Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request, 13420-13422 [E6-3705]
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13420
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 50 / Wednesday, March 15, 2006 / Notices
actions that will protect and conserve
species and their habitats while
providing for appropriate use of desert
resources and the future growth and
development of desert communities.
Dated: January 27, 2006.
John S. Mills,
Acting Deputy State Director, Natural
Resources Division.
[FR Doc. E6–3758 Filed 3–14–06; 8:45 am]
Bureau of Land Management
[NM–920–1310–06; NMNM 112261; NMNM
112262]
Proposed Reinstatement of Terminated
Oil and Gas Leases NMNM 112261 and
NMNM 112262
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of reinstatement of
terminated oil and gas leases.
sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: Under the provisions of
Public Law 97–451, Elk Oil Company
timely filed a petition for reinstatement
of oil and gas leases NMNM 112261and
NMNM 112262 for lands in Chaves
County, New Mexico, and was
accompanied by all required rentals and
royalties accruing from October 1, 2005,
the date of the terminations.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Becky C. Olivas, BLM, New Mexico
State Office, (505) 438–7609.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: No valid
lease has been affecting the lands. The
lessee has agreed to new lease terms for
rentals and royalties at rates of $10.00
per acre or fraction thereof and 162⁄3
percent, respectively. The lessee has
paid the required $500.00
administrative fees and has reimbursed
the Bureau of Land Management for the
cost of this Federal Register notice.
The lessee has met all the
requirements for reinstatement of the
leases as set out in Sections 31(d) and
(e) of the Mineral Lease Act of 1920 (30
U.S.C. 188), and the Bureau of Land
Management is proposing to reinstate
the leases effective October 1, 2005,
subject to the original terms and
conditions of the leases and the
increased rentals and royalty rates cited
above.
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Agency Information Collection
Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request
Minerals Management Service
(MMS), Interior.
ACTION: Notice of extension of an
information collection (1010–0071).
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BILLING CODE 4310–FB–P
Minerals Management Service
AGENCY:
BILLING CODE 4310–40–P
Becky C. Olivas,
Land Law Examiner, Fluids Adjudication
Team 1.
[FR Doc. E6–3710 Filed 3–14–06; 8:45 am]
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
SUMMARY: To comply with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(PRA), we are inviting comments on a
collection of information that we will
submit to the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) for review and approval.
The information collection request (ICR)
concerns the paperwork requirements in
the regulations under 30 CFR 203,
‘‘Relief or Reduction in Royalty Rates.’’
DATES: Submit written comments by
May 15, 2006.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
by any of the following methods listed
below. Please use the Information
Collection Number 1010–0071 as an
identifier in your message.
• Public Connect on-line commenting
system, https://ocsconnect.mms.gov.
Follow the instructions on the Web site
for submitting comments.
• E-mail MMS at
rules.comments@mms.gov. Identify with
Information Collection Number 1010–
0071 in the subject line.
• Fax: 703–787–1093. Identify with
Information Collection Number 1010–
0071.
• Mail or hand-carry comments to the
Department of the Interior; Minerals
Management Service; Attention: Rules
Process Team (RPT); 381 Elden Street,
MS–4024; Herndon, Virginia 20170–
4817. Please reference ‘‘Information
Collection 1010–0071’’ in your
comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Cheryl Blundon, Rules Processing Team
at (703) 787–1600. You may also contact
Cheryl Blundon to obtain a copy, at no
cost, of the regulations that require the
subject collection of information.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: 30 CFR 203, Relief or Reduction
in Royalty Rates.
OMB Control Number: 1010–0071.
Abstract: The Outer Continental Shelf
(OCS) Lands Act, as amended by Public
Law 104–58, Deep Water Royalty Relief
Act (DWRRA), gives the Secretary of the
Interior (Secretary) the authority to
reduce or eliminate royalty or any net
profit share specified in OCS oil and gas
leases to promote increased production.
The DWRRA also authorized the
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Secretary to suspend royalties when
necessary to promote development or
recovery of marginal resources on
producing or non-producing leases in
the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) west of 87
degrees, 30 minutes West longitude.
