Agency Information Collection Activity; Notice of Request for Approval To Continue To Collect Information: Barrier Failure Reporting in Oil and Gas Operations on the Outer Continental Shelf, 15787-15789 [2017-06272]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 60 / Thursday, March 30, 2017 / Notices disease which is accompanied by and/or likely to cause symptoms of syncope, dyspnea, collapse, or congestive cardiac failure. However, the subjective decision of whether the nature and severity of an individual’s condition will likely cause symptoms of cardiovascular insufficiency is on an individual basis and qualification rests with the medical examiner and the motor carrier. In the case of persons with ICDs, the underlying condition for which the ICD was implanted places the individual at high risk for syncope (a transient loss of consciousness) or other unpredictable events known to result in gradual or sudden incapacitation. ICDs may discharge, which could result in loss of ability to safely control a CMV. See the Evidence Report on ‘‘Cardiovascular Disease and Commercial Motor Vehicle Driver Safety,’’ April 2007.2 A focused research report entitled ‘‘Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators and the Impact of a Shock on a Patient When Deployed,’’ completed for the FMCSA in December 2014, indicates that the available scientific data on persons with ICDs and CMV driving does not support that persons with ICDs who operate CMVs are able to meet an equal or greater level of safety and upholds the findings of the April 2007 report. Copies of the April 2007 report and the December 2014 report are included in the docket for this notice. asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Discussion of Public Comments On October 20, 2016, FMCSA published in a Federal Register Notice the names of three individuals seeking ICD exemption and requested public comment. The public comment period closed on November 21, 2016. One comment was received that was out of scope for this notice. Conclusion FMCSA evaluated the three individual exemption requests on their merits, available data from Evidence Reports and Medical Expert Panel opinions on the impact of ICDs on CMV driving, and the public comments received. The Agency has determined that the available medical literature and data does not support a conclusion that granting these exemptions would achieve a level of safety equivalent to or greater than the level of safety maintained without the exemptions. Each applicant has, prior to this notice, received a letter of final disposition on his/her exemption request. Those decision letters fully outlined the basis for the denial and constitute final Agency action. The list published today 2 Now available at https://ntl.bts.gov/lib/30000/ 30100/30123/Final_CVD_Evidence_Report_v2.pdf. VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:09 Mar 29, 2017 Jkt 241001 summarizes the Agency’s recent denials as required under 49 U.S.C. 31315(b)(4). The following three applicants are denied exemptions from the cardiovascular standard: Gary Francher Henry McGuire Matthew Wilson Issued on: March 23, 2017. Larry W. Minor, Associate Administrator for Policy. [FR Doc. 2017–06271 Filed 3–29–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Bureau of Transportation Statistics [Docket Number DOT–OST–2017–0043] Agency Information Collection Activity; Notice of Request for Approval To Continue To Collect Information: Barrier Failure Reporting in Oil and Gas Operations on the Outer Continental Shelf Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (OST–R), U.S. Department of Transportation. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. AGENCY: In accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of BTS to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve continuation of the following information collection: Barrier Failure Reporting in Oil and Gas Operations on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). In August 2013, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) and BTS signed an Interagency Agreement (IAA) to develop and implement SafeOCS, a voluntary program for confidential reporting of ‘near misses’ occurring on the OCS. BTS has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with BSEE to expand the scope of SafeOCS to include an industry-wide repository of equipment failure data, analyze and aggregate information provided under this program, and publish reports that will provide BSEE, the industry, and all OCS stakeholders with essential information about failure types and modes of critical safety barriers for offshore operations related to well control. The data collection effort that is the subject of this notice addresses the collection of failure data as referenced in recently issued BSEE regulations (81 FR 25887, April 29, 2016) and (81 FR SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00103 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 15787 61834, September 7, 2016). BTS received permission to collect the data under an emergency OMB control number on September 29, 2016. Through this notice, BTS is requesting permission to continue this previously approved data collection. This information collection is necessary to aid BSEE, the oil and gas industry, and other stakeholders in identifying barrier failure trends and causes of critical safety barrier failure events. DATES: Written comments should be submitted by May 30, 2017. ADDRESSES: To ensure that your comments are not entered more than once into the docket, submit comments by only one of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your comments electronically. Docket Number: DOT–OST–2017–0043. • Mail: Docket Services, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12–140, Washington, DC 20590–0001. • Hand Delivery: Deliver to mail address above between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. • Fax: (202) 493–2251. Identify all transmissions with ‘‘Docket Number DOT–OST–2017–0043’’ at the beginning of each page of the document. Instructions: All comments must include the agency name and docket number for this notice. Paper comments should be submitted in duplicate. The Docket Management Facility is open for examination and copying, at the above address from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. If you wish to receive confirmation of receipt of your written comments, please include a selfaddressed, stamped postcard with the following statement: ‘‘Comments on Docket Number DOT–OST–2017–0043.’’ The Docket Clerk will date stamp the postcard prior to returning it to you via the U.S. mail. Please note that all comments received, including any personal information, will be posted and will be publicly viewable, without change, at www.regulations.gov. You may review DOT’s complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70; pages 19477–78) or you may review the Privacy Act Statement at www.regulations.