[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 217 (Tuesday, November 10, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63071-63074]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-30131]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Minerals Management Service
Outer Continental Shelf: Operations, Current List of Notices to
Lessees and Operators (NTLs) Issued by the National Office and OCS
Regions
AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The MMS periodically issues NTLs to lessees and operators of
oil and gas or sulphur leases in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).
This Federal Register notice: (1) informs the public, industry, and
other Government agencies of NTLs that are in effect as of November 1,
1998; (2) officially rescinds several NTLs and Letters to Lessees and
Operators (LTLs); and (3) announces a new method of numbering regional
NTLs.
ADDRESSES: You may obtain copies of NTLs through our website at
WWW.MMS.GOV or by contacting the National office or the OCS Region that
issued the NTL at the following addresses:
National Office
Minerals Management Service, Engineering and Operations Division, 381
Elden Street, Herndon, VA 20170-4817, Attention: Ms. Alexis London;
Telephone (703) 787-1600.
Alaska OCS Region
Minerals Management Service, 949 East 36th Avenue, Room 308, Anchorage,
AK 99508-4363, Attention: Ms. Christine Huffaker; Telephone (907) 271-
6621.
Gulf of Mexico (GOM) OCS Region
Minerals Management Service, 1201 Elmwood Park Blvd., New Orleans, LA
70123-2394, Attention: Mr. Michael Dorner; Telephone (504) 736-2599.
Pacific OCS Region
Minerals Management Service, 770 Paseo Camarillo, Camarillo, CA 93010-
6064, Attention: Ms. Freddie Mason; Telephone (805) 389-7566.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alexis London, Engineering and
Operations Division; Telephone (703) 787-1600.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The MMS is responsible for oil and gas or
sulphur operations in the OCS to ensure operational safety and
protection of the environment. In addition to our regulations, we issue
NTLs to provide guidance and to further clarify,
[[Page 63072]]
interpret, or describe regulatory requirements on a national or
regional basis. In the past we have also issued LTLs for this purpose
or to communicate information to OCS lessees and operators.
Recently issued final regulations have eliminated the need for
certain NTLs and LTLs or have required changes in others. This year we
have also updated and reissued many of our NTLs to reflect current
technologies, correct regulatory citations, and include a statement on
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 as it pertains to the NTL.
For your convenience, the following table lists the current active
NTLs issued by the National office and the OCS Regions. Therefore, if
an NTL issued before November 1, 1998, is not listed, it is canceled
and no longer in effect. However, although not listed here, those LTLs
currently in effect will remain in effect until they are superseded by
NTLs or rescinded.
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Effective
NTL No. date Title/subject
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current Notices to Lessees and Operators Issued by the National Office
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93-1N..................................... 04/16/93 Guidelines for an Application for Certificate of Oil
Spill Financial Responsibility for Offshore
Facilities.
96-7N*.................................... 12/10/96 Civil Penalties Program (*Modified by 97-5N).
97-2N..................................... 08/01/97 Well Naming and Numbering Standards.
97-3N..................................... 08/01/97 Annual Performance Review.
97-4N..................................... 09/01/97 Civil Penalties Program Annual Summary to be Published.
97-5N*.................................... 10/07/97 Civil Penalties Program Revised Assessment Matrix
(*Modifies 96-7N).
98-1N..................................... 01/02/98 Interim Guidance for Applying Platform Design Criteria
from American Petroleum Institute (API) Recommended
Practice (RP) 2A, ``Planning, Designing, and
Constructing Fixed Offshore Platforms,'' 19th Edition
(8/1/91) and 20th Edition (7/1/93) and its Supplement
1 (2/1/97).
98-2N..................................... 01/23/98 Guidance Regarding API Specification 14A,
``Specification for Subsurface Safety Valve
Equipment,'' Ninth Edition (7/1/94) and Supplement 1.
98-4N..................................... 03/04/98 Interim Guidance for Applying ``Simplified Fatigue
Analysis'' Procedure from API RP 2A.
98-5N..................................... 04/01/98 Application and Audit Fees for Requests for Royalty
Relief or Adjustment Under 30 CFR Part 203.
98-6N..................................... 04/01/98 Performance Measures for OCS Operators and Form MMS-
131.
98-7N..................................... 04/15/98* Reminder Concerning Periodic Inspection of Platforms. .
. . (*Rescind on 11/2/98).
98-8N..................................... 06/01/98 Deepwater Operations Plans.
98-9N and Addendum........................ 06/01/98* Redesignation of 30 CFR Part 250--Oil and Gas and
07/17/98 Sulphur Operations in the OCS (*Rescind on 12/31/98).
98-10N.................................... 07/01/98 Decentralization of the Lessee Training Program.
98-11N.................................... 07/01/98* Guidelines for an Application for Suspension of
Production Due to Uneconomic Market Conditions (*10/15/
98 Federal Register notice, 63 FR 55405, as corrected,
announced this NTL will be rescinded effective 1/13/
99).
98-12N.................................... 07/01/98 Determination of Pollution Inspection Frequencies for
Unmanned Facilities.
