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 extension of a currently approved information

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 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

[[Page 6955]]

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number.

DATE: Submit written comments by April 13, 1998.

ADDRESS: 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 this collection of information.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Form MMS-127, Request for Maximum Efficient Rate (MER).

OMB Control Number: 1010-0018.

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 K, Oil and Gas Production Rates, requires respondents to

complete Form MMS-127 to submit reservoir data on production.

The MMS uses the information collected by Form MMS-127 to analyze

and evaluate reservoir characteristics and parameters and to classify

the reservoir as sensitive. The MMS also uses the information for

reservoir development studies, well production reviews, production

allocation checks, and reserves calculations for bonding and leasing

activities. The MMS will protect proprietary information submitted on

Form MMS-127 under 30 CFR 250.18, 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: There are

approximately 130 Federal OCS oil and gas or sulphur lessees.

Frequency: Annual or on occasion.

Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: There are

910 burden hours currently approved for this collection. The reporting

burden is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time

for reviewing the instructions, gathering and maintaining the data, and

completing and reviewing the form.

Comments: The MMS will summarize written responses to this notice

and address them in its submission for OMB approval. All comments will

become a matter of public record. We will address any comments we

receive in our submission to OMB. In calculating the burden, MMS may

have assumed that respondents perform some of the requirements and

maintain records in the normal course of their activities. The MMS

considers these to be usual and customary. Commenters are invited to

provide information if they disagree with this assumption, and they

should tell us what the burden hours and costs imposed by this

collection of information are.

(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 reporting and recordkeeping cost burden for the collection of

this 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. Generally, your estimates should not include

equipment or services purchased: before October 1, 1995; to comply with

requirements not associated with the information collection; for

reasons other than to provide information or keep records for the

Government; or as part of customary and usual business or private

practices.

MMS Information Collection Clearance Officer: Jo Ann Lauterbach,

(202) 208-7744.

Dated January 29, 1998.

E.P. Danenberger,

Chief, Engineering and Operations Division.

[FR Doc. 98-2769 Filed 2-10-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P