Agency Information Collection Activities; Collection of Monies Due the Federal Government; and Processing Refund Requests Related to Overpayments Made to ONRR, 83962-83964 [2023-26433]
Download as PDF
83962
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 230 / Friday, December 1, 2023 / Notices
Schedule for the Decision-Making
Process
The BLM will provide additional
opportunities for public participation
consistent with the NEPA and land use
planning processes, including a 90-day
comment period on the Draft RMP
Amendments/EIS and concurrent 30day public protest period and 60-day
Governors’ consistency review on the
Proposed RMP Amendments. The Draft
RMP Amendments/EIS is anticipated to
be available for public review in late
2024 or early 2025, and the Proposed
RMP Amendments/Final EIS is
anticipated to be available for public
protest of the Proposed RMP
Amendments in Summer 2025 with
Approved RMP Amendments and a
Record of Decision expected in Fall
2025.
Public Scoping Process
This notice of intent initiates the
scoping period and public review of the
planning criteria, which guide the
development and analysis of the Draft
RMP Amendments/EIS. The BLM will
be holding two virtual public scoping
meetings and four in-person meetings.
The specific dates and locations of these
scoping meetings will be announced at
least 15 days in advance through local
media, social media, newspapers, and
the ePlanning website (see ADDRESSES).
Lead and Cooperating Agencies
The BLM is the lead agency for the
NEPA analysis associated with this
planning effort. The BLM has invited
other Federal agencies, State and local
government agencies, and Tribes to be
cooperating agencies. Other
stakeholders that may be interested in or
affected by the revision are invited to
participate in the scoping process and,
if eligible, may request or be requested
by the BLM to participate in the
development of the EIS as a cooperating
agency.
Responsible Official
The BLM Director is the deciding
official for this planning effort.
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The BLM will decide whether to
amend RMPs to address the purpose
and need, consistent with the principles
of multiple use and sustained yield.
Interdisciplinary Team
The BLM will use an interdisciplinary
approach to develop the plan
amendments in order to consider the
variety of resource issues and concerns
identified. Specialists with expertise in
the following disciplines will be
involved in this planning effort:
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18:47 Nov 30, 2023
Jkt 262001
rangeland management, minerals and
geology, forestry, outdoor recreation,
archaeology, paleontology, wildlife and
fisheries, lands and realty, hydrology,
soils, sociology, and economics.
Additional Information
The BLM will consider mitigation to
appropriately address reasonably
foreseeable impacts on resources from
the proposed plan amendments and
reasonable alternatives and future
energy infrastructure development.
Mitigation may include avoidance,
minimization, rectification, reduction or
elimination over time, and
compensation, and may be considered
at multiple scales, including the
landscape scale.
The BLM will utilize and coordinate
the NEPA and land use planning
processes for this planning effort to help
support compliance with applicable
procedural requirements under the
Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C.
1536) and Section 106 of the National
Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C.
306108) as provided in 36 CFR
800.2(d)(3), 800.3(b), and 800.8(a),
including public involvement
requirements of Section 106.
Information about historic and cultural
resources and threatened and
endangered species within the area
potentially affected by the proposed
plan amendments will assist the BLM in
identifying and evaluating impacts on
such resources.
The BLM will consult with Indian
Tribal Nations on a government-togovernment basis in accordance with
Executive Order 13175 and applicable
Bureau and Departmental policies.
Tribal concerns, including impacts on
Indian trust assets and potential impacts
on cultural resources, will be given due
consideration. Federal, State, and local
agencies, along with Indian Tribal
Nations and other stakeholders that may
be interested in or affected by the
proposed changes to Section 368 energy
corridors that the BLM is evaluating, are
invited to participate in the scoping
process and, if eligible, may request or
be requested by the BLM to participate
in the development of the
environmental analysis as a cooperating
agency. The BLM intends to hold a
series of government-to-government
consultation meetings. The BLM will
send invitations to potentially affected
Tribal Nations prior to the meetings.
The BLM will provide additional
opportunities for government-togovernment consultation during the
NEPA process.
Before including your address, phone
number, email address, or other
personal identifying information in your
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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.
(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.9 and 43 CFR
1610.2)
Benjamin E. Gruber,
Acting Assistant Director, Energy, Minerals
and Realty Management.
