Agency Information Collection Activities: Submitted for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Review; Comment Request, 12814-12817 [E7-4888]
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12814
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 52 / Monday, March 19, 2007 / Notices
Dated: March 9, 2007.
Michael T. Birtles,
Chief Cadastral Surveyor, Division of
Resources.
[FR Doc. E7–4910 Filed 3–16–07; 8:45 am]
bank of the Missouri River, the
corrective dependent resurvey of
portions of the Sixth Standard Parallel
North, through Range 10 East, the
subdivisional lines, and the subdivision
of section lines, and the survey of the
subdivision of certain sections,
Township 24 North, Range 10 East, of
the Sixth Principal Meridian, Nebraska,
was accepted March 8, 2007.
Copies of the preceding described plat
and field notes are available to the
public at a cost of $1.10 per page.
boundary between the Grand Teton
National Park and the Bridger-Teton
National Forest, along the hydrographic
divide as defined by Congressional Act,
February 26, 1929, Public Law 70–817,
within the unsurveyed portion of
Township 42 North, Range 117 West,
Sixth Principal Meridian, Wyoming,
Group No. 764, was accepted and filed
January 31, 2007.
Copies of the preceding described
plats and field notes are available to the
public at a cost of $1.10 per page.
Dated: March 12, 2007.
John P. Lee,
Chief Cadastral Surveyor, Division of Support
Services.
[FR Doc. E7–4922 Filed 3–16–07; 8:45 am]
Dated: March 13, 2007.
John P. Lee,
Chief Cadastral Surveyor, Division of Support
Services.
[FR Doc. E7–4923 Filed 3–16–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4467–22–P
BILLING CODE 4310–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
Minerals Management Service
[WY–957–07–1420–BJ]
adjusted 1931 meanders of the left bank
of the Cheyenne River, downstream,
through sections 2 and 5, and the survey
of portions of the meanders of the
present left bank of the Cheyenne River,
downstream, through sections 2 and 5,
and certain division of accretion lines,
in Township 8 North, Range 23 East,
Black Hills Meridian, South Dakota, was
accepted March 7, 2007.
We will place copies of the plat only,
in 2 sheets, we described in the open
files. They will be available to the
public as a matter of information.
If BLM receives a protest against this
survey, as shown on this plat, in 2
sheets, prior to the date of the official
filing, we will stay the filing pending
our consideration of the protest.
We will not officially file this plat, in
2 sheets, until the day after we have
accepted or dismissed all protests and
they have become final, including
decisions or appeals.
Agency Information Collection
Activities: Submitted for Office of
Management and Budget (OMB)
Review; Comment Request
Notice of Filing of Plats of Survey,
Wyoming
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of filing of plats of
survey, Wyoming.
AGENCY:
BILLING CODE 4310–$$–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) has filed the plats of
survey of the lands described below in
the BLM Wyoming State Office,
Cheyenne, Wyoming, on the dates
indicated.
Bureau of Land Management
[WY–957–07–1910–BJ–5GKW]
Notice of Filing of Plats of Survey,
Nebraska
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of filing of plats of
survey, Nebraska.
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AGENCY:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) is scheduled to file
the plats of survey of the lands
described below thirty (30) calendar
days from the date of this publication in
the BLM Wyoming State Office,
Cheyenne, Wyoming.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Bureau of Land Management, 5353
Yellowstone Road, P.O. Box 1828,
Cheyenne, Wyoming 82003.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
survey was executed at the request of
the Bureau of Indian Affairs and is
necessary for the management of these
lands. The lands surveyed are:
The plats and field notes representing
the dependent resurvey of portions of
the Sixth Standard Parallel North,
through Range 10 East, the east and west
boundaries, the subdivisional lines, the
subdivision of section lines, and the
original 1867 meander line of the right
Bureau of Land Management, 5353
Yellowstone Road, P.O. Box 1828,
Cheyenne, Wyoming 82003.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: These
surveys were executed at the request of
the Bureau of Land Management, and
are necessary for the management of
resources. The lands surveyed are:
The plat and field notes representing
the dependent resurvey of a portion of
the north boundary and a portion of the
subdivisional lines, Township 50 North,
Range 79 West, Sixth Principal
Meridian, Wyoming, Group No. 748,
was accepted and filed November 17,
2006.
