Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for Office of Management and Budget Review; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service

Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for Office

of Management and Budget Review; Comment Request

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of extension of a currently approved information

collection (OMB Control Number 1010-0086).

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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 proposal to extend the currently approved collection of

information discussed below. 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 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number.

DATE: Submit written comments by August 27, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments and suggestions directly to the Office of

Information and Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for

the Department of the Interior (1010-0086), 725 17th Street, N.W.,

Washington, D.C. 20503. Send a copy of your comments to the Minerals

Management Service, Attention: Rules Processing Team, Mail Stop 4024,

381 Elden Street, Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alexis London, Engineering and

Operations Division, Minerals Management Service, telephone (703) 787-

1600. You may obtain copies of the supporting statement and collection

of information by contacting MMS's Information Collection Clearance

Officer at (202) 208-7744.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: 30 CFR part 250, subpart P, Sulphur Operations.

OMB Control Number: 1010-0086.

Abstract: The Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lands Act (43 U.S.C.

1331 et seq.), as amended, requires the Secretary of the Interior 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. To carry out these

responsibilities, MMS has issued regulations at 30 CFR part 250,

subpart P, Sulphur Operations, of that part contains requirements and

procedures for sulphur drilling, well-completion, and well-workover

operations and production in the OCS.

The MMS uses the information collected under subpart P to ensure

that sulphur operations and production in the OCS are carried out in a

manner that is safe and pollution free. If respondents submit

proprietary information, it will be protected under 30 CFR 250.118,

Data and information to be made available to the public. No items of a

sensitive nature are collected. The requirement to respond is

mandatory.

Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: Currently there is

only one active Federal OCS sulphur lease operator.

Frequency: On occasion, varies by section (see charts below).

Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' Burden: 978

burden hours (see charts below).

Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Cost'' Burden: None.

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Annual

Citation 30 CFR 250 subpart P Reporting requirement Average number per year Burden per reqmnt. burden

hours

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1600............................ Submit exploration or development and

production plan.

(1)Burden in collection for 30 0...........................................

CFR 250, subpart B (1010-0049)

1603(a)......................... Request determination whether sulphur 1 request........................... 1 hour................. 1

deposit can produce in paying quantities.

1605(b)(3)...................... Submit data and information on fitness of 4 submissions....................... 4 hours................ 16

drilling unit.

1605(c)......................... Report oceanographic, meteorological, and

drilling unit performance data upon request.

(1)It has not been necessary to 0...........................................

request these data

1605(d)......................... Submit results of additional surveys and

soil borings upon request.

(1)It has not been necessary to ..........................................

request these data

1605(e)(5)...................... Request copy of directional survey (by

holder of adjoining lease).

(1)It has not been necessary to 0...........................................

request these data

1605(f)......................... Submit application for installation of fixed

drilling platforms or structures.

(1)Burden in collection for 30 0...........................................

CFR 250, subpart I (1010-0058)

1607............................ Request establishment, amendment, or 2 requests.......................... 8 hours................ 16

cancellation of field rules for drilling,

well completion, or well workover.

1608............................ Submit well casing and cementing plan or 2 plans............................. 5 hours................ 10

modification.

1610(d)(8)...................... Request exception to ram-type blowout

preventer (BOP) system components rated

working pressure.

(1)No requests in recent years 0...........................................

1611(b); 1625(b)................ Request exception to water-rated working 50 requests......................... \1/2\ hour............. 25

pressure to test ram-type and annular BOPs

and choke manifold.

1611(f); 1625(f)................ Request exception to recording pressure

conditions during BOP tests on pressure

charts.

(1)No requests in recent years 0...........................................

1612............................ Request exception to Sec. 250.408

requirements for well-control drills.

(1)No requests in recent years 0...........................................

1615............................ Request exception to blind-shear ram or pipe 1 request........................... 1 hour................. 1

rams and inside BOP to secure wells.

1617; 1618; 1619(b); 1622....... Submit forms MMS-123 (Application for Permit

to Drill), MMS-124 (Sundry Notices and

Reports on Wells), Form MMS-125 (Well

Summary Report).

