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: VerDate Sep<11>2014 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 PO 00000 Frm 00067 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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: VerDate Sep<11>2014 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 Frm 00068 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 E:\FR\FM\01DEN1.SGM 01DEN1 lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 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 VerDate Sep<11>2014 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


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