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Demetra V. Collia, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology, U.S. Department of E:\FR\FM\30MRN1.SGM 30MRN1 15788 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 60 / Thursday, March 30, 2017 / Notices asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Transportation, Office of Statistical and Economic Analysis, RTS–31, E36–302, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590–0001; Phone No. (202) 366–1610; Fax No. (202) 366– 3383; email: demetra.collia@dot.gov. Office hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., EST, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Data Confidentiality Provisions: The confidentiality of barrier failure information submitted to BTS is protected under the BTS confidentiality statute (49 U.S.C. 6307) and the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act (CIPSEA) of 2002 (Pub. L. 107–347, Title V). In accordance with these confidentiality statutes, only statistical (aggregated) and non-identifying data will be made publicly available by BTS through its reports. BTS will not release to BSEE or any other public or private entity any information that might reveal the identity of individuals or organizations mentioned in failure notices or reports without explicit consent of the respondent and any other affected entities. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. The Data Collection The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35; as amended) and 5 CFR part 1320 require each Federal agency to obtain OMB approval to initiate an information collection activity. BTS is seeking OMB approval to continue the following BTS information collection activity: Title: Barrier Failure Reporting in Oil and Gas Operations on the Outer Continental Shelf. OMB Control Number: 2139–0046. Type of Review: Approval of data collection. This information collection is limited to the establishment of BTS as an authorized repository for the previously approved BSEE information collections (OMB Control Number 1014–0028, expiration 04/30/2019, and OMB Control Number 1014–0003, expiration 08/31/2019) in order to ensure the confidentiality of submissions under CIPSEA. Respondents: BTS has entered into a MOU with BSEE to facilitate the collection of information from respondents identified in the BSEE notices for OMB Control Number 1014– 0028 and OMB Control Number 1014– 0003. Responsibility for establishing the actual scope and burden for this collection resides with BSEE. This BTS information collection request does not create any additional burden for respondents. For the purposes of this collection BTS has identified BSEE as the sole respondent. VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:09 Mar 29, 2017 Jkt 241001 Number of Potential Responses: For the purposes of this collection BTS has identified BSEE as the sole respondent reporting to BTS at the annual frequency of one. Estimated Time per Response: 60 minutes. Frequency: Once. Total Annual Burden: 1 hour. Abstract: The Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2002 (CIPSEA) (44 U.S.C. 3501 note), can provide strong confidentiality protection for information acquired for statistical purposes under a pledge of confidentiality. CIPSEA Guidance from the Office of Management and Budget advises that a non-statistical agency or unit (BSEE) that wishes to acquire information with CIPSEA protection may consider entering into an agreement with a Federal statistical agency or unit (BTS). BTS and BSEE have determined that it is in the public interest to collect and process the barrier-related failure reports required by 30 CFR 250.730 and the safety and pollution prevention equipment failure reports required by 30 CFR 250.803, or any other data deemed necessary to administer BSEE’s safety program pertaining to barrier failures under a pledge of confidentiality for statistical purposes only. BTS has agreed through an MOU with BSEE to undertake the information collection identified in the BSEE notice for OMB Control Number 1014–0028 and the BSEE notice for OMB Control Number 1014–0003 in order to ensure the confidentiality of submissions under CIPSEA. Since this information collection is limited to the establishment of BTS as an authorized repository for the previously approved information collection (OMB Control Number 1014–0028, expiration 04/30/ 2019 and OMB Control Number 1014– 0003, expiration 08/31/2019), this information collections request does not create any additional burden for respondents. II. Background In August 2013, BTS and BSEE signed an IAA to develop and implement SafeOCS, a voluntary program for confidential reporting of ‘near misses’ occurring on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The goal of the voluntary near miss reporting system is to provide BTS with essential information about accident precursors and other hazards associated with OCS oil and gas operations. Under the program, BTS will develop and publish aggregate reports that BSEE, the industry and all OCS stakeholders can use—in conjunction with incident reports and PO 00000 Frm 00104 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 other sources of information—to reduce safety and environmental risks and continue building a more robust OCS safety culture. In July 2016, new BSEE regulations became effective which require, in part, the reporting of barrier-related failure event and analysis information (see 81 FR 25887) and reporting of failure event and analysis information of safety and pollution prevention equipment (see 81 FR 61834). BSEE requested and BTS agreed to expand the scope of SafeOCS to include reports of equipment failure mandated by a BSEE regulations (see 81 FR 25887 and 81 FR 61834), as well as near-miss reports voluntarily submitted by either employees or companies. Both BTS and BSEE agree that reports on equipment failures are considered a type of precursor safety information and can be included in SafeOCS to provide a means of identifying industry-wide data trends on barrier failures or potential for barrier failures. This data collection will provide parties in the oil and gas industry a trusted means to report sensitive proprietary and safety information related to equipment failures and to foster trust in the confidential collection, handling, and storage of the raw data. BTS will use the data collected to establish a comprehensive source of barrier-related failure data for statistical purposes. With input from subject matter experts, BTS will process and analyze information on equipment failures, and publish results of such analyses in public reports. Such reports will provide BSEE, the industry, and all OCS stakeholders with essential information about failure types and modes of critical safety barriers for offshore operations related to well control and production safety systems. BTS will continue to collect failure notices, failure analysis reports, and design change/modified procedures reports as described in 30 CFR 250.730 and 30 CFR 250.803 submitted by industry operators, their contractors, original equipment manufacturers, and others employed in the oil and gas industry; develop an analytical database using the reported data and other pertinent information; conduct statistical analyses and develop public reports; and protect the confidentiality of notices and reports in accordance with BTS’ own statute and CIPSEA. Accordingly, only statistical and nonsensitive information will be made available through BTS’ publications and reports. Those publications and reports will potentially provide the industry, BSEE, other OCS stakeholders, and