02-3274. Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf-Fixed and Floating Platforms and Documents Incorporated by Reference

AGENCY:

Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.

ACTION:

Extension of comment period for proposed rule.

SUMMARY:

This document extends to March 27, 2002, the previous deadline of February 25, 2002, for submitting comments on the proposed rule published December 27, 2001 (66 FR 66851) that addresses fixed and floating offshore platforms and floating production systems (FPSs). These FPSs are variously described as column-stabilized units (CSUs); floating production, storage and offloading facilities (referred to by industry as “FPSOs”); tension-leg platforms (TLPs); spars, etc. We are also incorporating into our regulations a body of industry standards pertaining to platforms and FPSs that will save the public the costs of developing separate and, in some cases, unnecessarily duplicative government standards.

DATES:

We will consider all comments received by March 27, 2002, and we may not fully consider comments received after March 27, 2002.

ADDRESSES:

Mail or hand-carry written comments (three copies) to the Department of the Interior; Minerals Management Service; 381 Elden Street; Mail Stop 4024; Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817; Attention: Rules Processing Team.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Carl Anderson, Engineering and Operations Division, at [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

MMS was asked to extend the deadline for submitting comments on the proposed regulations revising 30 CFR 250, subparts A, I, and J to incorporate by reference new documents governing fixed and floating platforms and new riser, stationkeeping, and pipeline technology. The request was based on the considerations that FPSs previously have not been directly addressed in 30 CFR 250 and that issues related to increasing the use of FPSs on the Outer Continental Shelf are complex. MMS agrees that more time is appropriate to ensure that all of the issues in this area are fully addressed.

Public Comments Procedures: Our practice is to make comments, including names and home addresses of respondents, available for public review during regular business hours. Individual respondents may request that we withhold their home address from the rulemaking record, which we will honor to the extent allowable by law. There may be circumstances in which we would withhold from the rulemaking record a respondent's identity, as allowable by law. If you wish us to withhold your name and/or address, you must state this prominently at the beginning of your comment. However, we will not consider anonymous comments. We will make all submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, available for public inspection in their entirety.

Dated: January 17, 2002.

Paul E. Martin,

Acting Chief, Engineering and Operations Division.