2014-04121. Information Collection: Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf for Minerals Other Than Oil, Gas, and Sulphur; Proposed Collection for OMB Review; Comment Request; MMAA104000

ACTION:

60-day notice.

SUMMARY:

To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is inviting comments on a collection of information that we will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The information collection request (ICR) concerns the paperwork requirements in the regulations under 30 CFR 582, Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf for Minerals Other than Oil, Gas, and Sulphur.

DATES:

Submit written comments by April 28, 2014.

ADDRESSES:

Please send your comments on this ICR to the BOEM Information Collection Clearance Officer, Arlene Bajusz, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 381 Elden Street, HM-3127, Herndon, Virginia 20170 (mail); or [e-mail] (email); or 703-787-1209 (fax). Please reference ICR 1010-0081 in your comment and include your name and return address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Arlene Bajusz, Office of Policy, Regulations, and Analysis at [phone] to request a copy of the ICR.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB Control Number: 1010-0081.

Title: 30 CFR 582, Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf for Minerals Other than Oil, Gas, and Sulphur.

Abstract: The Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lands Act, as amended (43 U.S.C. 1334 and 43 U.S.C. 1337(k)), authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to implement regulations to grant to the qualified persons, offering the highest cash bonus on a basis of competitive bidding, leases of any mineral other than oil, gas, and sulphur. This applies to any area of the OCS not then under lease for such mineral. This regulation governs mining operations within the OCS for minerals other than oil, gas and sulphur and establishes a comprehensive leasing and regulatory program for such minerals. These regulations have been designed to (1) recognize the differences between the OCS activities associated with oil, gas, and sulphur discovery and development and those associated with the discovery and development of other minerals; (2) facilitate participation by States directly affected by OCS mining activities; (3) provide opportunities for consultation and coordination with other OCS users and uses; (4) balance development with environmental protection; (5) ensure a fair return to the public; and (6) preserve and maintain free enterprise competition.

Regulations at 30 CFR 582 implement these statutory requirements. There has been no activity in the OCS for minerals other than oil, gas and sulphur for many years; however, because these are regulatory requirements, the potential exists for information to be collected. Therefore, we are renewing OMB approval for this information collection.

We will use the information required by 30 CFR 582 to determine if lessees are complying with the regulations that implement the mining operations program for minerals other than oil, gas, and sulphur. BOEM will also use the information to ensure that such operations are conducted in a manner that will result in orderly resource recovery, development, and the protection of the human, marine, and coastal environments and for technical and environmental evaluations which provide a basis for BOEM to make informed decisions to approve, disapprove, or require modification of the proposed activities.

We protect proprietary information according to the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and its implementing regulations (43 CFR 2), and 30 CFR 582.5, and 582.6 and applicable sections of 30 CFR parts 580 and 581. No items of a sensitive nature are collected. Responses are mandatory.

Frequency: Monthly; quarterly; on occasion.

Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: As there are no active respondents, we estimated the potential annual number of respondents to be one. Potential respondents are OCS lessees.

Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: We expect the burden estimate for the renewal will be 212 hours. This submission also removes the requirements and burdens that were transferred to the responsibility of the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement under Secretarial Order No. 3299, May 19, 2010. The following table details the individual BOEM components and respective hour burden estimates of this ICR. 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.

Burden Table

Citation 30 CFR 582	Reporting or recordkeeping requirement	Hour burden	Average number of annual responses	Annual burden hours
Subpart A—General
4; 21(b)	Governors, other Federal/State agencies, lessees, interested parties, and others review and provide comments/recommendations on all plans and environmental information	10	1	10
4(b); 12(b)(2); 21; 22; 25; 26; 28	Submit delineation plan, including environmental information, contingency plan, monitoring program, and various requests for approval referred to throughout; submit modifications and required information	40	1	40
4(c); 12(c)(2); 21; 23; 25; 26; 28	Submit testing plan, including environmental information, contingency plan, monitoring program, and various requests for approval referred to throughout; submit modifications and required information	40	1	40
4(d); 12(d)(2); 21; 24; 25; 26; 28	Submit mining plan, including environmental information, contingency plan, monitoring program, and various requests for approval referred to throughout; submit modifications and required information	40	1	40
5	Request non-disclosure of G&G info.; provide consent; demonstrate loss of competitive position	10	1	10
6	Governors of adjacent States request proprietary data, samples, etc., and disclosure agreement with BOEM	10	1	10
7	Governor of affected State initiates negotiations on jurisdictional controversy, etc., and enters agreement with BOEM	10	1	10
Subtotal			7 Responses	160
Subpart B—Jurisdiction and Responsibilities of Director
11(c); 20(h); 30	Apply for right-of-use and easement; submit confirmations, demonstrations, notifications	30	1	30
11(d)	Request consolidation/splitting of two or more OCS mineral leases or portions	1	1	1
20(h)	Request approval of operations or departure from operating requirements	Burden included with applicable plans		0
14	Submit response copy of form BOEM-1832 indicating date violations (INCs) corrected	2	1	2
Subtotal			3 Responses	33
Subpart C—Obligations and Responsibilities of Lessees
20(a), (g); 29(i)	Make available all mineral resource or environmental data and information; submit reports and maintain records, as specified	Burden included with individual reporting requirements below		0
20(b) thru (e)	Submit designation of payor, operator, or local representative; submit changes, terminations, notifications	1	1	1
21(d)	Notify BOEM of preliminary activities	1	1	1
29(a)	Submit monthly report of minerals produced; request extension	1	1	1
29(b), (c)	Submit quarterly status and final report on exploration and/or testing activities	5	1	5
29(d)	Submit results of environmental monitoring activities	5	1	5
29(e)	Submit marked and certified maps annually or as required	1	1	1
29(f)	Maintain rock, minerals, and core samples for 5 years and make available upon request	1	1	1
29(g)	Maintain original data and information and navigation tapes as long as lease is in effect and make available upon request	1	1	1
29(h)	Maintain hard mineral records and make available upon request	1	1	1
Subtotal			9 Responses	17
Subpart D—Payments
40	Submit surety, personal bond, or approved alternative	2	1 Response	2
Subpart E—Appeals
50; 15	File an appeal	Burden exempt under 5 CFR 1320.4(a)(2), (c).		0
TOTAL BURDEN			20 Responses	212

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: Before submitting an ICR to OMB, PRA section 3506(c)(2)(A) 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 on: (a) Whether or not the collection of information is necessary, including whether or not the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the burden estimates; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden on respondents.

Agencies must also estimate the non-hour cost burdens to respondents or recordkeepers resulting from the collection of information. Therefore, if you have costs to generate, maintain, and disclose this information, you should comment and provide your total capital and startup costs or annual operation, maintenance, and purchase of service costs. You should describe the methods you use to estimate major cost factors, including system and technology acquisition, expected useful life of capital equipment, discount rate(s), and the period over which you incur costs. Capital and startup costs include, among other items, computers and software you purchase to prepare for collecting information, monitoring, and record storage facilities. You should not include estimates for equipment or services purchased: (a) Before October 1, 1995; (b) to comply with requirements not associated with the information collection; (c) for reasons other than to provide information or keep records for the Government; or (d) as part of customary and usual business or private practices.

We will summarize written responses to this notice and address them in our submission for OMB approval. As a result of your comments, we will make any necessary adjustments to the burden in our submission to OMB.

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.

Dated: February 19, 2014.

Deanna Meyer-Pietruszka,

Chief, Office of Policy, Regulations, and Analysis.