The plat and field notes representing
the dependent resurvey of the east
boundary, a portion of the north
boundary and a portion of the
subdivisional lines, Township 51 North,
Range 79 West, Sixth Principal
Meridian, Wyoming, Group No. 750,
was accepted and filed November 17,
2006.
The plat that represents the entire
record of the survey of a portion of the
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15:50 Mar 16, 2007
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Minerals Management Service
(MMS), Interior.
ACTION: Notice of an extension of an
information collection (1010–0006).
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) to
renew approval of the paperwork
requirements in the regulations under
30 CFR part 256, ‘‘Leasing of Sulphur or
Oil and Gas in the Outer Continental
Shelf.’’ 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 18, 2007.
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–
0006).
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.
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 52 / Monday, March 19, 2007 / Notices
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• E-mail MMS at
rules.comments@mms.gov. Use
Information Collection Number 1010–
0006, in the subject line.
• Fax: 703–787–1093. Identify with
Information Collection Number 1010–
0006.
• Mail or hand-carry comments to the
Department of the Interior; Minerals
Management Service; Attention: Rules
Processing Team (RPT); 381 Elden
Street, MS–4024; Herndon, Virginia
20170–4817. Please reference
‘‘Information Collection 1010–0006’’ in
your comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Cheryl Blundon, Regulations and
Standards Branch, (703) 787–1607. You
may also contact Cheryl Blundon to
obtain a copy, at no cost, of the ICR, the
forms, and the regulations that require
the subject collection of information.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: 30 CFR Part 256, ‘‘Leasing of
Sulphur or Oil and Gas in the Outer
Continental Shelf.’’
OMB Control Number: 1010–0006.
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)).
The Independent Offices
Appropriations Act of 1952 (IOAA), 31
U.S.C. 9701, authorizes Federal agencies
to recover the full cost of services that
provide special benefits. Under the
Department of the Interior’s (DOI) policy
implementing the IOAA, the Minerals
Management Service (MMS) is required
to charge the full cost for services that
provide special benefits or privileges to
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17:27 Mar 16, 2007
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an identifiable non-Federal recipient
above and beyond those that accrue to
the public at large. Instruments of
transfer of a lease or interest are subject
to cost recovery, and MMS regulations
specify the filing fee for these transfer
applications.
These authorities and responsibilities
are among those delegated to the MMS
under which we issue regulations
governing oil and gas and sulphur
operations in the OCS. This information
collection request (ICR) addresses the
regulations at 30 CFR 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.
Responses are required to obtain or
retain a benefit. No questions of a
‘‘sensitive’’ nature are asked. The
individual responses to Calls for
Information are the only information
collected involving the protection of
confidentiality. The MMS will protect
specific individual replies from
disclosure as proprietary information
according to section 26 of the OCS
Lands Act, the Freedom of Information
Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and its implementing
regulations (43 CFR part 2), and
§ 256.10(d).
The MMS uses the information
required by 30 CFR part 256 to
determine if applicants are qualified to
hold leases in the OCS. Specifically,
MMS uses the information to:
• Verify the qualifications of a bidder
on an OCS lease sale. Once the required
information is filed with MMS, a
qualification number is assigned to the
bidder so that duplicate information is
not required on subsequent filings.
• Develop the semiannual List of
Restricted Joint Bidders. This identifies
parties ineligible to bid jointly with
each other on OCS lease sales, under
limitations established by the EPCA.
• Ensure the qualification of
assignees and track operators on
leaseholds. Once a lease is awarded, the
transfer of a lessee’s interest to another
qualified party must be approved by an
MMS regional director, regional
supervisor, or regional manager (Pacific
Region only). Also, a lessee may
designate an operator to act on the
lessee’s behalf. This designation must be
approved by MMS before the designated
operator may begin operations.
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12815
• Document that a leasehold or
geographical subdivision has been
surrendered by the record title holder.
The MMS will use this information to
update the corporate database which is
used to determine what leases are
available for a lease sale and the
ownership of all OCS leases. Nonproprietary information is also publicly
available from the MMS corporate
database via the Internet.
The MMS uses the information
required by subpart J, Assignments,
Transfers and Extensions, to track the
ownership of leases as to record title,
operating rights, and pipeline right-ofways.