(1)Burden in collection for 0...........................................

forms: MMS-123 (1010-0044), MMS-

124 (1010-0045), and MMS-125

(1010-0046)

1619(c), (d), (e)............... Submit copies of records, logs, reports, 8 submissions....................... 1 hour................. 8

charts, etc., upon request.

1628(b), (d).................... Submit application for design and 1 application....................... 4 hours................ 4

installation features of sulphur production

facilities and fuel gas safety system;

certify new installation conforms to

approved design.

[[Page 40312]]

1629(b)(3)...................... Request approval of firefighting systems.... 10 requests......................... 4 hours................ 40

1630(a)(5)...................... Notify MMS of preproduction test and 4 notifications..................... \1/2\ hour............. 2

inspection of safety system and

commencement of production.

1633(b)......................... Submit application for method of production 2 applications...................... 2 hours................ 4

measurement.

1634(b)......................... Report evidence of mishandling of produced 1 report............................ 1 hour................. 1

sulphur or tampering or falsifying any

measurement of production.

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Total reporting............. .......................................... 86 Responses........................ ..................... 128

1604(f)......................... Check traveling-block safety device for 1 lessee x 52 weeks x 2 rigs = \1/4\ hour............. 26

proper operation weekly and after each 104.

drill-line slipping; enter results in log.

1605(g)......................... Retain records of crane operation 1 lessee............................ 3 hours................ 3

inspection, testing, maintenance, and

operator qualifications for 2 years.

1609(a)......................... Pressure test casing; record time, 1 lessee x 60 tests/records = 60.. 2 hours................ 120

conditions of testing, and test results in

log.

1611(d)(3); 1625(c)(3).......... Record in driller's report the date, time, 1 lessee x 6 recordings =6........ 10 minutes............. 1

and reason for postponing pressure testings.

1611(f), (g); 1625(f), (g)...... Conduct tests, actuations, inspections, 1 lessee x 52 weeks = 52.......... 6 hours................ 312

maintenance, and crew drills of BOP systems

at least weekly; record results in

driller's report; retain records for 2

years following completion of drilling

activity.

1613(e)......................... Pressure test diverter sealing element/ On occasion (daily/weekly during 2 hours................ 208

valves weekly; actuate diverter sealing drilling) 2 rigs x 52 weeks = 104.

element/valves/control system every 24

hours; test diverter line for flow every 24

hours; record test times and results in

driller's report.

1616(c)......................... Retain training records for lessee and

drilling contractor personnel.

(1)Burden in collection for 30 0...........................................

CFR 250, subpart O (1010-0078)

1619(a)......................... Retain records for each well and all well 1 lessee............................ 12 hours............... 12

operations for 2 years.

1621............................ Conduct safety meetings prior to well- 1 lessee x 50 meetings/records = 1 hour................. 50

completion or well-workover operations; 50.

record date and time.

1628(d)......................... Maintain information concerning approved 1 lessee............................ 1 hour................. 1

design and installation features for the

life of the facility.

1629(b)(1)(ii) and (iii)........ Retain pressure-recording charts used to 1 lessee............................ 12 hours............... 12

determine operating pressure ranges for 2

years; post firefighting system diagram.

1630(b)......................... Maintain records for each safety device 1 lessee............................ 1 hour................. 1

installed for 2 years.

1631............................ Conduct safety device training prior to 1 lessee x 52 trainings/records x 1 hour................. 104

production operations and periodically 2 rigs = 104.

thereafter; record date and time.

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Total recordkeeping......... .......................................... .................................. ..................... 850

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Comments: Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act

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.

Send your comments directly 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 August 27, 1998.

MMS Information Collection Clearance Officer: Jo Ann Lauterbach,

(202) 208-7744.

Dated: June 30, 1998.

William S. Cook,

Acting Chief Engineering and Operations Division.

[FR Doc. 98-20141 Filed 7-27-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P