Form for Royalty Payment
Responsibility, to request all the information necessary for lessees to
comply with these RSFA requirements when they choose to designate an
agent to pay for them. The MMS requires this information to ensure
proper mineral revenue collection.
Regulations at 30 CFR 218.54 require MMS to assess interest on
unpaid or underpaid amounts. The MMS distributes these interest
revenues to states, Indians, and the U.S. Treasury, based on financial
lease distribution information. Current regulations at 30 CFR 218.42
provide that an overpayment on a lease or leases may be offset against
an underpayment on a different lease or leases to determine the net
payment subject to interest, when certain conditions are met. This is
called cross-lease netting. However, RSFA sections 6(a), (b), and (c)
require MMS to pay interest on lessees' Federal oil and gas
overpayments made on or after February 13, 1997 (6 months after the
August 13, 1996, enactment of RSFA). The MMS implemented this RSFA
provision in 1997 and began calculating interest on both underpayments
and overpayments for Federal oil and gas leases, making the cross-lease
netting provisions at 30 CFR 218.42 no longer applicable for these
leases. The MMS is currently developing regulations to amend 30 CFR
218.42 to limit its applicability to payments made under Indian tribal
leases and Federal leases for minerals other than oil and gas. The MMS
estimates that, in about seven cases per year, lessees must comply with
the provisions of 30 CFR 218.42(b) and (c) for Indian tribal leases or
Federal leases other than oil and gas, demonstrating that cross-lease
netting is correct by submitting production reports, pipeline
allocation reports, or other similar documentary evidence. This
information is necessary for MMS to determine the correct amount of
interest owed by the lessee and to ensure proper value is collected.
In order to report cross-lease netting on Indian leases, lessees
must also comply with regulations at 30 CFR 2l8.53(b) and 218.203(b),
allowing only lessees with written permission from
[[Page 35697]]
the tribe to recoup overpayments on one lease against a different lease
for which the tribe is the lessor. The payor must furnish MMS with a
copy of the tribe's written permission. Generally, a payor may recoup
an overpayment against the current month's royalties or other revenues
owed on the same tribal lease. For any month, a payor may not recoup
more than 50 percent of the royalties or other revenues owed in that
month, under an individual allotted lease, or more than 100 percent of
the royalties or other revenues owed in that month, under a tribal
lease. Lessees use Form MMS-2014, Report of Sales and Royalty
Remittance (burden hours covered under ICR 1010-0140, expires October
31, 2006), for oil and gas lease recoupments and Form MMS-4430, Solid
Mineral Production and Royalty Report (burden hours covered under ICR
1010-0120, expires October 31, 2007), for solid mineral lease
recoupments. The MMS requires tribal permission to ensure tribes and
individual Indian mineral owners receive correct revenues from
production on their leases.
Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: 1,613 Federal and
Indian lessees.
Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' Burden: 1,220
Hour     number of    Annual
Citation 30 CFR 218           Reporting and recordkeeping requirement    burden      annual     burden
responses    Hours
Subpart A--General Provisions--Cross-lease netting in calculation of late-payment interest.
218.42(b) and (c)....................  Cross-lease netting in calculation of          2             7         14
late-payment interest. (b) Royalties
attributed to production from a lease
or leases which should have been
attributed to production from a
different lease or leases may be
offset * * * if * * * the payor
submits production reports, pipeline
allocation reports, or other similar
documentary evidence pertaining to the
specific production involved which
verifies the correct production
information * * *.
(c) If MMS assesses late-payment
interest and the payor asserts that
some or all of the interest is not
owed * * * the burden is on the payor
to demonstrate that the exception
applies * * .
Subpart B--Oil and Gas, General--How does a lessee designate a Designee?
218.52 (a), (c), and (d).............  How does a lessee designate a Designee?        0.75      1,600      1,200
(a) If you are a lessee under 30
U.S.C. 1701(7), and you want to
designate a person to make all or part
of the payments due under a lease on
your behalf * * * you must notify MMS
* * * in writing of such designation *
(c) If you want to terminate a
designation * * * you must provide
[the following] to MMS in writing * *
(d) MMS may require you to provide
notice when there is a change in the
percentage of your record title or
operating rights ownership..
The MMS currently uses Form MMS-4425,
Designation Form for Royalty Payment
Responsibility to collect this
Subpart B--Oil and Gas, General--Recoupment of overpayments on Indian mineral leases.
218.53...............................  (b)Recoupment of overpayments on Indian        1             5          5
mineral leases. (b) With written
permission authorized by tribal
statute or resolution, a payor may
recoup an overpayment against
royalties or other revenues owed * * *
under other leases * * *. A copy of
the tribe's written permission must be
furnished to MMS * * *.
Subpart E--Solid Minerals--General--Recoupment of overpayments on Indian mineral leases.
218.203 (b)..........................  Recoupment of overpayments on Indian           1             1          1
royalties or other revenues owed in
that month under other leases for
which that tribe is the lessor. A copy
of the tribe's written permission must
be furnished to MMS * * * [following]
instructions * * *.
Total Burden.....................                                           ..........      1,613      1,220
We are revising this ICR to include regulations at 30 CFR 218.42(b)
and (c) Cross-lease netting in calculation of late-payment interest and
30 CFR 218.203(b) Recoupment of overpayments on Indian mineral leases,
which were not included in the previous renewal. Burden hours for 30
CFR 218.57, which were included in the previous renewal, are now
[[Page 35698]]
covered in ICR 1010-0120 (expires October 31, 2007).
notice in the Federal Register on October 19, 2004 (69 FR 61519),
comments relevant to the Federal Register notice. 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 21, 2005.
may be circumstances in which we would withhold a respondent's
identity, as allowable by law. If you request that we withhold your
name and/or address, state your request 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
[FR Doc. 05-12134 Filed 6-20-05; 8:45 am]