Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Pipelines and Pipeline Rights-of-Way

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 with revisions.

DATES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before September 20, 2018.

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 1014-0016 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 November 16, 2017 (82 FR 53518). 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 under 30 CFR 250, subpart J, pertain to pipelines and pipeline rights-of-way (ROWs), forms, and related Notices to Lessees (NTLs) and Operators.

We use the information to ensure that lessees and pipeline ROW holders design the pipelines that they install, maintain, and operate in a safe manner. BSEE needs information concerning the proposed pipeline and safety equipment, inspections and tests, and natural and manmade hazards near the proposed pipeline route. BSEE uses the information to review pipeline designs prior to approving an application for a ROW or lease term pipeline to ensure that the pipeline, as constructed, will provide for safe transportation of minerals through the submerged lands of the OCS. BSEE reviews proposed pipeline routes to ensure that the pipelines would not conflict with any State requirements or unduly interfere with other OCS activities. BSEE reviews proposals for taking pipeline safety equipment out of service to ensure alternate measures are used that will properly provide for the safety of the pipeline and associated facilities (platform, etc.). BSEE reviews notifications of relinquishment of ROW grants and requests to decommission pipelines for regulatory compliance and to ensure that all legal obligations are met. BSEE monitors the records concerning pipeline inspections and tests to ensure safety of operations and protection of the environment and to schedule witnessing trips and inspections. Information is also necessary to determine the point at which the DOI or Department of Transportation (DOT) has regulatory responsibility for a pipeline and to be informed of the identified operator if not the same as the pipeline ROW holder.

We use the information in Form BSEE-0149, Assignment of Federal OCS Pipeline Right-of-Way Grant, to track pipeline ROW holders; as well as use this information to update the corporate database that is used to determine what leases are available for a Lease Sale and the ownership of all OCS leases.

We are adding a new Form BSEE-0135, Designation of Right-of-Way Operator, to identify who has the authority to act on the ROW grant holder's behalf to fulfill obligations under the OCS Lands Act; as well as, BSEE may provide to the designated ROW operator written or oral instructions in securing compliance with the ROW grant in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

Title of Collection: 30 CFR part 250, subpart J, Pipelines and Pipeline Rights-of-Way (ROW).

OMB Control Number: 1014-0016.

Form Number: BSEE-0149—Assignment of Federal OCS Pipeline Right-of-Way Grant, and Form BSEE-0135—Designation of Right-of-Way Operator.

Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.

Respondents/Affected Public: Potential respondents comprise Federal OCS oil, gas, and sulfur 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: 2,961.

Estimated Completion Time per Response: Varies from 30 minutes to 107 hours, depending on activity.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 34,560.

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: This IC request includes seven non-hour cost burdens, all of which are the cost recovery fees required under 30 CFR 250, subpart J. The total of the non-hour cost burden (cost recovery fees) in this IC request is an estimated $1,379,369.

The non-hour cost burdens required in 30 CFR 250, subpart J (and respective cost-recovery fee amount per transaction) are required under:

§ 250.1000(b)—New Pipeline Application (lease term)—$3,541

§ 250.1000(b)—Pipeline Application Modification (lease term)—$2,056

§ 250.1000(b)—Pipeline Application Modification (ROW)—$4,169

§ 250.1008(e)—Pipeline Repair Notification—$388

§ 250.1015(a)—Pipeline ROW Grant Application—$2,771

§ 250.1015(a)—Pipeline Conversion from Lease Term to ROW—$236

§ 250.1018(b)—Pipeline ROW Assignment—$201

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).