the public with valuable information regarding precursors to safety risks and E:\FR\FM\30MRN1.SGM 30MRN1 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 60 / Thursday, March 30, 2017 / Notices contribute to research and development of intervention programs aimed at preventing accidents and fatalities in the OCS. Respondents who report equipment failures will be asked to fill out a form and submit pertinent supplemental information as described in 30 CFR 250.730, 30 CFR 250.803 and cited industry standards. Respondents will have the option to mail or submit the report electronically to BTS. Respondents will be asked to provide information such as: (1) Name and contact information; (2) time and location of the failure event; (3) a short description of the failure event and operating conditions that existed at the time of the event; (4) contributing factors to the event; (5) results of an investigation or safety analysis report; (6) any design or procedural changes as a result of the reported equipment failure; and (7) any other information that might be useful in determining ways to prevents such failures from occurring. III. Request for Public Comment BTS requests comments on any aspects of this information collection request, including: (1) Ways to enhance the quality, usefulness, and clarity of the collected information; and (2) ways to minimize the collection burden without reducing the quality of the information collected, including additional use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Patricia Hu, Director, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology, U.S. Department of Transportation. [FR Doc. 2017–06272 Filed 3–29–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–9X–P DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Financial Crimes Enforcement Network asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (’’FinCEN’’), Department of the Treasury. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. AGENCY: As part of our continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, we invite comment on a proposed renewal, without change, SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:09 Mar 29, 2017 Jkt 241001 to the generic clearance for the collection of qualitative feedback on agency service delivery. This request for comments is being made pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act (‘‘PRA’’) of 1995, Public Law 104–13, 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A). Written comments are welcome and must be received on or before May 30, 2017. ADDRESSES: Written comments should be submitted to: Policy Division, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, P.O. Box 39, Vienna, VA 22183, ‘‘Attention: Comments on generic clearance for the collection of qualitative feedback on agency service delivery.’’ Comments also may be submitted by electronic mail to the following Internet address: regcomments@fincen.gov, again with a caption, in the body of the text, ‘‘Attention: Comments on generic clearance for the collection of qualitative feedback on agency service delivery.’’ Please submit by one method only. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The FinCEN Resource Center at 800–767– 2825 or electronically at frc@fincen.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Abstract: The Director of FinCEN is the delegated administrator of the Bank Secrecy Act (‘‘Act’’). The Act authorizes the Director to issue regulations to require all financial institutions defined as such in the Act to maintain certain records or file certain reports that have been determined to have a high degree of usefulness in criminal, tax, or regulatory investigations or proceedings, or in the conduct of intelligence or counter-intelligence activities, including analysis, to protect against international terrorism, and to implement anti-money laundering programs and compliance procedures.1 FinCEN periodically surveys its stakeholders to collect qualitative customer and stakeholder feedback in an efficient, timely manner, in accordance with the Agency’s commitment to improving service delivery. Title: Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery. Office of Management and Budget Control Number: 1506–0062. DATES: 1 Public Law 91–508, as amended and codified at 12 U.S.C. 1829b, 12 U.S.C. 1951–1959 and 31 U.S.C. 5311–5332. Language expanding the scope of the BSA to intelligence or counter-intelligence activities to protect against international terrorism was added by section 358 of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (‘‘USA PATRIOT’’) Act of 2001, Public Law 107– 56. PO 00000 Frm 00105 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 15789 Abstract: FinCEN is renewing, without change, the bureau’s capability to solicit feedback from the public with respect to timeliness, appropriateness, accuracy of information, courtesy, efficiency of service delivery, and resolution of issues with service delivery. Responses will be assessed to plan and inform efforts to improve or maintain the quality of service offered to the public. If this information is not collected, vital feedback from customers and stakeholders on the Agency’s services will be unavailable. The Agency will only submit a collection for approval under this generic clearance if it meets the following conditions: • The collections are voluntary; • The collections are low-burden for respondents (based on considerations of total burden hours, total number of respondents, or burden-hours per respondent) and are low-cost for both the respondents and the Federal government; • The collections are noncontroversial and do not raise issues of concern to other Federal agencies; • Any collection is targeted to the solicitation of opinions from respondents who have experience with the program or may have experience with the program in the near future; • Personally identifiable information is collected only to the extent necessary and is not retained; • Information gathered is intended to be used only internally for general service improvement and program management purposes and is not intended for release outside of the agency (if released, the agency must indicate the qualitative nature of the information); • Information gathered will not be used for the purpose of substantially informing influential policy decisions; and • Information gathered will yield qualitative information; the collections will not be designed or expected to yield statistically reliable results or used as though the results are generalizable to the population of study. Current Action: Renewal without change to an existing collection. Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved information collection. Affected Public: Businesses and other for-profit institutions. Burden: Estimated Number of Respondents: 162,188.2 2 This number includes depository institutions (10,772), broker-dealers in securities (5,100), future commission merchants (101), introducing brokers E:\FR\FM\30MRN1.SGM Continued 30MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 60 (Thursday, March 30, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15787-15789]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-06272]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Bureau of Transportation Statistics