The MMS also uses various forms
relating to this subpart—forms to
process bonds per subpart I, Bonding,
the transfer of interest in leases per
subpart J, Assignments, Transfers and
Extensions, and the filing of
relinquishments per subpart K,
Termination of Leases. The forms allow
lessees to submit the required
information in a standardized format
that helps MMS process the data in a
more timely and efficient manner. The
forms are:
• MMS–150, Assignment of Record
Title Interest in Federal OCS Oil and
Gas Lease,
• MMS–151, Assignment of
Operating Rights Interest in Federal
OCS Oil and Gas Lease,
• MMS–152, Relinquishment of
Federal OCS Oil and Gas Lease.
• MMS–2028, OCS Mineral Lessee’s
and Operator’s Bond,
• MMS–2028A, OCS Mineral Lessee’s
and Operator’s Supplemental Plugging
and Abandonment Bond,
Frequency: On occasion.
Estimated Number and Description of
Respondents: Approximately 256
respondents (Federal oil and gas or
sulphur lessees).
Estimated Reporting and
Recordkeeping ‘‘Hour’’ Burden: The
estimated annual ‘‘hour’’ burden for this
information collection is a total of
17,058 hours. 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.
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 52 / Monday, March 19, 2007 / Notices
Fees
Citation 30 CFR Part 256
Reporting requirement
Hour burden
Average No.
of annual responses
Annual burden
hours
Subparts A, C, E, H, L, M ........
None .........................................................................................
Not applicable
0
Subparts G, H, I, J: 37; 53; 68;
70; 71; 72; 73.
Request approval for various operations or submit plans or
applications.
Burden included with other
approved collections in 30
CFR Part 250 (1010–0114,
1010–0141,
1010–0142,
1010–0149, 1010–0151)
0
Subpart B: All sections ............
4 ...................
1 response ...
4
4 ...................
1 response ...
4
4 ...................
10 responses
40
2 ...................
104 responses.
208
2 ...................
100 responses.
2,000 bids ....
2 agreements
200
44; 46 .......................................
47(c) .........................................
Submit suggestions and relevant information in response to
request for comments on proposed 5-year leasing program, including information from States/local governments.
Submit response to Call for Information and Nominations on
areas for leasing of minerals in specified areas in accordance with an approved leasing program, including information from States/local governments.
States or local governments submit comments/recommendations on size, timing or location of proposed lease sale.
Establish a Company File for qualification; submit updated information, submit qualifications for lessee/bidder, request
exception.
Submit qualification of bidders for joint bids and statement or
report of production/appeal.
Submit bids and required information ......................................
File agreement to accept joint lease on tie bids ......................
47(e)(1), (e)(3) .........................
Request for reconsideration of bid rejection ............................
Exempt as defined in 5 CFR
1320.3(h)(9)
47(f), (i); 50 ..............................
Execute lease (includes submission of evidence of authorized agent and request for dating of leases).
Submit authority for Regional Director to sell Treasury or alternate type of securities.
OCS Mineral Lessee’s and Operator’s Bond (Form MMS–
2028).
Demonstrate financial worth/ability to carry out present and
future financial obligations, request approval of another
form of security, or request reduction in amount of supplemental bond required.
OCS Mineral Lessee’s and Operator’s Supplemental Plugging & Abandonment Bond (Form MMS–2028A).
Notify MMS of any lapse in previous bond/action filed alleging lessee, surety, or guarantor is insolvent or bankrupt.
Provide plan/instructions to fund lease-specific abandonment
account and related information; request approval to withdraw funds.
Provide third-party guarantee, indemnity agreement, financial
information, related notices, reports, and annual update;
notify MMS if guarantor becomes unqualified.
Notice of and request approval to terminate period of liability,
cancel bond, or other security.
Provide information to demonstrate lease will be brought into
compliance.
File application and required information for assignment or
transfer for approval (Forms MMS–150 and MMS–151).
1 ...................
852 leases ...
2 ...................
10 submissions.
124 responses.
165 submissions.
Subpart D: All sections ............
Subpart F: 31 ...........................
Subpart G: 35; 46(d), (e) .........
41; 43; 46(g) ............................
Subpart I: 52(f)(2), (g)(2) .........