98-13N.................................... 07/01/98 Use of New or Alternative Technology and Procedures.
98-14N.................................... 07/01/98 Conservation Information.
98-15N.................................... 08/24/98* Invitation to Minerals Management Service (MMS)/
Industry Performance Measures/Best Practices Workshops
(*Rescind on 11/13/98).
98-16N.................................... 10/28/98 API Specification 6D (SPEC 6D), Specification for
Pipeline Valves (Gate, Plug, Ball, and Check Valves),
21st Edition (3/31/94), and Supplements 1 and 2.
98-17N.................................... 11/01/98 Revised Guidelines for Royalty Relief Under 30 CFR Part
203.
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No Current Notices to Lessees and Operators Issued by the Alaska OCS Region
Current Notices to Lessees and Operators Issued by the Gulf of Mexico OCS Region
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85-02..................................... 02/04/85 Effect of Drilling ``Window'' Approvals.
86-05..................................... 06/18/86 New Form for Designation of Operator.
92-02..................................... 05/28/92 Minimum Interim Requirements for Site Clearance (and
Verification) of Abandoned Oil and Gas Structures in
the GOM.
92-04..................................... 07/01/92 Interim Requirements for Oil Spill Contingency Plans
and Oil Spill Response Training and Drills.
93-04..................................... 09/30/93 OCS Functional Responsibility of New Regulations.
94-02..................................... 02/24/94 Air Emissions Reporting Requirements.
96-03..................................... 05/08/96 Guidelines for the Offshore Storage and Sub-Seabed
Disposal of Wastes Resulting from the Development and
Production of Oil and Gas on the OCS.
96-08..................................... 11/25/96 Time Allowed for the Correction of Incidents of
Noncompliance (INC's) and for the Return of
Notification of INC Forms.
96-10..................................... 12/05/96 Air Emissions Information for Application for Accessory
Platforms to Pipeline Rights-of-Way.
97-04..................................... 01/31/97 Addition of Blocks to the Thirty-fifth Drilling Window.
97-06..................................... 03/01/97 Timely Submittal of Drilling Well Records in Accordance
with 30 CFR 250.66 [Redesignated 30 CFR 250.416].
97-07..................................... 03/01/97 Revised Conditions of Approval to Drill, Sidetrack and/
or Complete for Oil and Gas Production.
97-15..................................... 06/27/98 Interim Guidance for Regional Oil Spill Response Plans.
97-16..................................... 08/01/97 Production Within 500 Feet of a Unit or Lease Line.
97-17..................................... 08/01/97 Containment Requirements for Bolted or Welded Stock
Tanks.
97-18..................................... 08/18/97 Timely Submittal of Deepwater Royalty Relief
Applications.
98-04..................................... 06/08/98 Hurricane and Tropical Storm Evacuation and Production
Curtailment Procedures.
98-05..................................... 07/01/98 Confirmation of Deepwater Royalty Relief for Leases
Issued After November 28, 1995.
98-96..................................... 08/10/98 Archaeological Requirements.
98-07..................................... 08/10/98 Procedures Regarding Activities Conducted Under
Approved Plan.
98-08..................................... 08/10/98 Meteorological Data Collection Requirements.
98-09..................................... 08/10/98 Proposed and As-Built Pipeline Location Data.
[[Page 63073]]
98-10..................................... 08/10/98 Best Available Control Technology (Sulphur Dioxide).
98-11..................................... 08/10/98 Implementation of Measures to Detect and Protect Deep
Water Chemosynthetic Communities.
98-12..................................... 08/10/98 Implementation of Consistent Biological Stipulation
Measures in the Central and Western Gulf of Mexico.
98-13..................................... 08/10/98 Minimizing Oil and Gas Structures in the Gulf of
Mexico.
98-14..................................... 08/10/98 Guidelines for Reducing or Eliminating Trash and Debris
in the Gulf of Mexico.
98-15..................................... 08/10/98 Time Allowed Between Lease Holding Operations (30 CFR
250.13 [Redesignated 30 CFR 250.113]).
98-16..................................... 08/10/98 Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) Requirements.
98-17..................................... 06/30/98* Gas Volume Statement Requirements (*Rescind on 12/31/
98).
98-18..................................... 09/01/98 Change of Address for the Submittal of Certain Drilling
Records in Accordance with 30 CFR 250.416.
98-19..................................... 09/15/98 Temporary Abandonment of Wells and Maintenance,
Protection and Removal of Underwater Casing Stubs.
98-20..................................... 09/15/98 Shallow Hazards Requirements.
98-21..................................... 09/15/98 Environmental Information Guidelines for OCS Plans.
98-22..................................... 10/05/98 Reorganization of the Office of Field Operations to
Activate the Lake Charles District, Realign the
District Boundaries, and Establish District and Pipe
Section Procedures for After-Hours, Weekend and
Holiday Calls, and Related Submittals.
98-23..................................... 10/15/98 Interim Reporting Requirements for 30 CFR 250, Subpart
K, Oil and Gas Production Rates.
98-24..................................... 10/15/98 Rate Control Section Address, Office Hours, and
Telephone Procedures.