[FR Doc. 2023–26493 Filed 11–30–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4331–29–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Office of Natural Resources Revenue
[Docket No. ONRR–2011–0009; DS63644000
DRT000000.CH7000 234D1113RT; OMB
Control Number 1012–0008]
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Collection of Monies Due
the Federal Government; and
Processing Refund Requests Related
to Overpayments Made to ONRR
Office of Natural Resources
Revenue (‘‘ONRR’’), Interior.
ACTION: Notice of information collection;
request for comment.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
ONRR is proposing to revise an
information collection. Through this
Information Collection Request (ICR),
ONRR seeks renewed authority to
collect information necessary to cover
cross-lease netting in the calculation of
late-payment interest; a lessee’s
designation of designee for payment
obligations; tribal permission for
recoupment on Indian oil and gas
leases; and refund requests for
overpayments made to ONRR.
DATES: You must submit your written
comments on or before January 30,
2024.
ADDRESSES: All comment submissions
must (1) reference ‘‘OMB Control
Number 1012–0008’’ in the subject line;
(2) be sent to ONRR before the close of
the comment period listed under DATES;
and (3) be sent using the following
method:
Electronically via the Federal
eRulemaking Portal: Please visit https://
www.regulations.gov. In the Search Box,
enter the Docket ID Number for this ICR
renewal (‘‘ONRR–2011–0009’’) and click
‘‘search’’ to view the publications
associated with the docket folder.
Locate the document with an open
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\01DEN1.SGM
01DEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 230 / Friday, December 1, 2023 / Notices
comment period and click the
‘‘Comment Now!’’ button. Follow the
prompts to submit your comment prior
to the close of the comment period.
Docket: To access the docket folder to
view the ICR Federal Register
publications, go to https://
www.regulations.gov and search
‘‘ONRR–2011–0009’’ to view renewal
notices recently published in the
Federal Register, publications
associated with prior renewals, and
applicable public comments received
for this ICR. ONRR will make the
comments submitted in response to this
notice available for public viewing at
https://www.regulations.gov.
OMB ICR Data: OMB also maintains
information on ICR renewals and
approvals. You may access this
information at https://www.reginfo.gov/
public/do/PRASearch. Please use the
following instructions: Under the ‘‘OMB
Control Number’’ heading enter ‘‘1012–
0008’’ and click the ‘‘Search’’ button
located at the bottom of the page. To
view the ICR renewal or OMB approval
status, click on the latest entry (based on
the most recent date). On the ‘‘View
ICR—OIRA Conclusion’’ page, check the
box next to ‘‘All’’ to display all available
ICR information provided by OMB.
To
request additional information about
this ICR, contact Mr. Christopher Davis,
Financial Management, ONRR by email
at Christopher.Davis@onrr.gov or by
telephone at (303) 231–3977. To inquire
about form ONRR–4425, please contact
Aaron Lindquist, Data Solutioning and
Technical Support, ONRR by email at
Aaron.Lindquist@onrr.gov or by
telephone at (303) 231–3020. To inquire
about refund requests, please contact
Thomas Anthony, Revenue, Reporting,
and Compliance Management, ONRR by
email at Thomas.Anthony@onrr.gov or
by telephone at (303) 231–3708.
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-ofcontact in the United States.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Pursuant
to the PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq., and
5 CFR 1320.5, all information
collections, as defined in 5 CFR 1320.3,
require approval by OMB. ONRR 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.
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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18:47 Nov 30, 2023
Jkt 262001
As part of ONRR’s continuing effort to
reduce paperwork and respondent
burdens, ONRR is inviting the public
and other Federal agencies to comment
on new, proposed, revised, and
continuing collections of information in
accordance with the PRA and 5 CFR
1320.8(d)(1). This helps ONRR to assess
the impact of its information collection
requirements and minimize the public’s
reporting burden. It also helps the
public understand ONRR’s information
collection requirements and provide the
requested data in the desired format.
ONRR is especially interested in
public comments addressing the
following:
(1) Whether the collection of
information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the
agency, including whether the
information will have practical utility;
(2) The accuracy of ONRR’s 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. ONRR will include or
summarize each comment in its 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 ONRR in your
comment to withhold your personal
identifying information from public
review, ONRR cannot guarantee that it
will be able to do so.
Abstract: (a) General Information: The
Federal Oil and Gas Royalty
Management Act of 1982 (‘‘FOGRMA’’)
directs the Secretary of the Interior
(‘‘Secretary’’) to ‘‘establish a
comprehensive inspection, collection
and fiscal and production accounting
and auditing system to provide the
capability to accurately determine oil
and gas royalties, interest, fines,
penalties, fees, deposits, and other
payments owed, and to collect and
account for such amounts in a timely
manner.’’ 30 U.S.C. 1711. ONRR
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
83963
performs these and other mineral
revenue management responsibilities for
the Secretary. See U.S. Department of
the Interior Departmental Manual, 112
DM 34.1 (Dec. 9, 2020). This ICR covers
the burden hours associated with
performing these responsibilities.