Section 302 of the DWRRA provides
that new production from a lease in
existence on November 28, 1995, in a
water depth of at least 200 meters, and
in the GOM west of 87 degrees, 30
minutes West longitude qualifies for
royalty suspension in certain situations.
To grant a royalty suspension, the
Secretary must determine that the new
production or development would not
be economic without royalty relief. The
Secretary must then determine the
volume of production on which no
royalty would be due in order to make
the new production from the lease
economically viable. This determination
must be done on a case-by-case basis.
Production from leases in the same
water depth and area issued after
November 28, 2000, also can qualify for
royalty suspension in addition to any
that may be included in their lease
terms.
In addition, federal policy and statute
require us to recover the cost of services
that confer special benefits to
identifiable non-federal recipients. The
Independent Offices Appropriation Act
(31 U.S.C. 9701), OMB Circular A–25,
and the Omnibus Appropriations Bill
(Pub. L. 104–133 110 Stat. 1321, April
26, 1996) authorize MMS to collect
these fees to reimburse us for the cost
to process applications or assessments.
Regulations at 30 CFR part 203
implement these statutes and policy and
require respondents to pay a fee to
request royalty relief. Section 30 CFR
203.3 states that, ‘‘We will specify the
necessary fees for each of the types of
royalty-relief applications and possible
MMS audits in a Notice to Lessees. We
will periodically update the fees to
reflect changes in costs as well as
provide other information necessary to
administer royalty relief.’’
MMS uses the information to make
decisions on the economic viability of
leases requesting a suspension or
elimination of royalty or net profit
share. These decisions have enormous
monetary impacts to both the lessee and
the Federal Government. Royalty relief
can lead to increased production of
natural gas and oil, creating profits for
lessees and royalty and tax revenues for
the government that they might not
otherwise receive. We could not make
an informed decision without the
collection of information required by 30
CFR part 203.
We will protect information from
respondents considered proprietary
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 50 / Wednesday, March 15, 2006 / Notices
under the Freedom of Information Act
(5 U.S.C. 552) and its implementing
regulations (43 CFR 2) and 30 CFR
203.63(b) and 30 CFR 250.196. No items
of a sensitive nature are collected.
Responses are mandatory or required to
obtain or retain a benefit.
Frequency: On occasion.
Estimated Number and Description of
Respondents: Approximately 130
Federal OCS oil and gas lessees.
Estimated Reporting and
Recordkeeping ‘‘Hour’’ Burden: The
currently approved annual reporting
burden for this collection is 8,911 hours.
The following chart details the
individual components and respective
hour burden estimates of this ICR. In
calculating the burdens, we assumed
that respondents perform certain
requirements in the normal course of
their activities. We consider these to be
usual and customary and took that into
account in estimating the burden.
Citation 30 CFR 203 and
NTLs
Reporting or recordkeeping requirement 30 CFR part 203
43(a); 46(a) ..........................
43(b)(1), (2); (d); (e) .............
Notify MMS of intent to begin drilling .........................................................
Notify MMS that production has begun, request extension, request confirmation of the size of RSV.
Provide data from well to confirm and attest well drilled was an unsuccessful certified well and request supplement.
Notify MMS of decision to exercise option to replace one set of deep
gas royalty suspension terms for another set of such terms.
Application—leases that generate earnings that cannot sustain continued production (end-of-life lease).
46 .........................................
48(b) .....................................
51; 83; 84 .............................
55 .........................................
61; 62; 64; 65; 71; 83; 85–
89.
61; 62; 64; 65; 71; 83; 85–
89.
61; 62; 64; 65; 71; 83; 85–
89.
74; 75 ...................................
70; 81; 90; 91 .......................
70; 81; 90; 92 .......................
70; 79(a) ...............................
77 .........................................
79(c) .....................................
80 .........................................
80 .........................................
81; 83–89 .............................
83 .........................................
91 .........................................
13421
Hour burden
Renounce relief arrangement (end-of-life) (seldom, if ever will be used;
minimal burden to prepare letter).
Application—leases in designated areas of GOM deep water acquired in
lease sale before 11/28/95 or after 11/28/00 and are producing (deep
water expansion project).