53(a), 53(b); 54 ........................
53(c), (d), (f); 54(d), 54(e) ........
54 .............................................
55 .............................................
56 .............................................
57 .............................................
57(d)(3); 58 ..............................
59(c)(2) .....................................
Subpart J: 62; 63; 64; 65; 67 ...
5 ...................
3 1/2 .............
1/4 ................
3 1/2 .............
1/4 ................
10,000
7
0
852
20
31
1 578
34
1 ...................
136 responses.
3 notices ......
12 .................
1 submission
12
19 .................
45 submissions.
855
1/2 ................
378 requests
189
16 .................
5 responses
80
2 forms @ 30
min ea = 1
hr.
3,000 applications.
3,000
3
3,000 Title/Rights (Transfer) fee @ $170 =
$510,000
63; 64(a)(8) ..............................
Submit non-required documents, for record purposes, which
respondents want MMS to file with the lease document.
Accepted on behalf of lessees
as a service, MMS does not
require nor need the filings
0
3,725 filing fees @ $25 ea = $93,125
File required instruments creating or transferring working interests, etc., for record purposes.
File written request for relinquishment (Form MMS–152) .......
1 ...................
700 filings .....
700
Subpart K: 76 ...........................
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64(a)(7) ....................................
1/2 ................
120
77(c) .........................................
Comment on lease cancellation (MMS expects 1 in 10 years)
1 ...................
240
relinquishments.
1 ...................
Total Reporting ............................................................................................................................
7,878 Responses
17,058 Hours
$603,125 Fees
1 (Rounded).
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 52 / Monday, March 19, 2007 / Notices
Estimated Reporting and
Recordkeeping ‘‘Non-Hour Cost’’
Burden: There are two non-hour costs
associated with this information
collection. The estimated non-hour cost
burden is $603,125. Sections 256.62 and
256.64(a) require respondents to pay
filing fees when submitting a request for
assignment or transfer, and to file
documents for record purposes. The
application filing fees are required to
recover the Federal Government’s
processing costs. We have not identified
any other ‘‘non-hour cost’’ burdens
associated with this collection of
information.
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: Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of
the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.)
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.
To comply with the public
consultation process, on August 16,
2006, we published a Federal Register
notice (71 FR 47243) announcing that
we would submit this ICR to OMB for
approval. The notice provided the
required 60-day comment period. In
addition, § 256.0 and the PRA statement
on the MMS forms display the OMB
control number, specifies that the public
may comment at anytime on the
collection of information required in the
30 CFR part 256 regulations and forms,
and provides the address to which they
should send comments. We have
received one comment in response to
those efforts, but it was not germane to
the paperwork burden of the
information collection.
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17:27 Mar 16, 2007
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If you wish to comment in response
to this notice, you may send your
comments to the offices listed under the
ADDRESSES section of this notice. 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 April 18, 2007.
Public Comment Procedures: The
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. The MMS will honor the
request to the extent allowable by the
law; however, anonymous comments
will not be considered. There may be
circumstances in which we would
withhold from the record a respondent’s
identity, as allowable by the law. If you
wish us to withhold your name and/or
address, you must state this
prominently at the beginning of your
comment. In addition, you must present
a rationale for withholding this
information. This rationale must
demonstrate that disclosure ‘‘would
constitute an unwarranted invasion of
privacy.’’ Unsupported assertions will
not meet this burden. In the absence of
exceptional, documentable
circumstances, this information will be
released. 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: November 30, 2006.
E.P. Danenberger,
Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
This document was received at the Office
of the Federal Register on March 13, 2007.
[FR Doc. E7–4888 Filed 3–16–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Minerals Management Service
Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Beaufort
Sea Alaska, Oil and Gas Lease Sale
202
AGENCY:
Final Notice of Sale OCS Oil
and Gas Lease Sale 202, Beaufort Sea.
ACTION:
SUMMARY: The MMS will hold OCS Oil
and Gas Lease Sale 202 on April 18,
2007, in accordance with provisions of
the OCS Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331–
1356, as amended), the implementing
regulations (30 CFR part 256), and the
OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program for
2002–2007.
