2020-08305. Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Application for Permit To Drill (APD), Revised APD, Supplemental APD Information Sheet, and All Supporting Documentation  

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    AGENCY:

    Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, Interior.

    ACTION:

    Notice of information collection; request for comment.

    SUMMARY:

    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) are proposing to renew an information collection.

    DATES:

    Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before May 20, 2020.

    ADDRESSES:

    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting “Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments” or by using the search function. Please provide a copy of your comments to Kye Mason, BSEE ICCO, 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, VA 20166; or by email to kye.mason@bsee.gov. Please reference OMB Control Number 1014-0025 in the subject line of your comments.

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    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

    To request additional information about this ICR, contact Kye Mason by email at kye.mason@bsee.gov, or by telephone at (703) 787-1607. You may also view the ICR at http://www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain.

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    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. and 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), we provide the general public and other Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on new, proposed, revised, and continuing collections of information. This helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. It also helps the public understand our information collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired format.

    A Federal Register notice with a 60-day public comment period soliciting comments on this collection of information was published on January 22, 2020 (85 FR 3716). One comment was received but was not germane to the collection of information.

    As part of our continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burdens, we are again soliciting comments from the public and other Federal agencies on the proposed ICR that is described below. We are Start Printed Page 21886especially interested in public comment addressing the following:

    (1) Whether or not the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether or not the information will have practical utility;

    (2) The accuracy of our 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. 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.

    Abstract: Throughout the regulations in 30 CFR part 250, BSEE requires the submissions of an Application for Permit to Drill (APD), Revised APD, Supplemental APD Information Sheet, and all supporting documentation on Forms BSEE-0123 and BSEE-0123S. The BSEE uses the information to ensure safe drilling operations and to protect the human, marine, and coastal environment. Among other things, BSEE specifically uses the information to ensure: the drilling unit is fit for the intended purpose; the lessee or operator will not encounter geologic conditions that present a hazard to operations; equipment is maintained in a state of readiness and meets safety standards; each drilling crew is properly trained and able to promptly perform well-control activities at any time during well operations; compliance with safety standards; and the current regulations will provide for safe and proper field or reservoir development, resource evaluation, conservation, protection of correlative rights, safety, and environmental protection. We also review well records to ascertain whether drilling operations have encountered hydrocarbons or H2S and to ensure that H2S detection equipment, personnel protective equipment, and training of the crew are adequate for safe operations in zones known to contain H2S and zones where the presence of H2S is unknown. Furthermore, we use the information to evaluate the adequacy of a lessee's or operator's plan and equipment for drilling, sidetracking, or deepening operations. This includes the adequacy of the proposed casing design, casing setting depths, drilling fluid (mud) programs, cementing programs, and blowout preventer (BOP) systems to ascertain that the proposed operations will be conducted in an operationally safe manner that provides adequate protection for the environment. BSEE also reviews the information to ensure conformance with specific provisions of the lease. In addition, except for proprietary data, BSEE is required by the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to make available to the public certain information submitted on Forms BSEE-0123 and -0123S.

    Title of Collection: 30 CFR part 250, Application for Permit to Drill (APD), Revised APD, Supplemental APD Information Sheet, and all supporting documentation.

    OMB Control Number: 1014-0025.

    Form Number: BSEE-0123 and BSEE-0123S.

    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

    Respondents/Affected Public: Potential respondents are comprised of Federal OCS oil, gas, and sulfur lessees/operators and holders of pipeline rights-of-way.

    Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: Not all the potential respondents will submit information at any given time, and some may submit multiple times.

    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 11,327.

    Estimated Completion Time per Response: .5 hour to 150 hours, depending on activity.

    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 77,937.

    Respondent's Obligation: Most responses are mandatory; while others are required to obtain or retain benefits.

    Frequency of Collection: On occasion and varies by section.

    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: $4,400,470.

    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 Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq).

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    Amy White,

    Acting Chief, Regulations and Standards Branch.

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    [FR Doc. 2020-08305 Filed 4-17-20; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 4310-VH-P

Document Information

Published:
04/20/2020
Department:
Safety and Environmental Enforcement Bureau
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice of information collection; request for comment.
Document Number:
2020-08305
Dates:
Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before May 20, 2020.
Pages:
21885-21886 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket ID BSEE-2019-0010, EEEE500000 20XE1700DX EX1SF0000.EAQ000, OMB Control Number 1014-0025
PDF File:
2020-08305.Pdf