(b) Information Collections: This ICR
concerns the following information.
(1) Cross-Lease Netting in Calculation
of Late-Payment Interest: In calculating
late-payment interest, ONRR allows a
lessee to offset an overpayment made on
a lease against an underpayment made
on another lease if certain conditions
are met. See 30 CFR 1218.42(a). ONRR
refers to this offset as ‘‘cross-lease
netting.’’ If a lessee asserts that interest
is not owed due to cross-lease netting,
it must provide information to ONRR
showing that the conditions are met.
(2) Designation of Designee for
Federal Oil and Gas Leases: FOGRMA
allows a lessee to notify the Secretary in
writing of its designation of ‘‘a person
to make all or part of the payments due
under a lease on the lessee’s behalf . . .
in which event said designated person
may, in its own name, pay, offset or
credit monies, make adjustments,
request and receive refunds and submit
reports with respect to payments
required by the lessee.’’ See 30 U.S.C.
1712(a). ONRR specifies the information
that a lessee must provide to designate
a designee in 30 CFR 1218.52(a). A
lessee must use form ONRR–4425,
Designation Form for Payment
Responsibility, to provide that
information.
As discussed below, ONRR is
modifying the form ONRR–4425 as part
of this ICR renewal to be more
consistent with FOGRMA and to better
capture the information that a lessee is
required to provide under 30 CFR
1218.52. The modifications do not
expand the information collected or
change the burden hours necessary to
complete the form.
ONRR is modifying the title of the
form from ‘‘Designation Form for
Royalty Payment Responsibility’’ to
‘‘Designation Form for Payment
Responsibility’’ because the form may
be used for certain payment types other
than royalty payments. See 30 U.S.C.
1712(a) and 30 CFR 1218.52(a)(3).
The current form ONRR–4425 has
fields for specifying effective and
termination dates for the designation.
However, FOGRMA provides that a
notice of designation, modification of
designation, or termination of
designation is effective upon receipt by
the Secretary. See 30 U.S.C. 1702
(definition of ‘‘designee’’). ONRR
therefore is removing the fields for a
lessee to specify effective and
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83964
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 230 / Friday, December 1, 2023 / Notices
termination dates and adding an
instruction stating that a designation,
modification of designation, or
termination of designation is effective
upon receipt by ONRR. ONRR is also
adding a ‘‘filing type’’ field for the
lessee to specify whether the form is
being filed as an initial designation, a
modification of a designation, or a
termination of a designation.
The current form ONRR–4425
contains fields for a lessee to provide
both the ONRR lease number and the
leasing agency (Bureau of Land
Management or Bureau of Safety and
Environmental Enforcement) lease
number for the designation. ONRR is
modifying the form to require only the
leasing agency number since ONRR’s
data systems can convert the leasing
agency number to the ONRR lease
number.
Section 1218.52(a)(6) requires the
lessee to provide the name, address, and
phone number of the individual to
contact for the designee. However, the
current form ONRR–4425 does not have
a field for the lessee to supply this
information. ONRR therefore is adding a
field to the form for the lessee to
provide this contact information if the
designee is a company.
Though the current form ONRR–4425
contains fields for a lessee to specify
whether it is the lessee of record or
operating rights owner, it does not
contain a place to provide its percentage
of operating rights ownership in the
lease, as required by § 1218.52(a)(4).
ONRR therefore is modifying the form
ONRR–4425 to include a field for a
lessee to provide its percentage of
operating rights ownership.
Section 1218.52(a)(10) requires a
lessee to provide a copy of the written
designation with the form ONRR–4425,
reflecting the designee’s acceptance of
the designation. ONRR is modifying the
form ONRR–4425 to remind the lessee
of this requirement. ONRR also is
modifying the form ONRR–4425
instructions to specify that a lessee may
use this written designation to (i) add
additional leases to the designation, (ii)
specify product types for the
designation, and (iii) specify its
operating rights percentages in different
areas covered by the lease if its
operating rights ownership is not
uniform throughout the lease. Finally,
ONRR is removing any requirement to
provide fax information.