Lease Sale 202 is scheduled to be
held on April 18, 2007, at the Wilda
Marston Theatre, Z. J. Loussac Public
Library, 3600 Denali Street, Anchorage,
Alaska. Public reading will begin at 9
a.m. All times referred to in this
document are local Anchorage, Alaska
times, unless otherwise specified.
DATES:
A package containing the
Final Notice of Sale (NOS) and several
supporting and essential documents
referenced herein are available from:
ADDRESSES:
Alaska OCS Region, Information
Resource Center, Minerals Management
Service, 3801 Centerpoint Drive, Suite
500, Anchorage, Alaska 99503–5823,
Telephone: (907) 334–5200 or 1–800–
764–2627.
These documents are also available on
the MMS Alaska OCS Region’s Web site
at https://www.mms.gov/alaska.
Bid Submission Deadline: Bidders
will be required to submit bids to the
MMS at the Alaska OCS Region Office,
3801 Centerpoint Drive, Suite 500,
Anchorage, Alaska 99503, by 10 a.m. on
the day before the sale, Tuesday, April
17, 2007. If bids are mailed, the
envelope containing all of the sealed
bids must be marked as follows:
Attention: Mr. Fred King, Contains
Sealed Bids for Sale 202.
If bids are received later than the time
and date specified above, they will be
returned unopened to the bidders.
Bidders may not modify or withdraw
their bids unless the Regional Director,
Alaska OCS Region receives a written
modification or written withdrawal
request prior to 10 a.m., Tuesday, April
17, 2007. Should an unexpected event
such as an earthquake or travel
restrictions be significantly disruptive to
bid submission, the Alaska OCS Region
Minerals Management Service,
Interior.
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 52 (Monday, March 19, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12814-12817]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-4888]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Minerals Management Service
Agency Information Collection Activities: Submitted for Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) Review; Comment Request
AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.
ACTION: Notice of an extension of an information collection (1010-
0006).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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) to renew approval of the paperwork
requirements in the regulations under 30 CFR part 256, ``Leasing of
Sulphur or Oil and Gas in the Outer Continental Shelf.'' 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 18, 2007.
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-
0006).
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.
[[Page 12815]]
E-mail MMS at rules.comments@mms.gov. Use Information
Collection Number 1010-0006, in the subject line.
Fax: 703-787-1093. Identify with Information Collection
Number 1010-0006.
Mail or hand-carry comments to the Department of the
Interior; Minerals Management Service; Attention: Rules Processing Team
(RPT); 381 Elden Street, MS-4024; Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817. Please
reference ``Information Collection 1010-0006'' in your comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl Blundon, Regulations and
Standards Branch, (703) 787-1607. You may also contact Cheryl Blundon
to obtain a copy, at no cost, of the ICR, the forms, and the
regulations that require the subject collection of information.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: 30 CFR Part 256, ``Leasing of Sulphur or Oil and Gas in the
Outer Continental Shelf.''
OMB Control Number: 1010-0006.
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)).
The Independent Offices Appropriations Act of 1952 (IOAA), 31
U.S.C. 9701, authorizes Federal agencies to recover the full cost of
services that provide special benefits. Under the Department of the
Interior's (DOI) policy implementing the IOAA, the Minerals Management
Service (MMS) is required to charge the full cost for services that
provide special benefits or privileges to an identifiable non-Federal
recipient above and beyond those that accrue to the public at large.
Instruments of transfer of a lease or interest are subject to cost
recovery, and MMS regulations specify the filing fee for these transfer
applications.
These authorities and responsibilities are among those delegated to
the MMS under which we issue regulations governing oil and gas and
sulphur operations in the OCS. This information collection request
(ICR) addresses the regulations at 30 CFR 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.
Responses are required to obtain or retain a benefit. No questions
of a ``sensitive'' nature are asked. The individual responses to Calls
for Information are the only information collected involving the
protection of confidentiality. The MMS will protect specific individual
replies from disclosure as proprietary information according to section
26 of the OCS Lands Act, the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552)
and its implementing regulations (43 CFR part 2), and Sec. 256.10(d).
The MMS uses the information required by 30 CFR part 256 to
determine if applicants are qualified to hold leases in the OCS.
Specifically, MMS uses the information to:
Verify the qualifications of a bidder on an OCS lease
sale. Once the required information is filed with MMS, a qualification
number is assigned to the bidder so that duplicate information is not
required on subsequent filings.