[Docket Number DOT-OST-2017-0043]


Agency Information Collection Activity; Notice of Request for 
Approval To Continue To Collect Information: Barrier Failure Reporting 
in Oil and Gas Operations on the Outer Continental Shelf

AGENCY: Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), Office of the 
Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (OST-R), U.S. 
Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of BTS to request the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve continuation of the 
following information collection: Barrier Failure Reporting in Oil and 
Gas Operations on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). In August 2013, 
the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) and BTS 
signed an Interagency Agreement (IAA) to develop and implement SafeOCS, 
a voluntary program for confidential reporting of `near misses' 
occurring on the OCS. BTS has entered into a memorandum of 
understanding (MOU) with BSEE to expand the scope of SafeOCS to include 
an industry-wide repository of equipment failure data, analyze and 
aggregate information provided under this program, and publish reports 
that will provide BSEE, the industry, and all OCS stakeholders with 
essential information about failure types and modes of critical safety 
barriers for offshore operations related to well control. The data 
collection effort that is the subject of this notice addresses the 
collection of failure data as referenced in recently issued BSEE 
regulations (81 FR 25887, April 29, 2016) and (81 FR 61834, September 
7, 2016). BTS received permission to collect the data under an 
emergency OMB control number on September 29, 2016. Through this 
notice, BTS is requesting permission to continue this previously 
approved data collection. This information collection is necessary to 
aid BSEE, the oil and gas industry, and other stakeholders in 
identifying barrier failure trends and causes of critical safety 
barrier failure events.

