# Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request > Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more. URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A98-22163 ## Record - **Collection:** Federal Register - **Document type:** Notice - **Published:** August 18, 1998 - **Citation:** 63 FR 44271 ## Text DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Minerals Management Service Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior. ACTION: Notice of revision of a currently approved information collection. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, we invite the public and other Federal agencies to comment on a proposal to revise the previously 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. DATES: Submit written comments by October 19, 1998. ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to the Rules Processing Team, Minerals Management Service, Mail Stop 4024, 381 Elden Street, Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alexis London, Rules Processing Team, telephone (703) 787-1600. You may also contact Alexis London to obtain a copy of the proposed collection of information at no cost. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Form MMS-131, Performance Measures for OCS Operators. OMB Control Number: 1010-0112. Abstract: The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), at 43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq., requires the Secretary of the Interior to preserve, protect, and develop oil and gas resources on the Outer Continental Shelf (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. In a collaborative effort with representatives of 17 oil and gas companies, representatives of five trade associations (American Petroleum Institute, Offshore Operators Committee, International Petroleum Association of America, International Association of Drilling Contractors, and National Ocean Industries Association), and the Coast Guard, we developed a set of performance measures intended to (1) determine if OCS safety and environmental performance is improving over time through the implementation of the Safety and Environmental Management Program (SEMP) on the OCS, (2) provide an industry average and range for various quantitative measures against which companies can compare themselves, (3) give us assurance that an operator's safety and environmental performance is improving, and (4) provide comparison data on which companies with good performance can base their requests for MMS approval of alternative approaches to compliance with its regulatory objectives. Like the implementation of SEMP, participation in the performance measures effort is voluntary. However, the quality of the information that we garner from analysis of the data depends on the widespread support of this effort. Based upon our experience this first year, and the comments and suggestions from respondents, we propose to revise Form MMS-131 to remove certain data elements that require OCS operators to perform calculations that we can easily do. The only proposed substantive revision is to revise the form to clarify that respondents report all permit violations under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit issued by the Environmental Protection Agency. This data element was previously, and erroneously, restricted to permit exceedences. Exceedences are a subcategory of non-compliances but information for both categories is obtained from the same source--the operator's monthly Discharge Monitoring Report. The data elements on the revised form are: [[Page 44272]] (a) Separated by Production Operations; Drilling and Workover Operations (including Allied Services); and Construction Operations: Number of company employee recordable accidents, Number of contract employee recordable accidents, Number of company employee lost time accidents, Number of contract employee lost time accidents, Company employee hours worked, Contract employee hours worked, (b) By totals: Number of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) reported non- compliances, Oil spills <1 bbl by number and volume. We use the information collected to work with industry representatives to identify ``pacesetter'' companies and ask them to make presentations at periodic best practice sharing workshops. We can better focus regulatory and research programs on areas where the performance measures indicate that operators are having difficulty meeting our expectations. We are more effective in leveraging resources by redirecting research efforts, promoting appropriate regulatory initiatives, and shifting inspection program emphasis. The performance measures also give us a verifiable gauge against which to judge the reasonableness of company requests for our approval of alternative approaches to comply with our regulatory objectives. They also provide a starting point for the dialog in the annual performance review meetings between company management and us. Company management use the information to understand how the offshore operators are doing as a group and where their own company ranks. It provides information for them to know on what areas to focus their continuous improvement efforts. This should lead to more cost- effective prevention actions. Offshore operators and organizations use the information as a credible data source to demonstrate to those outside the industry how the industry and individual companies are performing. If respondents submit confidential or proprietary information, we will protect such information in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act; 30 CFR 250.118, Data and information to be made available to the public; and 30 CFR Part 252, OCS Oil and Gas Information Program. No items of a sensitive nature are involved. The requirement to respond is voluntary. Frequency: Annual basis in the first quarter of the calendar year. Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: 100 Federal OCS oil and gas or sulphur lessees and operators. Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour''Burden: 8-16 burden hours per response. The previous estimate was 28 hours per response; however, we expected this to decrease after respondents became more familiar with the performance measures. Several companies informally indicated that the burden was not significant for the first report and would be even less now that they are set up to report the information. In parenthesis are the estimates reported to us by two major companies (4 and 10 hours), two small companies (1 and 4 hours), and 1 very small operator (unsure but possibly several days) that we contacted. Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Cost'' Burden: We have identified no cost burdens on respondents for providing this information. Comments: We will summarize written responses to this notice and address them in our submission for OMB approval. All comments are public record. In calculating the burden, we may have assumed that respondents maintain much of the information collected in the normal course of their activities, and we considered that to be usual and customary business practice. (1) The MMS specifically solicits comments on the following questions: (a) Is the proposed collection of information necessary for the proper performance of MMS's functions, and will it be useful? (b) Are the estimates of the burden hours of the proposed collection reasonable? (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 through the 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 as a direct result of this 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; and (b) annual operation, maintenance, and purchase of services component. Your estimates should consider the costs to generate, maintain, and disclose or provide the information. 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, sampling, drilling, and testing equipment; and record storage facilities. Do not include in your estimates equipment or services purchased: (i) before October 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. MMS Information Collection Clearance Officer: Jo Ann Lauterbach, (202) 208-7744. Dated: August 10, 1998. William S. Cook, Acting Chief, Engineering and Operations Division. [FR Doc. 98-22163 Filed 8-17-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A98-22163. Public record. Not legal advice.