Federal Register: August 3, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 147)
DOCID: fr03au09-88 FR Doc E9-18418
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Minerals Management Service
Docket ID: [Docket No. MMS-2008-OMM-0042]
NOTICE: NOTICES
DOCID: fr03au09-88
DOCUMENT ACTION: Notice of extension of an information collection (1010-0128).
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
MMS Information Collection Activity: 1010-0128, Subpart O, Well Control and Production Safety Training, Extension of a Collection; Submitted for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Review; Comment Request
DATES: Submit written comments by September 2, 2009.
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), we are 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 30 CFR 250, Subpart O, Well Control and Production Safety Training, and related documents. This notice also provides the public a second opportunity to comment on the paperwork burden of these regulatory requirements.
SUMMARY:
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Title: 30 CFR 250, Subpart O, Well Control and Production Safety Training.
OMB Control Number: 10100128.
Abstract: The Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lands Act, as amended (43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq. and 43 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to prescribe rules and regulations to administer leasing of the OCS. Such rules and regulations will apply to all operations conducted under a lease, rightofuse and easement, and pipeline rightofway. Operations in the OCS must preserve, protect, and develop oil and natural gas 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.
Section 1332(6) of the OCS Lands Act requires that ``operations in the [O]uter Continental Shelf should be conducted in a safe manner by well trained personnel using technology, precautions, and other techniques sufficient to prevent or minimize the likelihood of blowouts, loss of well control, fires, spillages, physical obstructions to other users of the waters or subsoil and seabed, or other occurrences which may cause damage to the environment or to property or endanger life or health.'' To carry out these responsibilities, the Minerals Management Service (MMS) has issued rules governing training requirements for certain personnel working in the OCS at 30 CFR 250, Subpart O, Well Control and Production Safety Training. Responses are mandatory or required to obtain or retain a benefit and are primarily on occasion. No questions of a sensitive nature are asked. The MMS protects information considered proprietary according to 30 CFR 250.197, Data and information to be made available to the public or for limited inspection, and 30 CFR Part 252, Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Information Program.
The MMS will use the information collected under subpart O
regulations to ensure that workers in the OCS are properly trained with
the necessary skills to perform their jobs in a safe and pollutionfree
manner. In some instances, MMS will conduct oral interviews of offshore
employees to evaluate the effectiveness of a company's training
program. We do the oral interviews to gauge how effectively the
companies are implementing their own training program. The MMS would
use the interview form and keep the information internally. This
information is necessary to verify training compliance with the requirements.
Frequency: On occasion or annual.
Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: Approximately 130 Federal OCS oil and gas lessees and/or operators.
Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: The estimated
annual hour burden for this information collection is a total of 1,144
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.
Average
Citation 30, CFR 250, Reporting and Number of Annual burden
Subpart O recordkeeping Hour burden annual hours
requirement responses
1503(b)...................... Develop training 70........................ 2 140 plans. Note:
Existing lessees/
respondents already
have training plans
developed. This
number reflects
development of plans
for any new lessees.
1503(c)...................... Maintain copies of 1\1/2\ hr. (plan)......... 130 195 training plan and
employee training
documentation/record
for 5 years.
2 hrs. for records........ 260 [[Page 38466]]
1503(c)...................... Upon request, provide 5......................... 31 155 MMS copies of
employee training
documentation or
provide copy of
training plan.
1507(b)...................... Employee oral \1/2\ hr.................. 650 325 interview conducted
by MMS.
1507(c), (d); 1508; 1509..... Written testing Not considered information collection 0
conducted by MMS or under 5 CFR 1320.3(h)(7) authorized
representative.
1510(b)...................... Revise training plan 12........................ 5 60 and submit to MMS.
250.15001510................ General departure or 3......................... 3 9 alternative
compliance requests
not specifically
covered elsewhere in
subpart O.
Total Hour Burden........ ..................... .......................... 821 1,144
Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping NonHour Cost Burden: We have identified no paperwork nonhour cost burdens associated with the collection of information.
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 proposed collection of information is necessary for the agency to perform its duties, including whether the information is useful; (b) evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate 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 automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
To comply with the public consultation process, on May 1, 2009, we published a Federal Register notice (74 FR 20330) announcing that we would submit this ICR to OMB for approval. The notice provided the required 60day comment period. In addition, Sec. 250.199 provides the OMB control number for the information collection requirements imposed by the 30 CFR 250 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 have received no comments in response to these efforts.
If you wish to comment in response to this notice, you may send your comments to the offices listed under the ADDRESSES section of this notice. The OMB has up to 60 days to approve or disapprove the information collection but may respond after 30 days. Therefore, to ensure maximum consideration, OMB should receive public comments by September 2, 2009.
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 informationmay 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.
MMS Information Collection Clearance Officer: Arlene Bajusz (202) 2087744.
Dated: July 15, 2009.
E.P. Danenberger,
Chief, Office of Offshore Regulatory Programs.
[FR Doc. E918418 Filed 73109; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310MRP
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Cheryl Blundon, Regulations and Standards Branch, (703) 7871607. You may also contact Cheryl Blundon to obtain a copy, at no cost, of the regulation that requires the subject collection of information.