Develop the semiannual List of Restricted Joint Bidders.
This identifies parties ineligible to bid jointly with each other on
OCS lease sales, under limitations established by the EPCA.
Ensure the qualification of assignees and track operators
on leaseholds. Once a lease is awarded, the transfer of a lessee's
interest to another qualified party must be approved by an MMS regional
director, regional supervisor, or regional manager (Pacific Region
only). Also, a lessee may designate an operator to act on the lessee's
behalf. This designation must be approved by MMS before the designated
operator may begin operations.
Document that a leasehold or geographical subdivision has
been surrendered by the record title holder.
The MMS will use this information to update the corporate database
which is used to determine what leases are available for a lease sale
and the ownership of all OCS leases. Non-proprietary information is
also publicly available from the MMS corporate database via the
Internet.
The MMS uses the information required by subpart J, Assignments,
Transfers and Extensions, to track the ownership of leases as to record
title, operating rights, and pipeline right-of-ways.
The MMS also uses various forms relating to this subpart--forms to
process bonds per subpart I, Bonding, the transfer of interest in
leases per subpart J, Assignments, Transfers and Extensions, and the
filing of relinquishments per subpart K, Termination of Leases. The
forms allow lessees to submit the required information in a
standardized format that helps MMS process the data in a more timely
and efficient manner. The forms are:
MMS-150, Assignment of Record Title Interest in Federal
OCS Oil and Gas Lease,
MMS-151, Assignment of Operating Rights Interest in
Federal OCS Oil and Gas Lease,
MMS-152, Relinquishment of Federal OCS Oil and Gas Lease.
MMS-2028, OCS Mineral Lessee's and Operator's Bond,
MMS-2028A, OCS Mineral Lessee's and Operator's
Supplemental Plugging and Abandonment Bond,
Frequency: On occasion.
Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: Approximately 256
respondents (Federal oil and gas or sulphur lessees).
Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' Burden: The
estimated annual ``hour'' burden for this information collection is a
total of 17,058 hours. 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.
[[Page 12816]]
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Fees
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Citation 30 CFR Part 256 Reporting requirement Average No. of Annual burden
Hour burden annual responses hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subparts A, C, E, H, L, M...... None................... Not applicable 0
----------------------------------------
Subparts G, H, I, J: 37; 53; Request approval for Burden included with other approved 0
68; 70; 71; 72; 73. various operations or collections in 30 CFR Part 250 (1010-
submit plans or 0114, 1010-0141, 1010-0142, 1010-
applications. 0149, 1010-0151)
----------------------------------------
Subpart B: All sections........ Submit suggestions and 4................. 1 response........ 4
relevant information
in response to request
for comments on
proposed 5-year
leasing program,
including information
from States/local
governments.
Subpart D: All sections........ Submit response to Call 4................. 1 response........ 4
for Information and
Nominations on areas
for leasing of
minerals in specified
areas in accordance
with an approved
leasing program,
including information
from States/local
governments.
Subpart F: 31.................. States or local 4................. 10 responses...... 40
governments submit
comments/
recommendations on
size, timing or
location of proposed
lease sale.
Subpart G: 35; 46(d), (e)...... Establish a Company 2................. 104 responses..... 208
File for
qualification; submit
updated information,
submit qualifications
for lessee/bidder,
request exception.
41; 43; 46(g).................. Submit qualification of 2................. 100 responses..... 200
bidders for joint bids
and statement or
report of production/
appeal.
44; 46......................... Submit bids and 5................. 2,000 bids........ 10,000
required information.
47(c).......................... File agreement to 3 1/2............. 2 agreements...... 7
accept joint lease on
tie bids.
----------------------------------------
47(e)(1), (e)(3)............... Request for Exempt as defined in 5 CFR 0
reconsideration of bid 1320.3(h)(9)
rejection.
----------------------------------------
47(f), (i); 50................. Execute lease (includes 1................. 852 leases........ 852
submission of evidence
of authorized agent
and request for dating
of leases).
Subpart I: 52(f)(2), (g)(2).... Submit authority for 2................. 10 submissions.... 20
Regional Director to
sell Treasury or
alternate type of
securities.
53(a), 53(b); 54............... OCS Mineral Lessee's 1/4............... 124 responses..... 31
and Operator's Bond
(Form MMS-2028).
