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Outer Continental Shelf Regulations
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
[Federal Register: January 19, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 12)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 2874-2876]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19ja00-11]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Minerals Management Service
30 CFR Parts 203, 250, 251, 253, 254, and 256
Outer Continental Shelf Regulations
AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.
ACTION: Technical amendments.
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SUMMARY: This document makes minor technical changes to regulations
that were published in various Federal Register documents and are
codified in the Code of Federal Regulations. These changes will correct
the name of form MMS-126; correct a citation in 30 CFR 250, subpart N;
and correct the instructions in 30 CFR parts 203, 251, 253, 254, and
256 for commenting on information collection burdens.
[[Page 2875]]
EFFECTIVE DATE: January 19, 2000.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alexis London, (703) 787-1600.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
These technical amendments affect all offshore oil, gas, and
sulphur operators and lessees. The following are explanations of the
corrections.
(1) On February 5, 1997 (62 FR 5331), we published a final rule
revising the 30 CFR 250, subpart N, regulations on OCS civil penalties
(subsequently redesignated at 63 FR 29479 on May 29, 1998). The final
rule contained a citation error in Sec. 250.1409(d)(3). We are
correcting the citation.
(2) In September 1999, under the requirements of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
reapproved the information collected on form MMS-126. When we submitted
the form to OMB for approval, we made no changes to the information
collected, but we did shorten the official title of the form. We are
correcting the regulations in 30 CFR 250, subpart K, to reflect the
change in the title of this form.
(3) Under the PRA, the OMB must approve the information collection
burden of all our requirements. Each part of our regulations has a
section that provides the OMB control numbers of the approved
information collection burdens and other required information. These
sections provide instructions on how the public may comment on the
burdens. The regulations currently indicate that comments may be
submitted directly to the OMB and to MMS. The OMB has now determined
that comments should be made only to the agency and not directly to
OMB. Agencies are required to address any comments received in
subsequent submissions to OMB for reapproval of the information
collection burdens. We are correcting our regulations to reflect this
change in comment procedures. In addition, we are bringing the section
on authority for collecting information in part 256 up-to-date to
reflect the 1995 amendments to the PRA and to make the part 256 section
consistent with the corresponding sections in the other parts of our
regulations.
Need for Correction
As published, the final regulations contain errors which may prove
to be misleading or have sections which are no longer technically
correct and are in need of clarification.
List of Subjects
30 CFR Part 203
Continental shelf, Government contracts, Indians--lands, Mineral
royalties, Oil and gas exploration, Public lands--mineral resources,
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Sulphur.
30 CFR Part 250
Continental shelf, Environmental impact statements, Environmental
protection, Government contracts, Investigations, Mineral royalties,
Oil and gas development and production, Oil and gas exploration, Oil
and gas reserves, Penalties, Pipelines, Public lands--mineral
resources, Public lands--rights-of-way, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Sulphur development and production, Sulphur exploration,
Surety bonds.
30 CFR Part 251
Continental shelf, Freedom of information, Oil and gas exploration,
Public lands--mineral resources, Public lands--rights-of-way, Reporting
and recordkeeping requirements, Research.
30 CFR Part 253
Continental shelf, Environmental protection, Insurance, Oil and gas
exploration, Oil pollution, Penalties, Pipelines, Public lands--mineral
resources, Public lands--rights-of-way, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Surety bonds.
30 CFR Part 254
Continental shelf, Environmental protection, Oil and gas
development and production, Oil and gas exploration, Pipelines, Public
lands--mineral resources, Public lands--rights-of-way, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements.
30 CFR Part 256
Administrative practice and procedure, Continental shelf,
Environmental protection, Government contracts, Mineral royalties, Oil
and gas exploration, Pipelines, Public lands--mineral resources, Public
lands--rights-of-way, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Surety
bonds.
