Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Well Operations and Equipment

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, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) proposes to renew an information collection.

DATES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before December 27, 2019.

ADDRESSES:

Send written comments on this information collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget's Desk Officer for the Department of the Interior by email at OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov; or via facsimile to (202) 395-5806. Please provide a copy of your comments to the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement; Regulations and Standards Branch; ATTN: Nicole Mason; 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, VA 20166; or by email to kye.mason@bsee.gov. Please reference OMB Control Number 1014-0028 in the subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

To request additional information about this ICR, contact Nicole 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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 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 July 23, 2019 (84 FR 35418). No comments were received.

We are again soliciting comments on the proposed ICR that is described below. We are especially interested in public comments addressing the following issues: (1) Is the collection necessary to the proper functions of BSEE; (2) Will this information be processed and used in a timely manner; (3) Is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) How might BSEE enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (5) How might BSEE minimize the burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use of information technology.

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: The regulations at 30 CFR part 250, subpart G, concern well operations and equipment regulatory requirements of oil, gas, and sulphur operations in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) (including the associated forms), and are the subject of this collection. This request also covers any related Notices to Lessees and Operators (NTLs) that BSEE issues to clarify, supplement, or provide additional guidance on some aspects of our regulations.

BSEE uses the information to ensure safe drilling, workover, completion, and decommissioning operations and to protect the human, marine, and coastal environment. BSEE analyzes and evaluates these information/requirements to reduce the likelihood of an event similar to Deepwater Horizon and to reduce the risk of fatalities, injuries, and spills. BSEE also utilizes these requirements in the approval, disapproval, or modification process for well operations.

Specifically, BSEE uses the information in Subpart G to ensure:

• Certain well designs and operations have been reviewed by appropriate third parties/engineers/classification societies and that, after one year, have been approved by BSEE;
• rig tracking data is available to locate rigs during major storms;
• casing or equipment repairs are acceptable and tested;
• up-to-date engineering documents are available;
• the BOP and associated components are fit for service for its intended use;
• that the BOP will function as intended;
• that BOP components are properly maintained and inspected;
• the proper engineering reviews and approvals for all BOP designs, repairs, and modifications are met.

BSEE uses the information obtained from Rig Movement Notification Report, Form BSEE-0144, to schedule inspections and verify that the equipment being used complies with approved permits. The information on this form is used by all 3 regions, but primarily in the GOM, to ascertain the precise arrival and departure of all rigs in OCS waters in the GOM. The accurate location of these rigs is necessary to facilitate the scheduling of inspections by BSEE personnel.

Title of Collection: 30 CFR part 250, subpart G, Well Operations and Equipment.

OMB Control Number: 1014-0028.

Form Number: Form BSEE-0144.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

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

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

Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 43,408.

Estimated Completion Time per Response: 6 minutes to 2,160 hours, depending on activity.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 160,842.

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

Frequency of Collection: Submissions are generally on occasion, daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, biennially, and as a result of situations encountered depending upon the requirement.

Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: $867,500.

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.).