Agency Information Collection Activities; Geological and Geophysical Explorations of the Outer Continental Shelf, 59822-59824 [2020-20948]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 185 (Wednesday, September 23, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59822-59824]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-20948]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

[OMB Control Number 1010-0048; Docket ID: BOEM-2017-0016]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Geological and 
Geophysical Explorations of the Outer Continental Shelf

AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Information Collection; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is proposing to renew an 
information collection request with revisions.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
October 23, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent to the Office of Management and 
Budget's Desk Officer for the Department of the Interior within 30 days 
of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. 
Find this information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day 
Review--Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function. 
Please provide a copy of your comments to the BOEM Information 
Collection Clearance Officer, Anna Atkinson, Bureau of Ocean Energy 
Management, 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, Virginia 20166; or by email 
to [email protected]. Please reference Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) Control Number 1010-0048 in the subject line of your 
comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact Anna Atkinson by email, or by telephone at 703-
787-1025. You may also view the ICR at https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, BOEM provides the general public and other Federal 
agencies with an opportunity to comment on new, proposed, revised, and 
continuing collections of information. This helps BOEM assess the 
impact of the information collection requirements and minimize the 
public's reporting burden. It also helps the public understand BOEM's 
information collection requirements and provide the requested data in 
the desired format.
    Abstract: This information collection request concerns the 
paperwork requirements in the regulations in 30 CFR part 551, 
Geological and Geophysical (G&G) Explorations of the Outer Continental 
Shelf. This request also covers Form BOEM-0327.
    Section 11(g) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), as 
amended (43 U.S.C. 1340(g)), authorizes the Secretary of the Interior 
to prescribe rules and regulations to govern the issuance of permits 
for G&G exploration on the OCS. The OCSLA at Sec.  11 states that ``any 
person authorized by the Secretary may conduct geological and 
geophysical explorations in the [O]uter Continental Shelf, which do not 
interfere with or endanger actual operations under any lease maintained 
or granted pursuant to this subchapter, and which are not unduly 
harmful to aquatic life in such area.'' The section further provides 
that permits to conduct such activities may be issued only if it is 
determined that: The applicant is qualified; the activities will not 
interfere with or endanger operations under any lease issued or 
maintained pursuant to OCSLA; and the activities will not be unduly 
harmful to aquatic life, result in pollution, create hazardous or 
unsafe conditions, unreasonably interfere with other uses of the area, 
or disturb any site, structure, or object of historical or 
archaeological significance.
    Applicants for permits are required to submit Form BOEM-0327 to 
provide the information necessary to evaluate their qualifications, and 
upon approval, respondents are issued a permit. Once an application is 
reviewed and approved, a permit (Form BOEM-0328 or Form BOEM-0329) is 
signed by BOEM and the permittee.
    The Independent Offices Appropriations Act of 1950 (31 U.S.C. 9701) 
and the Omnibus Appropriations Bill of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-134, 110 Stat. 
1321, April 26, 1996), as further explained in OMB Circular A-25, 
authorize Federal agencies to recover the full cost of services that 
confer special benefits. All G&G permits are subject to cost recovery, 
and BOEM regulations specify service fees for these requests.
    Regulations to carry out these responsibilities are contained in 30 
CFR part 551 and are the subject of this information collection 
renewal. BOEM uses the information to:
     Authorize exploration to identify oil, gas, sulfur, and 
mineral resources in the OCS;
     Ensure the receipt of fair value for mineral resources;
     Ensure that the exploration activities do not cause harm 
to the