Accordingly, 30 CFR parts 203, 250, 251, 253, 254, and 256 are
amended by making the following technical amendments:
PART 203--RELIEF OR REDUCTION IN ROYALTY RATES
1. The authority citation for part 203 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 25 U.S.C. 396 et seq., 25 U.S.C. 396a et seq., 25
U.S.C. 101 et seq., 30 U.S.C. 181 et seq., 30 U.S.C. 351 et seq., 30
U.S.C. 1001 et seq., 30 U.S.C. 1701 et seq., 31 U.S.C. 9701 et seq.,
43 U.S.C. 1301 et seq., 43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq., and 43 U.S.C. 1801
et seq.
2. In Sec. 203.82, paragraph (d) is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 203.82 What is MMS's authority to collect this information?
* * * * *
(d) Send comments regarding any aspect of the collection of
information under this part, including suggestions for reducing the
burden, to the Information Collection Clearance Officer, Minerals
Management Service, Mail Stop 4230, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, DC
20240.
PART 250--OIL AND GAS AND SULPHUR OPERATIONS IN THE OUTER
CONTINENTAL SHELF
3. The authority citation for part 250 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.
4. In Sec. 250.1102, the second sentence of paragraph (b)(2) is
corrected to read as follows:
Sec. 250.1102 Oil and gas production rates.
* * * * *
(b) * * *
(2) * * * Within 15 days after the end of the test period, the
lessee must submit a proposed MPR with well potential test for the
individual well completion on Form MMS-126, Well Potential Test Report.
* * *
Sec. 250.1409 [Amended]
5. In Sec. 250.1409(d)(3), the citation ``43 CFR part 62, subpart
D'' is corrected to read 43 CFR part 12, subpart D''.
PART 251--GEOLOGICAL AND GEOPHYSICAL (G&G) EXPLORATIONS OF THE
OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF
6. The authority citation for part 251 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq. I117. In Sec. 251.15,
paragraph (e) is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 251.15 Authority for information collection.
* * * * *
(e) Send comments regarding any aspect of the collection of
information under this part, including suggestions for reducing the
burden, to the Information Collection Clearance Officer, Minerals
Management Service, Mail Stop 4230, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, DC
20240.
[[Page 2876]]
PART 253--OIL SPILL FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR OFFSHORE
FACILITIES
8. The authority citation for part 253 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 33 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.
9. In Sec. 253.5, paragraph (d) is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 253.5 What is the authority for collecting Oil Spill Financial
Responsibility (OSFR) information?
* * * * *
(d) Send comments regarding any aspect of the collection of
information under this part, including suggestions for reducing the
burden, to the Information Collection Clearance Officer, Minerals
Management Service, Mail Stop 4230, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, DC
20240.
PART 254--OIL SPILL RESPONSE REQUIREMENTS FOR FACILITIES LOCATED
SEAWARD OF THE COAST LINE
10. The authority citation for part 254 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1321 et seq.
11. In Sec. 254.9, paragraph (d) is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 254.9 Authority for information collection.
* * * * *
(d) Send comments regarding any aspect of the collection of
information under this part, including suggestions for reducing the
burden, to the Information Collection Clearance Officer, Minerals
Management Service, Mail Stop 4230, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, DC
20240.
PART 256--LEASING OF SULPHUR OR OIL AND GAS IN THE OUTER
CONTINENTAL SHELF
12. The authority citation for part 256 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 6213, 43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.
13. Section 256.0 is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 256.0 Authority for information collection.
(a) The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the
information collection requirements in this part under 44 U.S.C. 3501
et seq. OMB assigned the control number 1010-0006. The title of this
information collection is ``30 CFR Part 256, Leasing of Sulphur or Oil
and Gas in the Outer Continental Shelf.''
(b) MMS collects this information to determine if the applicant
filing for a lease on the Outer Continental Shelf is qualified to hold
such a lease. Response is required to obtain a benefit according to 43
U.S.C. 1331 et seq. MMS will protect proprietary information collected
according to section 26 of the OCS Lands Act and 30 CFR 256.10.
(c) 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.
(d) Send comments regarding any aspect of the collection of
information under this part, including suggestions for reducing the
burden, to the Information Collection Clearance Officer, Minerals
Management Service, Mail Stop 4230, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, DC
20240.
Dated: January 6, 2000.
E. P. Danenberger,
Chief, Engineering and Operations Division.
[FR Doc. 00-1200 Filed 1-18-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P