Application—leases in designated areas of deep water GOM, acquired
in lease sale before 11/28/95 or after 11/28/00, that have not produced (pre-act or post-2000 deep water leases).
Application—preview assessment (seldom if ever will be used as applicants generally opt for binding determination by MMS instead).
Redetermination .........................................................................................
Submit fabricator’s confirmation report ......................................................
Submit post-production development report ..............................................
Request reconsideration of MMS field designation ...................................
Renounce relief arrangement (deep water) (seldom, if ever will be used;
minimal burden to prepare letter).
Request extension of deadline to start construction .................................
Application—apart from formal programs for royalty relief for marginal
producing lease (expect less than 1 per year).
Application—apart from formal programs for royalty relief for marginal
expansion project or marginal non-producing lease (expect less than
1 per year).
Required reports ........................................................................................
Application—short form to add or assign pre-Act lease ............................
Retain supporting cost records for post-production development/fabrication reports (records retained as usual/customary business practice;
minimal burden to make available at MMS request.
1.
2.
8.
2.
100.
Application 1 × $8,000.*
Audit 1 × $12,500.
1.
2,000.
Application 1 × $19,500.
2,000.
Application 1 × $34,000.*
Audit 1 × $37,500.
900.
Application 1 × $34,000.
500.
Application 1 × $16,000.*
20.
50.
400.
1.
2.
250.
Application 1 × $8,000.**
Audit 1 × $10,000.
1,000.
Application 1 × $19,500.**
Audit 1 × $20,000.
Burden included with applications.
40.
Application 1 × $1,000.
8.
* CPA certification expense burden also imposed on applicant.
** These applications currently do not have a set fee since they are done on a case-by-case basis. In the past 11 years, three unique applications have been submitted and the respondents were charged approximately $8,000 per application, and $19,500 respectively.
sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
Note: Applications include numerous
items such as: transmittal letters, letters of
request, modifications to applications,
reapplications, etc.
Estimated Reporting and
Recordkeeping ‘‘Non-Hour Cost’’
Burden: There are two non-hour costs
associated with this information
collection. The currently approved nonhour cost burden is $355,000. This
estimate is based on:
(a) Application and audit fees. The
total annual estimated cost burden for
these fees is $220,000 (refer to burden
chart).
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(b) Cost of reports prepared by
independent certified public
accountants. Under § 203.81, a report
prepared by an independent certified
public accountant (CPA) must
accompany the application and postproduction report (expansion project,
short form, and preview assessment
applications are excluded). The OCS
Lands Act applications will require this
report only once; the DWRRA
applications will require this report at
two stages—with the application and
post-production development report for
successful applicants. We estimate
approximately three submissions,
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during the information collection
extension, at an average cost of $45,000
per report, for a total estimated annual
cost burden of $135,000.
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: Before submitting an ICR
to OMB, PRA section 3506(c)(2)(A)
requires each agency ‘‘* * * to provide
notice * * * and otherwise consult
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sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
13422
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 50 / Wednesday, March 15, 2006 / Notices
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.
Agencies must also estimate the ‘‘nonhour cost’’ burdens to respondents or
recordkeepers resulting from the
collection of information. Therefore, if
you have costs to generate, maintain,
and disclose this information, you
should comment and provide your total
capital and startup cost components or
annual operation, maintenance, and
purchase of service components. 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, and
record storage facilities. You should not
include estimates for 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.
We will summarize written responses
to this notice and address them in our
submission for OMB approval. As a
result of your comments, we will make
any necessary adjustments to the burden
in our submission to OMB.
Public Comment Procedures: 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 this request
to the extent allowable by 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
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17:27 Mar 14, 2006
Jkt 208001
made available for public inspection in
their entirety.
MMS Information Collection
Clearance Officer: Arlene Bajusz (202)
208–7744.
Dated: February 27, 2006.
E.P. Danenberger,
Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. E6–3705 Filed 3–14–06; 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 new information
collection (1010–NEW).
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) for
review and approval of the paperwork
requirements in the regulations under
‘‘30 CFR 256, Subparts J and K, and 30
CFR 250, Subpart J,’’ and related
documents. This notice also provides
the public a second opportunity to
comment on the paperwork burden of
these regulatory requirements.
