Agency Information Collection Activities; Pipelines and Pipeline Rights-of-Way, 39462-39463 [2023-12907]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 116 (Friday, June 16, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39462-39463]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-12907]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement

[Docket ID BSEE-2023-0012; EEEE500000 234E1700D2 ET1SF0000.EAQ000; OMB 
Control Number 1014-0016]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Pipelines and Pipeline 
Rights-of-Way

AGENCY: Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, 
the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) proposes to 
renew an information collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
August 15, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments on this information collection request 
(ICR) by either of the following methods listed below:
     Electronically go to https://www.regulations.gov. In the 
Search box, enter BSEE-2023-0012 then click search. Follow the 
instructions to submit public comments and view all related materials. 
We will post all comments.
     Email [email protected], fax (703) 787-1546, or mail or 
hand-carry comments to the Department of the Interior; Bureau of Safety 
and Environmental Enforcement; Regulations and Standards Branch; ATTN: 
Nikki Mason; 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, VA 20166. Please reference 
OMB Control Number 1014-0016 in the subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact Nikki Mason by email at [email protected] or 
by telephone at (703) 787-1607. Individuals in the United States who 
are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may 
dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay 
services. Individuals outside the United States should use the relay 
services offered within their country to make international calls to 
the point-of-contact in the United States. You may also view the ICR at 
https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the PRA and 5 CFR 
1320.8(d)(1), all information collections require approval under the 
PRA. We may not conduct, or sponsor and you are not required to respond 
to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB 
control number.
    As part of our continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent 
burdens, we invite the public and other Federal agencies to comment on 
new, proposed, revised, and continuing collections of information. This 
helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements 
and minimize the public's reporting burden. It also helps the public 
understand our information collection requirements and provide the 
requested data in the desired format.
    We are especially interested in public comment addressing the 
following:
    (1) Whether or not the collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including 
whether or not the information will have practical utility;
    (2) The accuracy of our estimate of the burden for this collection 
of information, including the validity of the methodology and 
assumptions used;
    (3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    (4) How might the agency minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on those who are to respond, including through the use of 
appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., 
permitting electronic submission of response.
    Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request 
to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone 
number, email address, or other personal identifying information in 
your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including 
your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available 
at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your 
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.
    Abstract: Lessees and pipeline ROW holders design the pipelines 
that they install, maintain, and operate. To ensure those activities 
are performed in a safe manner, BSEE needs information concerning the 
proposed pipeline and safety equipment, inspections and tests, and 
natural and manmade hazards near the proposed pipeline route. BSEE uses 
the information to review pipeline

[[Page 39463]]

designs prior to approving an application for an ROW or lease term 
pipeline to ensure that the pipeline, as constructed, will provide for 
safe transportation of minerals through the submerged lands of the OCS. 
BSEE reviews proposed pipeline routes to ensure that the pipelines 
would not conflict with any State requirements or unduly interfere with 
other OCS activities. BSEE reviews proposals for taking pipeline safety 
equipment out of service to ensure alternate measures are used that 
will properly provide for the safety of the pipeline and associated 
facilities (platform, etc.). BSEE reviews notifications of 
relinquishment of ROW grants and requests to decommission pipelines for 
regulatory compliance and to ensure that all legal obligations are met. 
BSEE monitors the records concerning pipeline inspections and tests to 
ensure safety of operations and protection of the environment and to 
schedule witnessing trips and inspections. Information is also 
necessary to determine the point at which DOI or Department of 
Transportation (DOT) has regulatory responsibility for a pipeline and 
to be informed of the identified operator if not the same as the 
pipeline ROW holder.

BSEE-0149--Assignment of Federal OCS Pipeline Right-of-Way Grant

    BSEE uses the information to track the holder-ship of pipeline 
ROWs; as well as use this information to update the corporate database 
that is used to determine what leases are available for a Lease Sale 
and the ownership of all OCS leases.
    The form asks the pipeline ROW holder to provide:

--Part A--Assignment
--the legal description of the pipeline ROW grant being assigned,
--what specifically the pipeline ROW holder is selling, assigning, or 
transferring,
--the company name and number of each assignor and assignee,
--the percentage interest conveyed, and
--the percentage interest received.
--Part B--Certification and Acceptance
--assignor(s) signature, name, title, and date, and
--assignee(s) signature, name, title, and date.

    If we approve the assignment, the authorized BSEE official signs 
and dates the form, and the assignment becomes effective on the date 
specified by us.

Form BSEE-0135--Designation of Right-of-Way Operator

    BSEE uses the information to identify who has the authority to act 
on the ROW grant holder's behalf to fulfill obligations under the OCS 
Lands Act; as well as BSEE may provide to the designated ROW operator 
written or oral instructions in securing compliance with the ROW grant 
in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
    The form asks the pipeline ROW holder to provide:

--Pipeline ROW Grant Number
--Regional Office
--Name and address of Operator
--ROW grant description, including ROW and Pipeline Segment Numbers
--Identified ROW pipeline operator and GOM ID number
--Signatory name, title, and date.

    Title of Collection: 30 CFR 250 subpart J, Pipelines and Pipeline 
Rights-of-Way (ROW).
    OMB Control Number: 1014-0016.
    Form Number: Forms BSEE-0149--Assignment of Federal OCS Pipeline 
Right-of-Way Grant, and Form BSEE-0135--Designation of Right-of-Way 
Operator.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Potential respondents include Federal 
OCS oil, gas, and sulfur lessees and/or operators and holders of 
pipeline rights-of-way.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: Currently there are 
approximately 550 Federal OCS oil, gas, and sulfur lessees and holders 
of pipeline rights-of-way. Not all the potential respondents will 
submit information in any given year, and some may submit multiple 
times.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 2,802.
    Estimated Completion Time per Response: Varies from 30 minutes to 
107 hours, depending on activity.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 34,206.
    Respondent's Obligation: Submissions are mandatory or are required 
to obtain or retain a benefit.
    Frequency of Collection: Submissions are generally on occasion.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: $1,344,916.
    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.).

Kirk Malstrom,
Chief, Regulations and Standards Branch.
[FR Doc. 2023-12907 Filed 6-15-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-VH-P