98-25..................................... 11/01/98 Economic Assumptions for RSVP Deepwater Royalty Relief
Model.
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Current Notices to Lessees and Operators Issued by the Pacific OCS Region
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92-01..................................... 03/24/92 Warning Signs: Pipelines and Power Cables.
97-02..................................... 09/22/97 Pipeline Right-of-Way Applications and Assignment Fees:
Requirements for Filing of Lease Transfers.
98-01..................................... 03/05/98 Santa Maria District Office Phone Call Procedures and
Hours.
98-02..................................... 03/05/98 Camarillo District Office Phone Call Procedures and
Hours.
98-04..................................... 07/01/98 Gas Volume Statement Requirements.
98-05..................................... 08/04/98 Archaeological Survey and Report Requirements.
98-06..................................... 08/04/98 Change of Ownership/Operatorship of Leases and
Pipeline.
98-07..................................... 08/04/98 Helideck Closures.
98-08..................................... 08/04/98 Biological Survey Criteria.
98-09..................................... 08/11/98 Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) Requirements.
98-10..................................... 08/21/98 Liquid Royalty Measurement Facilities.
98-11..................................... 08/31/98 Submission of Digitized Well Log Data on Magnetic Tape.
98-12..................................... 08/11/98 Guidelines for Shallow Hazards and Report Requirements
for Exploration Drilling.
98-13..................................... 08/11/98 Guidelines for Shallow Hazards and Report Requirements
for OCS Development Operations.
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You are advised that effective with the publication of this notice,
we are officially rescinding the following previously issued NTLs and
LTLs that are no longer current, have served their purpose, or because
recently revised regulations and policies have eliminated the need for
them.
National Office
93-02N--Liability of Assignors, Assignees, and Colessees for
Plugging and Removal Property on Termination of An Outer Continental
Shelf Oil and Gas Lease.
95-01N--Suspension of Requirements for Updating Safety and
Pollution Prevention Equipment Inventory Lists.
96-02N--Reporting Oil Spills.
97-01N--Blowout Preventer (BOP) Requirements.
Alaska OCS Region
82-01--Interim Minimum Requirements for Marking of Equipment.
86-02--Preliminary and Other Activities Conducted on Leased Lands--
Beaufort Sea.
89-01--Minimizing Potential for Incidental Taking of Polar Bear and
Walrus During Preliminary and Other Activities Conducted on Leased
Areas in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas.
89-02--Preliminary Activities, Shallow Hazards Geophysical Surveys
and Geotechnical Evaluations.
Gulf of Mexico OCS Region
73-03--The Use of Polychlorinated Biphenols (PCB's).
88-02--Submission of List of Safety and Pollution-Prevention
Equipment.
88-03--Information to Be Made Available to the Public on the
Reports Required in Subpart K of 30 CFR Part 250.
89-05--Timelapse in Exploratory Drilling Operations Not to Exceed
180 Days for Deepwater (400 Meters or Deeper) Leases.
89-07--Supplemental Bonds.
91-01--Submittal of Electric, Radioactive, and Other Well Bore
Surveys.
91-06--Notice to the Designated Operators of Liquid Royalty
Measurement Facilities.
93-05--Procedures and Policies Concerning Transition Period for Use
of the New Semiannual Well Test Report Form.
96-04--Air Pollutant Emissions Reporting Requirements.
96-05--Departures for Testing Blowout Preventers (BOP).
97-01--Air Pollution Emissions Reporting Requirement.
97-05--Incorporation by Reference into the MMS Regulations of API
RP 2A Nineteenth Edition, August 1, 1991, for Planning, Designing, and
Constructing Fixed Offshore Platforms.
97-11--Special Security Handling of Well Logs and Data Generated
from Oil and Gas Leases.
LTL dated 07/20/95--Requests for Suspensions of Operations Based on
Rig Delays.
LTL dated 07/25/96--Suspensions of Productions/Operations Program
Overview.
Pacific OCS Region
80-02--Minimum Requirements for Environmental Reports.
88-05--Requirements for Exploratory Operations OCS California.
97-03--Invitation to Workshop.
98-03--Invitation to Royalty Relief Workshop.
LTL dated 06/26/95--Contacts and Functional Directory.
[[Page 63074]]
LTL dated 02/15/96--Guidelines for the Application, Review,
Approval and Administration of the Royalty Relief Program.
This notice also advises you that beginning in January 1999, we
will include a letter designation in regional as well as National NTL
numbers to avoid possible confusion with duplicate numbers. The letter
designation before the NTL number will indicate whether it applies on a
National basis or to which specific Region it pertains. For example:
NTL 99-N01 will apply on a National basis.
NTL 99-A01 will pertain only to the Alaska OCS Region.
NTL 99-G01 will pertain only to the Gulf of Mexico OCS
Region.
NTL 99-P01 will pertain only to the Pacific OCS Region.
Dated: October 30, 1998.
Michael C. Hunt,
Acting Associate Director for Offshore Minerals Management.
[FR Doc. 98-30131 Filed 11-9-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P