DATES: Submit written comments by
April 14, 2006.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
on this information collection directly
to the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB), Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Attention:
Desk Officer for the Department of the
Interior via OMB e-mail:
(OIRA_DOCKET@omb.eop.gov); or by
fax (202) 395–6566; identify with (1010–
NEW).
Submit a copy of your comments to
the Department of the Interior, MMS,
via:
• MMS’s Public Connect on-line
commenting system, https://
ocsconnect.mms.gov. Follow the
instructions on the Web site for
submitting comments.
• E-mail MMS at
rules.comments@mms.gov. Use
Information Collection Number 1010–
NEW in the subject line.
• Fax: 703–787–1093. Identify with
Information Collection Number 1010–
NEW.
• Mail or hand-carry comments to the
Department of the Interior; Minerals
Management Service; Attention: Rules
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Processing Team (RPT); 381 Elden
Street, MS–4024; Herndon, Virginia
20170–4817. Please reference
‘‘Information Collection 1010–NEW’’ in
your comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Cheryl Blundon, Rules Processing
Team, (703) 787–1600. You may also
contact Cheryl Blundon to obtain a
copy, at no cost, of the regulations and
forms that require the subject collection
of information.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: 30 CFR 256, Subparts J and K,
and 30 CFR 250, Subpart J.
Forms: MMS–149, MMS–150, MMS–
151, and MMS–152.
OMB Control Number: 1010–NEW.
Abstract: The Outer Continental Shelf
(OCS) Lands Act, as amended (43 U.S.C.
1331 et seq. and 43 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.),
authorizes the Secretary of the Interior
(Secretary) to prescribe rules and
regulations to administer leasing of the
OCS. Such rules and regulations will
apply to all operations conducted under
a lease. Operations on the OCS must
preserve, protect, and develop oil and
natural gas resources in a manner that
is consistent with the need to make such
resources available to meet the Nation’s
energy needs as rapidly as possible; to
balance orderly energy resource
development with protection of human,
marine, and coastal environments; to
ensure the public a fair and equitable
return on the resources of the OCS; and
to preserve and maintain free enterprise
competition. Also, the Energy Policy
and Conservation Act of 1975 (EPCA)
prohibits certain lease bidding
arrangements (42 U.S.C. 6213(c)).
These authorities and responsibilities
are among those delegated to the
Minerals Management Service (MMS)
under which MMS issues regulations
governing oil and gas and sulphur
operations in the OCS. This information
collection request (ICR) addresses the
regulations at 30 CFR part 250, Oil and
Gas and Sulphur Operations in the
Outer Continental Shelf, 30 CFR part
256, Leasing of Sulphur or Oil and Gas
in the OCS, and the associated
supplementary Notices to Lessees
(NTLs) and operators intended to
provide clarification, description, or
explanation of these regulations. This
ICR concerns the use of new forms to
process the transfer of interest in lease
and rights-of-way per 30 CFR part 250,
subpart J, Pipelines and Pipeline Rightsof-Way, 30 CFR 256, subpart J,
Assignments, Transfers and Extensions,
and the filing of relinquishments per 30
CFR 256, subpart K, Termination of
Leases.
We will protect information from
respondents considered proprietary
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 50 (Wednesday, March 15, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13420-13422]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-3705]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 an information collection (1010-0071).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), we
are inviting comments on a collection of information that we will
submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and
approval. The information collection request (ICR) concerns the
paperwork requirements in the regulations under 30 CFR 203, ``Relief or
Reduction in Royalty Rates.''
DATES: Submit written comments by May 15, 2006.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods
listed below. Please use the Information Collection Number 1010-0071 as
an identifier in your message.
Public Connect on-line commenting system, https://
ocsconnect.mms.gov. Follow the instructions on the Web site for
submitting comments.
E-mail MMS at rules.comments@mms.gov. Identify with
Information Collection Number 1010-0071 in the subject line.
Fax: 703-787-1093. Identify with Information Collection
Number 1010-0071.