[[Page 59823]]

environment or persons, or create unsafe operations and conditions, 
damage historical or archaeological sites, or interfere with other 
uses;
     Analyze and evaluate preliminary or planned drilling 
activities;
     Monitor progress and activities on the OCS;
     Acquire geological and geophysical data and information 
collected under a Federal permit offshore at cost of reproduction; and
     Determine eligibility for reimbursement from the 
government for certain costs.
    In this renewal, BOEM is renewing Form BOEM-0327--Requirements for 
Geological or Geophysical Explorations or Scientific Research on the 
Outer Continental Shelf. This form consists of the requirements for 
geological and geophysical activities requiring Permits and Notices, 
along with the application that the respondent submits to BOEM for 
approval, as well as a nonexclusive use agreement for scientific 
research, if applicable.
    Upon BOEM approval of the application, respondents are issued a 
permit using Form BOEM-0328, Permit for Geophysical Exploration for 
Mineral Resources or Scientific Research on the Outer Continental 
Shelf, for conducting geophysical exploration for mineral resources or 
scientific research, or Form BOEM-0329, Permit for Geological 
Exploration for Mineral Resources or Scientific Research on the Outer 
Continental Shelf, for conducting geological exploration for mineral 
resources or scientific research. These permits are filled in by BOEM 
and respondents do not incur an hour burden. However, BOEM plans to 
revise these permits to include additional language. The modifications 
to the permits will allow BOEM to request the G&G data prior to the 
permittee deleting or removing the data from records, but still 
provides the option for the permittee to no longer maintain the data 
after ten years. The following describes the proposed changes:
     Form BOEM-0328 would include additional language in 
Section IV Paragraph (A) stating:

    ``After a period of 10 years from the issuance of the permit, 
the permittee must notify the Supervisor in writing if their 
intention is to no longer maintain all or part of the geophysical 
data, processed geophysical information, and interpreted geophysical 
information, and provide the Supervisor 30 days to request that the 
permittee submit for inspection and possible retention all or part 
of the geophysical data, processed geophysical information, and 
interpreted geophysical information.''

     Form BOEM-0329 would include additional language in 
Section VI Paragraph (A) stating:

    ``After a period of 10 years from the issuance of the permit, 
the permittee must notify the Supervisor in writing if their 
intention is to no longer maintain all or part of the geological 
data, analyzed geological information, processed geological 
information, and interpreted geological information, and provide the 
Supervisor 30 days to request that the permittee submit for 
inspection and possible retention all or part of the geological 
data, analyzed geological information, processed geological 
information, and interpreted geological information.''

    Title of Collection: 30 CFR 551, Geological and Geophysical 
Explorations of the OCS.
    OMB Control Number: 1010-0048.
    Form Number:
     BOEM-0327, Requirements for Geological or Geophysical 
Explorations or Scientific Research on the Outer Continental Shelf.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Potential respondents comprise Federal 
OCS oil, gas, and sulfur permittees or notice filers.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 688 responses.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 35,254 hours.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion, annual, or as specified in 
permit.
    Total Estimated Annual Non-hour Burden Cost: $136,816.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: The currently 
approved OMB paperwork burden is 35,254 annual burden hours, and will 
remain the same.
    A Federal Register notice with a 60-day public comment period 
soliciting comments on this proposed information collection request was 
published on October 25, 2019 (84 FR 57472). BOEM received three 
comment letters during the 60-day comment period. Comments received 
were from the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the International 
Association of Geophysical Contractors (IAGC), the Center for 
Regulatory Effectiveness, and a private citizen.
    The API and IAGC comments from December 24, 2019 and BOEM's 
responses follow:
    Comment: Industry finds the timeliness of the permit process for 
G&G activities to be open-ended and uncertain. The Associations 
recommend that BOEM establish a certain timeline for permit review and 
approval. The timing requirements for drilling permit review and 
approval is a good example that BOEM should strive to achieve for the 
G&G industry.
    BOEM Response: Since 2012, BOEM has consistently issued Gulf of 
Mexico (GOM) Geological and Geophysical (G&G) permits within 70 days. 
At present, there is a great amount of uncertainty related to the 
issuance of G&G permits in the Atlantic. However, if decisions are made 
to allow for the collection of seismic data, the goal would be to issue 
future permits within reasonable and predictable timeframes. Permitting 
timeframes are outside the scope of this renewal.
    Comment: We encourage BOEM to explore the creation of an electronic 
permit application process. Efficiencies for permit processing and man-
hours may be realized through electronic permit applications. Many 
countries around the world utilize electronic permit application 
processes. This allows the applicant to monitor the status of the 
permit process and timely provide any information requests from BOEM. 
This has been seen to drastically decrease the permit process timeline.
    BOEM Response: A web-based process for the electronic submission/
issuance of BOEM G&G permitting is being considered for the future. 
Budgetary options are being explored.
    Comment: G&G operations are consistently utilizing the same vessels 
throughout the offshore U.S. BOEM should take steps to create a 
catalogue of vessel information and certificates to reduce permitting 
costs and burden hours.
    BOEM Response: BOEM currently captures some vessel information in 
our corporate database and is open to discussing how this information 
could be used to reduce permitting costs and burden hours in the 
future.
    Comment: BOEM should develop a catalogue of equipment used in 
offshore G&G activities, including Ocean Bottom Nodes, Ocean Bottom 
Cables, Streamers, etc. This would reduce the time needed to collect 
pictures and physical samples of all parts and equipment deployed in 
the water column. Permit applications could then reference these 
materials to reduce time spent.
    BOEM Response: BOEM currently captures some information related to 
the offshore equipment being used in offshore G&G activities in our 
corporate database. However, even when a permittee is proposing similar 
G&G activities that have been previously employed, there is variability 
in use, location, and advances to the technology that make each permit 
unique. BOEM must consider each case individually.