DATES: Written comments should be submitted by May 30, 2017.

ADDRESSES: To ensure that your comments are not entered more than once 
into the docket, submit comments by only one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically. Docket Number: DOT-OST-2017-0043.
     Mail: Docket Services, U.S. Department of Transportation, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery: Deliver to mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.

Identify all transmissions with ``Docket Number DOT-OST-2017-0043'' at 
the beginning of each page of the document.
    Instructions: All comments must include the agency name and docket 
number for this notice. Paper comments should be submitted in 
duplicate. The Docket Management Facility is open for examination and 
copying, at the above address from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST, Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays. If you wish to receive confirmation of 
receipt of your written comments, please include a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard with the following statement: ``Comments on Docket 
Number DOT-OST-2017-0043.'' The Docket Clerk will date stamp the 
postcard prior to returning it to you via the U.S. mail. Please note 
that all comments received, including any personal information, will be 
posted and will be publicly viewable, without change, at 
www.regulations.gov. You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act 
Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (Volume 
65, Number 70; pages 19477-78) or you may review the Privacy Act 
Statement at www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Demetra V. Collia, Bureau of 
Transportation Statistics, Office of the Assistant Secretary for 
Research and Technology, U.S. Department of

[[Page 15788]]

Transportation, Office of Statistical and Economic Analysis, RTS-31, 
E36-302, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001; Phone 
No. (202) 366-1610; Fax No. (202) 366-3383; email: 
demetra.collia@dot.gov. Office hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., EST, 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    Data Confidentiality Provisions: The confidentiality of barrier 
failure information submitted to BTS is protected under the BTS 
confidentiality statute (49 U.S.C. 6307) and the Confidential 
Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act (CIPSEA) of 2002 
(Pub. L. 107-347, Title V). In accordance with these confidentiality 
statutes, only statistical (aggregated) and non-identifying data will 
be made publicly available by BTS through its reports. BTS will not 
release to BSEE or any other public or private entity any information 
that might reveal the identity of individuals or organizations 
mentioned in failure notices or reports without explicit consent of the 
respondent and any other affected entities.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. The Data Collection

    The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35; as 
amended) and 5 CFR part 1320 require each Federal agency to obtain OMB 
approval to initiate an information collection activity. BTS is seeking 
OMB approval to continue the following BTS information collection 
activity:
    Title: Barrier Failure Reporting in Oil and Gas Operations on the 
Outer Continental Shelf.
    OMB Control Number: 2139-0046.
    Type of Review: Approval of data collection. This information 
collection is limited to the establishment of BTS as an authorized 
repository for the previously approved BSEE information collections 
(OMB Control Number 1014-0028, expiration 04/30/2019, and OMB Control 
Number 1014-0003, expiration 08/31/2019) in order to ensure the 
confidentiality of submissions under CIPSEA.
    Respondents: BTS has entered into a MOU with BSEE to facilitate the 
collection of information from respondents identified in the BSEE 
notices for OMB Control Number 1014-0028 and OMB Control Number 1014-
0003. Responsibility for establishing the actual scope and burden for 
this collection resides with BSEE. This BTS information collection 
request does not create any additional burden for respondents. For the 
purposes of this collection BTS has identified BSEE as the sole 
respondent.
    Number of Potential Responses: For the purposes of this collection 
BTS has identified BSEE as the sole respondent reporting to BTS at the 
annual frequency of one.
    Estimated Time per Response: 60 minutes.
    Frequency: Once.
    Total Annual Burden: 1 hour.
    Abstract: The Confidential Information Protection and Statistical 
Efficiency Act of 2002 (CIPSEA) (44 U.S.C. 3501 note), can provide 
strong confidentiality protection for information acquired for 
statistical purposes under a pledge of confidentiality. CIPSEA Guidance 
from the Office of Management and Budget advises that a non-statistical 
agency or unit (BSEE) that wishes to acquire information with CIPSEA 
protection may consider entering into an agreement with a Federal 
statistical agency or unit (BTS). BTS and BSEE have determined that it 
is in the public interest to collect and process the barrier-related 
failure reports required by 30 CFR 250.730 and the safety and pollution 
prevention equipment failure reports required by 30 CFR 250.803, or any 
other data deemed necessary to administer BSEE's safety program 
pertaining to barrier failures under a pledge of confidentiality for 
statistical purposes only. BTS has agreed through an MOU with BSEE to 
undertake the information collection identified in the BSEE notice for 
OMB Control Number 1014-0028 and the BSEE notice for OMB Control Number 
1014-0003 in order to ensure the confidentiality of submissions under 
CIPSEA. Since this information collection is limited to the 
establishment of BTS as an authorized repository for the previously 
approved information collection (OMB Control Number 1014-0028, 
expiration 04/30/2019 and OMB Control Number 1014-0003, expiration 08/
31/2019), this information collections request does not create any 
additional burden for respondents.