53(c), (d), (f); 54(d), 54(e).. Demonstrate financial 3 1/2............. 165 submissions... \1\ 578
worth/ability to carry
out present and future
financial obligations,
request approval of
another form of
security, or request
reduction in amount of
supplemental bond
required.
54............................. OCS Mineral Lessee's 1/4............... 136 responses..... 34
and Operator's
Supplemental Plugging
& Abandonment Bond
(Form MMS-2028A).
55............................. Notify MMS of any lapse 1................. 3 notices......... 3
in previous bond/
action filed alleging
lessee, surety, or
guarantor is insolvent
or bankrupt.
56............................. Provide plan/ 12................ 1 submission...... 12
instructions to fund
lease-specific
abandonment account
and related
information; request
approval to withdraw
funds.
57............................. Provide third-party 19................ 45 submissions.... 855
guarantee, indemnity
agreement, financial
information, related
notices, reports, and
annual update; notify
MMS if guarantor
becomes unqualified.
57(d)(3); 58................... Notice of and request 1/2............... 378 requests...... 189
approval to terminate
period of liability,
cancel bond, or other
security.
59(c)(2)....................... Provide information to 16................ 5 responses....... 80
demonstrate lease will
be brought into
compliance.
Subpart J: 62; 63; 64; 65; 67.. File application and 2 forms @ 30 min 3,000 applications 3,000
required information ea = 1 hr.
for assignment or
transfer for approval
(Forms MMS-150 and MMS-
151).
-------------------------------------------------------
3,000 Title/Rights (Transfer) fee @ $170 = $510,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
63; 64(a)(8)................... Submit non-required Accepted on behalf of lessees as a 0
documents, for record service, MMS does not require nor
purposes, which need the filings
respondents want MMS
to file with the lease
document.
-------------------------------------------------------
3,725 filing fees @ $25 ea = $93,125
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
64(a)(7)....................... File required 1................. 700 filings....... 700
instruments creating
or transferring
working interests,
etc., for record
purposes.
Subpart K: 76.................. File written request 1/2............... 240 120
for relinquishment relinquishments.
(Form MMS-152).
77(c).......................... Comment on lease 1................. 1................. 1
cancellation (MMS
expects 1 in 10 years).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Reporting...................... 7,878 Responses 17,058 Hours
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
$603,125 Fees
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ (Rounded).
[[Page 12817]]
Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Non-Hour Cost'' Burden:
There are two non-hour costs associated with this information
collection. The estimated non-hour cost burden is $603,125. Sections
256.62 and 256.64(a) require respondents to pay filing fees when
submitting a request for assignment or transfer, and to file documents
for record purposes. The application filing fees are required to
recover the Federal Government's processing costs. We have not
identified any other ``non-hour cost'' burdens associated with this
collection of information.
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: Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501, et
seq.) 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.
To comply with the public consultation process, on August 16, 2006,
we published a Federal Register notice (71 FR 47243) announcing that we
would submit this ICR to OMB for approval. The notice provided the
required 60-day comment period. In addition, Sec. 256.0 and the PRA
statement on the MMS forms display the OMB control number, specifies
that the public may comment at anytime on the collection of information
required in the 30 CFR part 256 regulations and forms, and provides the
address to which they should send comments. We have received one
comment in response to those efforts, but it was not germane to the
paperwork burden of the information collection.
If you wish to comment in response to this notice, you may send
your comments to the offices listed under the ADDRESSES section of this
notice. 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 April 18, 2007.
Public Comment Procedures: The 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. The MMS will
honor the request to the extent allowable by the law; however,
anonymous comments will not be considered. There may be circumstances
in which we would withhold from the record a respondent's identity, as
allowable by the law. If you wish us to withhold your name and/or
address, you must state this prominently at the beginning of your
comment. In addition, you must present a rationale for withholding this
information. This rationale must demonstrate that disclosure ``would
constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy.'' Unsupported assertions
will not meet this burden. In the absence of exceptional, documentable
circumstances, this information will be released. 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: November 30, 2006.
E.P. Danenberger,
Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
This document was received at the Office of the Federal
Register on March 13, 2007.
[FR Doc. E7-4888 Filed 3-16-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P