(3) Tribal Permission for Recoupment
on Indian Oil and Gas Leases: Pursuant
to 30 CFR 1218.53(b), a payor may, with
written permission authorized by tribal
statute or resolution, recoup an
overpayment against royalties or other
revenues owed for the same production
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18:47 Nov 30, 2023
Jkt 262001
month under other leases for which that
tribe is the lessor. See 30 CFR
1218.53(b). The payor must provide
ONRR with a copy of that written
permission. Id.
(4) Processing Refund Requests:
FORGMA authorizes a Federal oil and
gas lessee to request a refund for an
overpayment in certain situations. See
30 U.S.C. 1721a(b). FOGRMA requires
the lessee to supply information to
support its refund request. Id.
Additionally, ONRR collects banking
information from the refund recipient in
order to disburse the overpaid amount
to the correct account if a refund is
warranted.
Title: Collection of Monies Due the
Federal Government; and Processing
Refund Requests Related to
Overpayments Made to ONRR.
OMB Control Number: 1012–0008.
Bureau Form Number: Form ONRR–
4425.
Type of Review: Revision of a
currently approved collection.
Respondents/Affected Public: Federal
and Indian lessees.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Respondents: 170.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Responses: 170.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Burden Hours: 93.75 hours.
Respondent’s Obligation: Mandatory.
Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
Total Estimated Annual Non-hour
Burden Cost: We have identified no
‘‘non-hour cost’’ burden associated with
this collection of information.
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
PRA.
STATUS:
Howard Cantor,
Director, Office of Natural Resources
Revenue.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
[FR Doc. 2023–26433 Filed 11–30–23; 8:45 am]
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Proposed eCollection
eComments Requested; Authorization
for Release of Information
BILLING CODE 4335–30–P
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
COMMISSION
Open to the public.
MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED:
1. Agendas for future meetings: none.
2. Minutes.
3. Ratification List.
4. Commission vote on Inv. Nos. 701–
TA–699–702 and 731–TA–1659–1660
(Preliminary) (Frozen Warmwater
Shrimp from Ecuador, India, Indonesia,
and Vietnam). The Commission
currently is scheduled to complete and
file its determinations on December 11,
2023; views of the Commission
currently are scheduled to be completed
and filed on December 18, 2023.
5. Commission vote on Inv. Nos. 701–
TA–253 and 731–TA–132, 252, 271,
273, 532–534, and 536 (Fifth Review)
(Circular Welded Pipe and Tube (CWP)
from Brazil, India, Mexico, South Korea,
Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey). The
Commission currently is scheduled to
complete and file its determinations and
views of the Commission on December
28, 2023.
6. Outstanding action jackets: none.
CONTACT PERSON FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Sharon Bellamy, Supervisory Hearings
and Information Officer, 202–205–2000.
The Commission is holding the
meeting under the Government in the
Sunshine Act, 5 U.S.C. 552(b). In
accordance with Commission policy,
subject matter listed above, not disposed
of at the scheduled meeting, may be
carried over to the agenda of the
following meeting.
By order of the Commission.
Issued: November 29, 2023.
Sharon Bellamy,
Supervisory Hearings and Information
Officer.
[FR Doc. 2023–26529 Filed 11–29–23; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 7020–02–P
[OMB Number 1123–0NEW]
[USITC SE–23–057]
Office of the Pardon Attorney,
Department of Justice.
ACTION: 30-Day notice.
Sunshine Act Meetings
SUMMARY:
AGENCY:
United
States International Trade Commission.
TIME AND DATE: December 8, 2023 at
11:00 a.m.
PLACE: Room 101, 500 E Street SW,
Washington, DC 20436, Telephone:
(202) 205–2000.
AGENCY HOLDING THE MEETING:
PO 00000
Frm 00069
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
The Office of the Pardon
Attorney, Department of Justice (DOJ),
will be submitting the following
information collection request to the
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) for review and approval in
accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995. The proposed
information collection was previously
E:\FR\FM\01DEN1.SGM
01DEN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 230 (Friday, December 1, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 83962-83964]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-26433]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Office of Natural Resources Revenue
[Docket No. ONRR-2011-0009; DS63644000 DRT000000.CH7000 234D1113RT; OMB
Control Number 1012-0008]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Collection of Monies
Due the Federal Government; and Processing Refund Requests Related to
Overpayments Made to ONRR
AGENCY: Office of Natural Resources Revenue (``ONRR''), Interior.
ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ONRR
is proposing to revise an information collection. Through this
Information Collection Request (ICR), ONRR seeks renewed authority to
collect information necessary to cover cross-lease netting in the
calculation of late-payment interest; a lessee's designation of
designee for payment obligations; tribal permission for recoupment on
Indian oil and gas leases; and refund requests for overpayments made to
ONRR.
DATES: You must submit your written comments on or before January 30,
2024.
ADDRESSES: All comment submissions must (1) reference ``OMB Control
Number 1012-0008'' in the subject line; (2) be sent to ONRR before the
close of the comment period listed under DATES; and (3) be sent using
the following method:
Electronically via the Federal eRulemaking Portal: Please visit
https://www.regulations.gov. In the Search Box, enter the Docket ID
Number for this ICR renewal (``ONRR-2011-0009'') and click ``search''
to view the publications associated with the docket folder. Locate the
document with an open
[[Page 83963]]
comment period and click the ``Comment Now!'' button. Follow the
prompts to submit your comment prior to the close of the comment
period.
Docket: To access the docket folder to view the ICR Federal
Register publications, go to https://www.regulations.gov and search
``ONRR-2011-0009'' to view renewal notices recently published in the
Federal Register, publications associated with prior renewals, and
applicable public comments received for this ICR. ONRR will make the
comments submitted in response to this notice available for public
viewing at https://www.regulations.gov.
OMB ICR Data: OMB also maintains information on ICR renewals and
approvals. You may access this information at https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRASearch. Please use the following instructions: Under the
``OMB Control Number'' heading enter ``1012-0008'' and click the
``Search'' button located at the bottom of the page. To view the ICR
renewal or OMB approval status, click on the latest entry (based on the
most recent date). On the ``View ICR--OIRA Conclusion'' page, check the
box next to ``All'' to display all available ICR information provided
by OMB.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information
about this ICR, contact Mr. Christopher Davis, Financial Management,
ONRR by email at [email protected] or by telephone at (303)
231-3977. To inquire about form ONRR-4425, please contact Aaron
Lindquist, Data Solutioning and Technical Support, ONRR by email at
[email protected] or by telephone at (303) 231-3020. To inquire
about refund requests, please contact Thomas Anthony, Revenue,
Reporting, and Compliance Management, ONRR by email at
[email protected] or by telephone at (303) 231-3708.
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.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501, et
seq., and 5 CFR 1320.5, all information collections, as defined in 5
CFR 1320.3, require approval by OMB. ONRR 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 ONRR's continuing effort to reduce paperwork and
respondent burdens, ONRR is inviting the public and other Federal
agencies to comment on new, proposed, revised, and continuing
collections of information in accordance with the PRA and 5 CFR
1320.8(d)(1). This helps ONRR to assess the impact of its information
collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. It
also helps the public understand ONRR's information collection
requirements and provide the requested data in the desired format.
ONRR is especially interested in public comments addressing the
following:
(1) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the
proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether
the information will have practical utility;
(2) The accuracy of ONRR's 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. ONRR will include or summarize each comment in its
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 ONRR in your comment to
withhold your personal identifying information from public review, ONRR
cannot guarantee that it will be able to do so.
Abstract: (a) General Information: The Federal Oil and Gas Royalty
Management Act of 1982 (``FOGRMA'') directs the Secretary of the
Interior (``Secretary'') to ``establish a comprehensive inspection,
collection and fiscal and production accounting and auditing system to
provide the capability to accurately determine oil and gas royalties,
interest, fines, penalties, fees, deposits, and other payments owed,
and to collect and account for such amounts in a timely manner.'' 30
U.S.C. 1711. ONRR performs these and other mineral revenue management
responsibilities for the Secretary. See U.S. Department of the Interior
Departmental Manual, 112 DM 34.1 (Dec. 9, 2020). This ICR covers the
burden hours associated with performing these responsibilities.
(b) Information Collections: This ICR concerns the following
information.
(1) Cross-Lease Netting in Calculation of Late-Payment Interest: In
calculating late-payment interest, ONRR allows a lessee to offset an
overpayment made on a lease against an underpayment made on another
lease if certain conditions are met. See 30 CFR 1218.42(a). ONRR refers
to this offset as ``cross-lease netting.'' If a lessee asserts that
interest is not owed due to cross-lease netting, it must provide
information to ONRR showing that the conditions are met.