Mail or hand-carry comments to the Department of the
Interior; Minerals Management Service; Attention: Rules Process Team
(RPT); 381 Elden Street, MS-4024; Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817. Please
reference ``Information Collection 1010-0071'' in your comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl Blundon, Rules Processing Team
at (703) 787-1600. You may also contact Cheryl Blundon to obtain a
copy, at no cost, of the regulations that require the subject
collection of information.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: 30 CFR 203, Relief or Reduction in Royalty Rates.
OMB Control Number: 1010-0071.
Abstract: The Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lands Act, as amended
by Public Law 104-58, Deep Water Royalty Relief Act (DWRRA), gives the
Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) the authority to reduce or
eliminate royalty or any net profit share specified in OCS oil and gas
leases to promote increased production. The DWRRA also authorized the
Secretary to suspend royalties when necessary to promote development or
recovery of marginal resources on producing or non-producing leases in
the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) west of 87 degrees, 30 minutes West longitude.
Section 302 of the DWRRA provides that new production from a lease
in existence on November 28, 1995, in a water depth of at least 200
meters, and in the GOM west of 87 degrees, 30 minutes West longitude
qualifies for royalty suspension in certain situations. To grant a
royalty suspension, the Secretary must determine that the new
production or development would not be economic without royalty relief.
The Secretary must then determine the volume of production on which no
royalty would be due in order to make the new production from the lease
economically viable. This determination must be done on a case-by-case
basis. Production from leases in the same water depth and area issued
after November 28, 2000, also can qualify for royalty suspension in
addition to any that may be included in their lease terms.
In addition, federal policy and statute require us to recover the
cost of services that confer special benefits to identifiable non-
federal recipients. The Independent Offices Appropriation Act (31
U.S.C. 9701), OMB Circular A-25, and the Omnibus Appropriations Bill
(Pub. L. 104-133 110 Stat. 1321, April 26, 1996) authorize MMS to
collect these fees to reimburse us for the cost to process applications
or assessments.
Regulations at 30 CFR part 203 implement these statutes and policy
and require respondents to pay a fee to request royalty relief. Section
30 CFR 203.3 states that, ``We will specify the necessary fees for each
of the types of royalty-relief applications and possible MMS audits in
a Notice to Lessees. We will periodically update the fees to reflect
changes in costs as well as provide other information necessary to
administer royalty relief.''
MMS uses the information to make decisions on the economic
viability of leases requesting a suspension or elimination of royalty
or net profit share. These decisions have enormous monetary impacts to
both the lessee and the Federal Government. Royalty relief can lead to
increased production of natural gas and oil, creating profits for
lessees and royalty and tax revenues for the government that they might
not otherwise receive. We could not make an informed decision without
the collection of information required by 30 CFR part 203.
We will protect information from respondents considered proprietary
[[Page 13421]]
under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and its
implementing regulations (43 CFR 2) and 30 CFR 203.63(b) and 30 CFR
250.196. No items of a sensitive nature are collected. Responses are
mandatory or required to obtain or retain a benefit.
Frequency: On occasion.
Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: Approximately 130
Federal OCS oil and gas lessees.
Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' Burden: The
currently approved annual reporting burden for this collection is 8,911
hours. The following chart details the individual components and
respective hour burden estimates of this ICR. In calculating the
burdens, we assumed that respondents perform certain requirements in
the normal course of their activities. We consider these to be usual
and customary and took that into account in estimating the burden.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reporting or recordkeeping requirement 30 CFR part
Citation 30 CFR 203 and NTLs 203 Hour burden
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
43(a); 46(a)............................... Notify MMS of intent to begin drilling............ 1.
43(b)(1), (2); (d); (e).................... Notify MMS that production has begun, request 2.
extension, request confirmation of the size of
RSV.
46......................................... Provide data from well to confirm and attest well 8.
drilled was an unsuccessful certified well and
request supplement.
48(b)...................................... Notify MMS of decision to exercise option to 2.
replace one set of deep gas royalty suspension
terms for another set of such terms.
51; 83; 84................................. Application--leases that generate earnings that 100.
cannot sustain continued production (end-of-life Application 1 x $8,000.*
lease). Audit 1 x $12,500.
