Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service

Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;

Comment Request

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of reinstatement of a previously approved collection.

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SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and

respondent burden, MMS invites the public and other Federal agencies to

comment on a request to reinstate a previously approved collection of

information contained in regulations governing Pollution Prevention and

Control in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The MMS will request

approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to reinstate

this collection of information. The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

(PRA) 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.

DATES: Submit written comments by September 9, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to the Department of the

Interior, Minerals Management Service, Mail Stop 4700, 381 Elden

Street, Herndon, VA 20170-4817; Attention: Chief, Engineering and

Standards Branch.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Alexis London, Engineering and Standards Branch, Minerals Management

Service, telephone (703) 787-1600.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: 30 CFR Part 250, Subpart C, Pollution Prevention and

Control.

Abstract: 1. The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), at 43

U.S.C. 1331 et seq., requires the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary)

to preserve, protect, and develop oil and gas resources in the OCS;

make such resources available to meet the Nation's energy needs as

rapidly as possible; balance orderly energy resource development with

protection of the human, marine, and coastal environment; ensure the

public a fair and equitable return on the resources offshore; and

preserve and maintain free enterprise competition. The OCSLA Amendments

of 1978 also require the Secretary to minimize or eliminate conflicts

of oil and natural gas exploration, development, and production, with

the recovery of other resources such as fish and shellfish. To carry

out these responsibilities, MMS has issued regulations as described in

30 CFR Part 250, Subpart C, Pollution Prevention and Control.

2. The MMS OCS Regions use the information collected to ensure OCS

operations are conducted to minimize the threat of serious,

irreparable, or immediate damage to the marine environment; to identify

potential hazards to commercial fishing; to ensure that the location of

items lost overboard are recorded to aid in recovery during site

clearance activities on the lease; to ensure that operations are being

conducted safely and workman-like and do not threaten the environment;

to ensure that crew members are fully trained and able to quickly

respond to an oil spill; to ensure that pollution response equipment is

maintained in good operating condition; to ensure timely reporting of

oil spills; to ensure air emissions will not significantly affect

onshore air quality; and to assess the ability of a lessee to prevent

or contain any spills.

3. The MMS recently conducted a pilot project with respect to the

collection of information required in 30 CFR 250.41(c) on reporting of

oil spills. Our objective was to assess the impact of eliminating the

requirement for lessees and operators to report to MMS oil spills of

less than one barrel. The Federal Water Pollution and Control Act

requires lessees and operators to immediately notify the National

Response Center of spills of oil into any body of water, including

navigable waters offshore out to approximately 200 miles. The survey

results showed that MMS can obtain information on oil spills of one

barrel or less from the National Response Center within necessary

timeframes. To expedite this reporting burden reduction and eliminate a

duplicate requirement, MMS issued a ``Notice to Lessees (NTL) and

Operators of Federal Oil and Gas Leases in the Outer Continental

Shelf,'' effective May 31, 1996. The regulations will be amended to

reflect this change. This reduces the number of oil spills lessees must

report to MMS by over 95 percent, and the savings have been accounted

for in the estimate of burden hours for this collection of information.

4. The information required by 30 CFR 250.45(b)(2) and 250.46(a)(6)

is covered in 30 CFR 250.33 and 250.34, Subpart B (OMB Control Number

1010-0049). Consequently, we have not included any hours for this

section.

5. Lessees' proprietary information will be protected according to

the Freedom of Information Act and 30 CFR 250.18. The collection does

not include items of a sensitive nature. The requirement to respond is

mandatory. The reporting and recordkeeping requirements vary for each

section. The estimates below are based on an average obtained from

consultations with lessees in the Gulf of Mexico and Pacific Regions.

Description of Respondents: Federal OCS oil and gas lessees.

Frequency: On occasion; varies by section.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 130.

Estimate of Burden: Reporting average of 42.9 hours per response;

recordkeeping average of 162.9 hours per recordkeeper.

[[Page 36566]]

Estimate of Total Annual Burden on Respondents: Reporting burden

estimate = 55,705 hours; recordkeeping burden estimate = 21,180 hours.

Estimated combined total of 76,813 hours.

Estimate of Total Annual Cost to Respondents for Burden Hours:

Based on $35 per hour, the total cost to lessees is estimated to be

$2,688,455.

Estimate of Total Other Annual Costs to Respondents: Unknown.

Type of Request: Reinstatement.

OMB Control Number: 1010-0057.

Form Number: N/A.

Comments: The MMS will summarize written responses to this notice

and address them in the request for OMB approval. All comments will

become a matter of public record.

1. The MMS specifically solicits comments on the following

questions:

(a) Is the proposed collection of information necessary for the

proper performance of MMS' functions, and will it be useful?

(b) Are the estimates reasonable for the burden of the proposed

collection?

(c) Do you have any suggestions that would enhance the quality,

clarity, or usefulness of the information to be collected?

(d) Is there a way to minimize the information collection burden on

those who are to respond, including use of appropriate automated

electronic, mechanical, or other forms of information technology?

2. In addition, the PRA requires agencies to estimate the total

annual cost burden to respondents or recordkeepers resulting from the

collection of information. The MMS needs your comments on this item.

Your response should split the cost estimate into two components:

(a) Total capital and startup cost component.

(b) Annual operation, maintenance, and purchase of services

component.

Your estimates should consider costs associated with generating,

maintaining, and disclosing or providing the information. You should

include descriptions of methods used to estimate major cost factors,

including system and technology acquisition, expected useful life of

capital equipment, discount rate(s), and period over which costs will

be incurred. Capital and startup costs include, among other items,

preparations for collecting information such as purchasing computers

and software; monitoring, sampling, drilling, and testing equipment;

and record storage facilities. Generally, your estimates should not

include equipment or services purchases: (1) October 1, 1995; (2) to

achieve regulatory compliance with requirements not associated with the

information collection; (3) for reasons other than to provide

information or keep records for the Government; or (4) as part of

customary and usual business or private practices.

Bureau Clearance Officer: Carole A. deWitt (703) 787-1242.

Dated: July 3, 1996.

Henry G. Bartholomew,

Deputy Associate Director for Operations and Safety Management.

[FR Doc. 96-17615 Filed 7-10-96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-MR-M