2016-27501. Information Collection Activities: Sulfur Operations; Submitted for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Review; Comment Request

ACTION:

30-Day notice.

SUMMARY:

To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) is notifying the public that we have submitted to OMB an information collection request (ICR) to renew approval of the paperwork requirements in the regulations under Subpart P, Sulfur Operations. This notice also provides the public a second opportunity to comment on the paperwork burden of these regulatory requirements.

DATES:

You must submit comments by December 16, 2016.

ADDRESSES:

Submit comments by either fax [phone] or email ([e-mail]) directly to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for the Department of the Interior (1014-0006). Please provide a copy of your comments to BSEE by any of the means below.

• Electronically: go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for BSEE-2016-0007. Follow the instructions to submit public comments and view all related materials. We will post all comments.
• Email [e-mail], fax [phone], or mail or hand-carry comments to: Department of the Interior; Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement; Regulations and Standards Branch; Attention: Kelly Odom; 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, VA 20166. Please reference 1014-0006 in your comment and include your name and return address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kelly Odom, Regulations and Standards Branch, [phone], to request additional information about this ICR. To see a copy of the entire ICR submitted to OMB, go to http://www.reginfo.gov (select Information Collection Review, Currently Under Review).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: 30 CFR 250, Subpart P, Sulfur Operations.

OMB Control Number: 1014-0006.

Abstract: The Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lands Act (OCSLA) at 43 U.S.C. 1334 authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to prescribe rules and regulations necessary for the administration of the leasing provisions of that Act related to mineral resources on the OCS. Such rules and regulations will apply to all operations conducted under a lease, right-of-way, or a right-of-use and easement. Operations on the OCS must preserve, protect, and develop mineral resources in a manner that is consistent with the need to make such resources available to meet the Nation's energy needs as rapidly as possible; to balance orderly energy resource development with protection of human, marine, and coastal environments; to ensure the public a fair and equitable return on the resources of the OCS; and to preserve and maintain free enterprise competition.

In addition to the general rulemaking authority of the OCSLA at 43 U.S.C. 1334, section 301(a) of the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act (FOGRMA), 30 U.S.C. 1751(a), grants authority to the Secretary to prescribe such rules and regulations as are reasonably necessary to carry out FOGRMA's provisions. While the majority of FOGRMA is directed to royalty collection and enforcement, some provisions apply to offshore operations. For example, section 108 of FOGRMA, 30 U.S.C. 1718, grants the Secretary broad authority to inspect lease sites for the purpose of determining whether there is compliance with the mineral leasing laws. Section 109(c)(2) and (d)(1), 30 U.S.C. 1719(c)(2) and (d)(1), impose substantial civil penalties for failure to permit lawful inspections and for knowing or willful preparation or submission of false, inaccurate, or misleading reports, records, or other information. Because the Secretary has delegated some of the authority under FOGRMA to BSEE, 30 U.S.C. 1751 is included as additional authority for these requirements.

Regulations implementing these responsibilities are under 30 CFR part 250. Some responses are mandatory and some are required to obtain or retain a benefit. No questions of a sensitive nature are asked. BSEE will protect proprietary information according to the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and DOI's implementing regulations (43 CFR 2); 30 CFR 250.197, Data and information to be made available to the public or for limited inspection; and 30 CFR part 252, OCS Oil and Gas Information Program.

BSEE uses the information collected under subpart P to:

• Ascertain that a discovered sulfur deposit can be classified as capable of production in paying quantities.
• ensure accurate and complete measurement of production to determine the amount of sulfur royalty payments due the United States; and that the sale locations are secure, production has been measured accurately, and appropriate follow-up actions are initiated.
• ensure the adequacy and safety of firefighting systems; the drilling unit is fit for the intended purpose; and the adequacy of casing for anticipated conditions.
• review drilling, well-completion, well-workover diagrams and procedures, as well as production operation procedures to ensure the safety of the proposed sulfur drilling, well-completion, well-workover and proposed production operations.
• monitor environmental data during sulfur operations in offshore areas where such data are not already available to provide a valuable source of information to evaluate the performance of drilling rigs under various weather and ocean conditions. This information is necessary to make reasonable determinations regarding safety of operations and environmental protection.

Frequency: Submissions are on occasion and generally vary by section.

Description of Respondents: Potential respondents comprise Federal OCS sulfur lessees.

Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: The estimated annual hour burden for this information collection is a total of 897 hours. The following chart details the individual components and estimated hour burdens. In calculating the burdens, we assumed that respondents perform certain requirements in the normal course of their activities. We consider these to be usual and customary and took that into account in estimating the burden.