55......................................... Renounce relief arrangement (end-of-life) (seldom, 1.
if ever will be used; minimal burden to prepare
letter).
61; 62; 64; 65; 71; 83; 85-89.............. Application--leases in designated areas of GOM 2,000.
deep water acquired in lease sale before 11/28/95 Application 1 x $19,500.
or after 11/28/00 and are producing (deep water
expansion project).
61; 62; 64; 65; 71; 83; 85-89.............. Application--leases in designated areas of deep 2,000.
water GOM, acquired in lease sale before 11/28/95 Application 1 x $34,000.*
or after 11/28/00, that have not produced (pre- Audit 1 x $37,500.
act or post-2000 deep water leases).
61; 62; 64; 65; 71; 83; 85-89.............. Application--preview assessment (seldom if ever 900.
will be used as applicants generally opt for Application 1 x $34,000.
binding determination by MMS instead).
74; 75..................................... Redetermination................................... 500.
Application 1 x $16,000.*
70; 81; 90; 91............................. Submit fabricator's confirmation report........... 20.
70; 81; 90; 92............................. Submit post-production development report......... 50.
70; 79(a).................................. Request reconsideration of MMS field designation.. 400.
77......................................... Renounce relief arrangement (deep water) (seldom, 1.
if ever will be used; minimal burden to prepare
letter).
79(c)...................................... Request extension of deadline to start 2.
construction.
80......................................... Application--apart from formal programs for 250.
royalty relief for marginal producing lease Application 1 x $8,000.**
(expect less than 1 per year). Audit 1 x $10,000.
80......................................... Application--apart from formal programs for 1,000.
royalty relief for marginal expansion project or Application 1 x $19,500.**
marginal non-producing lease (expect less than 1 Audit 1 x $20,000.
per year).
81; 83-89.................................. Required reports.................................. Burden included with applications.
83......................................... Application--short form to add or assign pre-Act 40.
lease. Application 1 x $1,000.
91......................................... Retain supporting cost records for post-production 8.
development/fabrication reports (records retained
as usual/customary business practice; minimal
burden to make available at MMS request.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* CPA certification expense burden also imposed on applicant.
** These applications currently do not have a set fee since they are done on a case-by-case basis. In the past 11 years, three unique applications have
been submitted and the respondents were charged approximately $8,000 per application, and $19,500 respectively.
Note: Applications include numerous items such as: transmittal
letters, letters of request, modifications to applications,
reapplications, etc.
Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Non-Hour Cost'' Burden:
There are two non-hour costs associated with this information
collection. The currently approved non-hour cost burden is $355,000.
This estimate is based on:
(a) Application and audit fees. The total annual estimated cost
burden for these fees is $220,000 (refer to burden chart).
(b) Cost of reports prepared by independent certified public
accountants. Under Sec. 203.81, a report prepared by an independent
certified public accountant (CPA) must accompany the application and
post-production report (expansion project, short form, and preview
assessment applications are excluded). The OCS Lands Act applications
will require this report only once; the DWRRA applications will require
this report at two stages--with the application and post-production
development report for successful applicants. We estimate approximately
three submissions, during the information collection extension, at an
average cost of $45,000 per report, for a total estimated annual cost
burden of $135,000.
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: Before submitting an ICR to OMB, PRA section
3506(c)(2)(A) requires each agency ``* * * to provide notice * * * and
otherwise consult
[[Page 13422]]
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.
Agencies must also estimate the ``non-hour cost'' burdens to
respondents or recordkeepers resulting from the collection of
information. Therefore, if you have costs to generate, maintain, and
disclose this information, you should comment and provide your total
capital and startup cost components or annual operation, maintenance,
and purchase of service components. 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, and record storage
facilities. You should not include estimates for 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.
We will summarize written responses to this notice and address them
in our submission for OMB approval. As a result of your comments, we
will make any necessary adjustments to the burden in our submission to
OMB.
Public Comment Procedures: 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
this request to the extent allowable by 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
made available for public inspection in their entirety.
MMS Information Collection Clearance Officer: Arlene Bajusz (202)
208-7744.
Dated: February 27, 2006.
E.P. Danenberger,
Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. E6-3705 Filed 3-14-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P