[[Page 59824]]

    On December 19, 2019, the Center for Regulatory Effectiveness 
commented that BOEM should withdraw its petition to the National Marine 
Fisheries Service to issue a regulation governing the taking of marine 
mammals in the Gulf of Mexico.
    BOEM Response: This comment is outside the scope of this 
information collection renewal. NMFS has the authority to authorize 
incidental take under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the 
Endangered Species Act. BOEM has petitioned NMFS for the development of 
regulations governing incidental take of marine mammals related to 
conducting geophysical surveys during oil and gas exploration 
activities in the GOM. BOEM has identified areas where there is the 
potential to impact its mission under OCSLA in the GOM, and potentially 
other regions and programs, and its ability to manage the development 
of OCS energy and mineral resources in an environmentally responsible 
and practical way.
    The NMFS proposed Incidental Take rulemaking, which is a separate 
process from this information collection renewal, allowed for public 
comments.
    On October 25, 2019, a private citizen commented that far too much 
exploration is being allowed, explosions and high sonar work needs to 
be stopped, and would like BOEM to cut exploration back by seventy 
percent.
    BOEM Response: OCSLA mandates that all G&G activities on the OCS be 
conducted in a safe and environmentally sound manner. BOEM uses 
information received to best understand and evaluate the proposed 
activity and equipment to be used, which helps to ensure that the 
appropriate site/activity environmental analysis is conducted in order 
to fulfill its statutory obligations.
    BOEM is again soliciting comments on the proposed ICR that is 
described below. BOEM is especially interested in public comment 
addressing the following issues: (1) Is the collection necessary to the 
proper functions of BOEM; (2) what can BOEM do to ensure this 
information will be processed and used in a timely manner; (3) is the 
estimate of burden accurate; (4) how might BOEM enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (5) how 
might BOEM minimize the burden of this collection on the respondents, 
including minimizing the burden through the use of information 
technology?
    Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. BOEM will include or summarize each comment in its 
request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval of 
this ICR. You should be aware that your entire comment--including your 
address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. In order for 
BOEM to withhold from disclosure your personally identifiable 
information, you must identify any information contained in the 
submittal of your comments that, if released, would clearly constitute 
an unwarranted invasion of your personal privacy. You must also briefly 
describe any possible harmful consequences of the disclosure of your 
information, such as embarrassment, injury, or other harm. While you 
can ask BOEM in your comment to withhold your personally identifiable 
information from public review, BOEM cannot guarantee that it will be 
able to do so.
    BOEM protects proprietary information in accordance with the 
Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and the Department of the 
Interior's implementing regulations (43 CFR part 2), and under 
regulations at 30 CFR parts 551 promulgated pursuant to the Outer 
Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) at 43 U.S.C. 1352(c).
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a 
currently valid OMB control number.
    The authority for this action is the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

Deanna Meyer-Pietruszka,
Chief, Office of Policy, Regulation, and Analysis.
[FR Doc. 2020-20948 Filed 9-22-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P