Citation 30 CFR 250 subpart P	Reporting and recordkeeping requirement	Hour burden	Average number of annual reponses	Annual burden hours
1605(b)(3); 1617; 1622(b)	These sections contain references to information, approvals, requests, payments, etc. which are submitted with an APD, the burdens for which are covered under its own information collection	APD burden covered under 1014-0025		0
1618(a), (b); 1619(b); 1622(a), (b), (c)	These sections contain references to information, approvals, requests, Payments etc., which are submitted with an APM, the burdens for which are covered under its own information collection	APM burden covered under 1014-0026		0
1600; 1617	Submit exploration or development and production plan, under 30 CFR 550, Subpart B	Burden covered under (1010-0151)		0
1603(a)	Request determination whether sulfur deposit can produce in paying quantities	1	1 request	1
1604(f)	Check traveling-block safety device for proper operation weekly and after each drill-line slipping; enter results in log	0.25	1 lessee × 52 wks × 2 rigs = 104	26
1605(c)	Report oceanographic, meteorological, and drilling unit performance data upon request	1	1 report	1
1605(d)	Submit results of additional surveys and soil borings upon request	1	1 submission	1
1605(e)(5)	Request copy of directional survey (by holder of adjoining lease)	1	1 request	1
1605(f)	Submit application for installation of fixed drilling platforms or structures	Burden covered under (1014-0011).		0
1607	Request establishment, amendment, or cancellation of field rules for drilling, well-completion, or well-workover	8	2 requests	16
1608(a), (c)	Submit well casing and cementing plan or modification	5	1 plan	5
1608(b); (c); 1629(b)(3); 1600-1634	General departure and/or alternate compliance requests not specifically covered elsewhere in Subpart P	Burden covered under (1014-0022).		0
1609(a)	Pressure test casing; record time, conditions of testing, and test results in log	2	1 lease × 60 tests/records = 60	120
1610(d)(7), (8)	Request exception to ram-type blowout preventer (BOP) system components rated working pressure	1	1 request	1
1611(b); 1625(b)	Request exception to water-rated working pressure to test ram-type and annular BOPs and choke manifold	1	1 request	1
1611(d)(3); 1625(d)(3)	Record in driller's report the date, time, and reason for postponing pressure testings	0.17	1 lessee × 6 recordings = 6	1
1611(f); 1625(f)	Request exception to recording pressure conditions during BOP tests on pressure charts, certify by representative	1	1 request	1
1611(f), (g); 1625(f), (g)	Conduct tests, actuations, inspections, maintenance, and crew drills of BOP systems at least weekly; record results in driller's report; certify by representative; retain records for 2 years following completion of drilling activity	6	1 lessee × 52 weeks = 52	312
1612	Request exception to § 250.462 requirements for well-control drills	1	1 request	1
1613(d)	Pressure test diverter sealing element/valves weekly; actuate diverter sealing element/valves/control system every 24 hours; test diverter line for flow every 24 hours; record test times and results in driller's report	2	1 lessee (daily/weekly during drilling) × 2 rigs × 52 weeks = 104	208
1615	Request exception to blind-shear ram or pipe rams and inside BOP to secure wells	1	1 request	1
1616(c)	Retain training records for lessee and drilling contractor personnel	Burden covered under 1014-0008.		0
1619(a); 1623(c)	Retain records for each well and all well operations for 2 years; calculate well-control fluid volume and post near operator's station	12	1 lessee	12
1619(b); 1622(c)	Submit form BSEE-0125 (End of Operations Report), and all supporting documentation	Burden covered under 1014-0018)		0
1619(c), (d), (e)	Submit copies of records, logs, reports, charts, etc., upon request	1	8 submissions	8
1621	Conduct safety meetings prior to well-completion or well-workover operations; record date and time	1	1 lessee × 50 meetings/records = 50	50
1628(b), (d)	Maintain information on approved design and installation features for the life of the facility	1	1 lessee	1
1628(b), (d)	Submit application for design and installation features of sulfur production facilities and fuel gas safety system; certify new installation conforms to approved design	4	1 application	4
1629(b)(1)(ii)	Retain pressure-recording charts used to determine operating pressure ranges for 2 years	12	1 lessee	12
1629(b)(3)	Request approval of firefighting systems; post firefighting system diagram	4	1 request	4
1630(a)(6)	Notify BSEE of pre-production test and inspection of safety system and commencement of production	0.5	2 notifications	1
1630(b)	Maintain records for each safety device installed for 2 years; make available for review	1	1 lessee	1
1631	Conduct safety device training prior to production operations and periodically thereafter; record date and time	1	1 lessee × 52 train/records × 2 rigs = 104	104
1633(b)	Submit application for method production measurement	2	1 application	2
1634(b)	Report evidence of mishandling of produced sulfur or tampering or falsifying any measurement of production	1	1 report	1
Total Burden			511	897

Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Non-Hour Cost Burden: There are no non-hour cost burdens associated with this collection.

Public Disclosure Statement: The PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.,) provides that an agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Until OMB approves a collection of information, you are not obligated to respond.

Comments: Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.,) requires each agency “. . . to provide notice . . . and otherwise consult with members of the public and affected agencies concerning each proposed collection of information . . .” Agencies must specifically solicit comments to: (a) Evaluate whether the collection is necessary or useful; (b) evaluate the accuracy of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) enhance the quality, usefulness, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) minimize the burden on the respondents, including the use of technology.

To comply with the public consultation process, on June 3, 2016, we published a Federal Register notice (81 FR 35798) announcing that we would submit this ICR to OMB for approval. The notice provided the required 60-day comment period. In addition, § 250.199 provides the OMB Control Number for the information collection requirements imposed by the 30 CFR 250, Subpart P regulations. The regulation also informs the public that they may comment at any time on the collections of information and provides the address to which they should send comments. We did not receive any comments in response to the Federal Register notice or unsolicited comments from respondents covered under these regulations.

Public Availability of Comments: 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.

BSSE Information Collection Clearance Officer: Nicole Mason [phone].

Robert W. Middleton,

Deputy Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.