(2) Designation of Designee for Federal Oil and Gas Leases: FOGRMA
allows a lessee to notify the Secretary in writing of its designation
of ``a person to make all or part of the payments due under a lease on
the lessee's behalf . . . in which event said designated person may, in
its own name, pay, offset or credit monies, make adjustments, request
and receive refunds and submit reports with respect to payments
required by the lessee.'' See 30 U.S.C. 1712(a). ONRR specifies the
information that a lessee must provide to designate a designee in 30
CFR 1218.52(a). A lessee must use form ONRR-4425, Designation Form for
Payment Responsibility, to provide that information.
As discussed below, ONRR is modifying the form ONRR-4425 as part of
this ICR renewal to be more consistent with FOGRMA and to better
capture the information that a lessee is required to provide under 30
CFR 1218.52. The modifications do not expand the information collected
or change the burden hours necessary to complete the form.
ONRR is modifying the title of the form from ``Designation Form for
Royalty Payment Responsibility'' to ``Designation Form for Payment
Responsibility'' because the form may be used for certain payment types
other than royalty payments. See 30 U.S.C. 1712(a) and 30 CFR
1218.52(a)(3).
The current form ONRR-4425 has fields for specifying effective and
termination dates for the designation. However, FOGRMA provides that a
notice of designation, modification of designation, or termination of
designation is effective upon receipt by the Secretary. See 30 U.S.C.
1702 (definition of ``designee''). ONRR therefore is removing the
fields for a lessee to specify effective and
[[Page 83964]]
termination dates and adding an instruction stating that a designation,
modification of designation, or termination of designation is effective
upon receipt by ONRR. ONRR is also adding a ``filing type'' field for
the lessee to specify whether the form is being filed as an initial
designation, a modification of a designation, or a termination of a
designation.
The current form ONRR-4425 contains fields for a lessee to provide
both the ONRR lease number and the leasing agency (Bureau of Land
Management or Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement) lease
number for the designation. ONRR is modifying the form to require only
the leasing agency number since ONRR's data systems can convert the
leasing agency number to the ONRR lease number.
Section 1218.52(a)(6) requires the lessee to provide the name,
address, and phone number of the individual to contact for the
designee. However, the current form ONRR-4425 does not have a field for
the lessee to supply this information. ONRR therefore is adding a field
to the form for the lessee to provide this contact information if the
designee is a company.
Though the current form ONRR-4425 contains fields for a lessee to
specify whether it is the lessee of record or operating rights owner,
it does not contain a place to provide its percentage of operating
rights ownership in the lease, as required by Sec. 1218.52(a)(4). ONRR
therefore is modifying the form ONRR-4425 to include a field for a
lessee to provide its percentage of operating rights ownership.
Section 1218.52(a)(10) requires a lessee to provide a copy of the
written designation with the form ONRR-4425, reflecting the designee's
acceptance of the designation. ONRR is modifying the form ONRR-4425 to
remind the lessee of this requirement. ONRR also is modifying the form
ONRR-4425 instructions to specify that a lessee may use this written
designation to (i) add additional leases to the designation, (ii)
specify product types for the designation, and (iii) specify its
operating rights percentages in different areas covered by the lease if
its operating rights ownership is not uniform throughout the lease.
Finally, ONRR is removing any requirement to provide fax information.
(3) Tribal Permission for Recoupment on Indian Oil and Gas Leases:
Pursuant to 30 CFR 1218.53(b), a payor may, with written permission
authorized by tribal statute or resolution, recoup an overpayment
against royalties or other revenues owed for the same production month
under other leases for which that tribe is the lessor. See 30 CFR
1218.53(b). The payor must provide ONRR with a copy of that written
permission. Id.
(4) Processing Refund Requests: FORGMA authorizes a Federal oil and
gas lessee to request a refund for an overpayment in certain
situations. See 30 U.S.C. 1721a(b). FOGRMA requires the lessee to
supply information to support its refund request. Id. Additionally,
ONRR collects banking information from the refund recipient in order to
disburse the overpaid amount to the correct account if a refund is
warranted.
Title: Collection of Monies Due the Federal Government; and
Processing Refund Requests Related to Overpayments Made to ONRR.
OMB Control Number: 1012-0008.
Bureau Form Number: Form ONRR-4425.
Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Respondents/Affected Public: Federal and Indian lessees.
Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 170.
Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 170.
Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 93.75 hours.
Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
Total Estimated Annual Non-hour Burden Cost: We have identified no
``non-hour cost'' burden associated with this collection of
information.
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 PRA.
Howard Cantor,
Director, Office of Natural Resources Revenue.
[FR Doc. 2023-26433 Filed 11-30-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4335-30-P