II. Background

    In August 2013, BTS and BSEE signed an IAA to develop and implement 
SafeOCS, a voluntary program for confidential reporting of `near 
misses' occurring on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The goal of the 
voluntary near miss reporting system is to provide BTS with essential 
information about accident precursors and other hazards associated with 
OCS oil and gas operations. Under the program, BTS will develop and 
publish aggregate reports that BSEE, the industry and all OCS 
stakeholders can use--in conjunction with incident reports and other 
sources of information--to reduce safety and environmental risks and 
continue building a more robust OCS safety culture.
    In July 2016, new BSEE regulations became effective which require, 
in part, the reporting of barrier-related failure event and analysis 
information (see 81 FR 25887) and reporting of failure event and 
analysis information of safety and pollution prevention equipment (see 
81 FR 61834). BSEE requested and BTS agreed to expand the scope of 
SafeOCS to include reports of equipment failure mandated by a BSEE 
regulations (see 81 FR 25887 and 81 FR 61834), as well as near-miss 
reports voluntarily submitted by either employees or companies. Both 
BTS and BSEE agree that reports on equipment failures are considered a 
type of precursor safety information and can be included in SafeOCS to 
provide a means of identifying industry-wide data trends on barrier 
failures or potential for barrier failures. This data collection will 
provide parties in the oil and gas industry a trusted means to report 
sensitive proprietary and safety information related to equipment 
failures and to foster trust in the confidential collection, handling, 
and storage of the raw data. BTS will use the data collected to 
establish a comprehensive source of barrier-related failure data for 
statistical purposes. With input from subject matter experts, BTS will 
process and analyze information on equipment failures, and publish 
results of such analyses in public reports. Such reports will provide 
BSEE, the industry, and all OCS stakeholders with essential information 
about failure types and modes of critical safety barriers for offshore 
operations related to well control and production safety systems.
    BTS will continue to collect failure notices, failure analysis 
reports, and design change/modified procedures reports as described in 
30 CFR 250.730 and 30 CFR 250.803 submitted by industry operators, 
their contractors, original equipment manufacturers, and others 
employed in the oil and gas industry; develop an analytical database 
using the reported data and other pertinent information; conduct 
statistical analyses and develop public reports; and protect the 
confidentiality of notices and reports in accordance with BTS' own 
statute and CIPSEA. Accordingly, only statistical and non-sensitive 
information will be made available through BTS' publications and 
reports. Those publications and reports will potentially provide the 
industry, BSEE, other OCS stakeholders, and the public with valuable 
information regarding precursors to safety risks and

[[Page 15789]]

contribute to research and development of intervention programs aimed 
at preventing accidents and fatalities in the OCS.
    Respondents who report equipment failures will be asked to fill out 
a form and submit pertinent supplemental information as described in 30 
CFR 250.730, 30 CFR 250.803 and cited industry standards. Respondents 
will have the option to mail or submit the report electronically to 
BTS. Respondents will be asked to provide information such as: (1) Name 
and contact information; (2) time and location of the failure event; 
(3) a short description of the failure event and operating conditions 
that existed at the time of the event; (4) contributing factors to the 
event; (5) results of an investigation or safety analysis report; (6) 
any design or procedural changes as a result of the reported equipment 
failure; and (7) any other information that might be useful in 
determining ways to prevents such failures from occurring.

III. Request for Public Comment

    BTS requests comments on any aspects of this information collection 
request, including: (1) Ways to enhance the quality, usefulness, and 
clarity of the collected information; and (2) ways to minimize the 
collection burden without reducing the quality of the information 
collected, including additional use of automated collection techniques 
or other forms of information technology.

Patricia Hu,
Director, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Office of the Assistant 
Secretary for Research and Technology, U.S. Department of 
Transportation.
[FR Doc. 2017-06272 Filed 3-29-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-9X-P
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