Notice2021-17831
Agency Information Collection Activities; Commercial Prospecting, Noncommercial Geological and Geophysical Exploration, and Scientific Research for Minerals Other Than Oil, Gas, and Sulfur on the Outer Continental Shelf
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
August 20, 2021
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentOcean Energy Management Bureau
Abstract
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) proposes to renew an information collection request (ICR).
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 159 (Friday, August 20, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 159 (Friday, August 20, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46877-46879]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-17831]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
[OMB Control Number 1010-0072; Docket ID: BOEM-2017-0016]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Commercial Prospecting,
Noncommercial Geological and Geophysical Exploration, and Scientific
Research for Minerals Other Than Oil, Gas, and Sulfur on the Outer
Continental Shelf
AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) proposes to renew an
information collection request (ICR).
DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before
September 20, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be sent to the Office of Management and
Budget's Desk Officer for the Department of the Interior within 30 days
of publication of this notice at <a href="http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a>.
Find this information collection by selecting ``Currently under
Review--Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function.
Please provide a copy of your comments to the BOEM Information
Collection Clearance Officer, Anna Atkinson, Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management, 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, Virginia 20166; or by email
to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#62030c0c034c0316090b0c110d0c22000d070f4c050d14"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ea8b84848bc48b9e818384998584aa88858f87c48d859c">[email protected]</span></a>. Please reference Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) Control Number 1010-0072 in the subject line of your
comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anna Atkinson by email at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3f5e51515e115e4b5456514c50517f5d505a5211585049"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c7a6a9a9a6e9a6b3acaea9b4a8a987a5a8a2aae9a0a8b1">[email protected]</span></a> or by telephone at 703-787-1025.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995, BOEM provides the general public and Federal agencies with
an opportunity to comment on new, proposed, revised, and continuing
collections of information. This helps BOEM assess the impact of the
information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting
burden. It also helps the public understand BOEM's information
collection requirements.
Title of Collection: Commercial Prospecting, Noncommercial
Geological and Geophysical Exploration, and Scientific Research for
Minerals Other Than Oil, Gas, and Sulfur on the Outer Continental
Shelf.
Abstract: This ICR covers the information collection requirements
in 30 CFR part 580, ``Prospecting for Minerals Other than Oil, Gas, and
Sulphur \1\ on the Outer Continental Shelf [OCS],'' which concern
commercial prospecting and scientific research. This request also
includes information collection requirements related to authorizations
of noncommercial geological and geophysical (G&G) exploration issued
pursuant to section 11 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCS
Lands Act), as amended (43 U.S.C. 1340 et seq., and 43 U.S.C. 1801 et
seq.).
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\1\ BOEM acknowledges that the generally and scientifically
accepted spelling for this compound is sulfur. Throughout this
notice, BOEM uses the spelling consistent with its current
regulations.
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The OCS Lands Act authorizes the Secretary of the Interior
(Secretary) to prescribe rules and regulations to administer leasing of
mineral resources on the OCS. Section 8 of the OCS Lands Act authorizes
the Secretary ``to grant to the qualified persons offering the highest
cash bonuses on a basis of competitive bidding leases of any mineral
other than oil, gas, and sulphur in any area of the [O]uter Continental
Shelf not then under lease for such mineral upon such royalty, rental,
and other terms and conditions as the Secretary may prescribe at the
time of offering the area for lease.'' 43 U.S.C. 1337(k)(1).
Additionally, the Secretary may noncompetitively negotiate agreements
for the use of OCS sand, gravel, and shell resources for use in shore
protection, beach restoration, or coastal wetlands restoration projects
undertaken by a Federal, State, or local government agency, or for use
in a construction project funded in whole or in part by or authorized
by the Federal Government. 43 U.S.C. 1337(k)(2).
Section 11 of the OCS Lands Act states that ``any person authorized
by the Secretary may conduct geological and geophysical explorations in
the [O]uter Continental Shelf, which do not
[[Page 46878]]
interfere with or endanger actual operations under any lease maintained
or granted pursuant to this subchapter, and which are not unduly
harmful to aquatic life in such area.'' 43 U.S.C. 1340(a)(1). The OCS
Lands Act defines the term ``exploration'' to mean the process of
searching for minerals by, among other things, ``geophysical surveys
where magnetic, gravity, seismic, or other systems are used to detect
or imply the presence of such minerals.'' 43 U.S.C. 1331(k). Section 11
authorizes permits or authorizations for geological exploration only if
the Secretary determines that the applicant is qualified and the
exploration will neither interfere with operations on an existing
lease, unduly harm aquatic life in the area, result in pollution,
create hazardous or unsafe conditions, unreasonably interfere with
other uses of the area, nor disturb any site, structure, or object of
historical or archaeological significance. 43 U.S.C. 1340(g).
BOEM considers applications for commercial prospecting and
noncommercial exploration for marine minerals, as well as scientific
research related to marine minerals. Under 30 CFR part 580, G&G
prospecting by any person on unleased lands or on lands leased to a
third party requires a BOEM permit. G&G activities conducted for
scientific or academic purpose require submission of a scientific
research notice.\2\ See 30 CFR 580.11. Because 30 CFR part 580 does not
apply to noncommercial exploration, such activities are authorized
directly pursuant to section 11 of the OCS Lands Act. Noncommercial
exploration includes searching for sand, gravel, and other sources of
sediment for potential use in qualifying beach nourishment and coastal
restoration projects.
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\2\ A permit is required for scientific research activities that
involve the use of solid or liquid explosives, the drilling of a
deep stratigraphic test, or the development of data for proprietary
use or sale. 30 CFR 580.11(a).
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As a Federal agency, BOEM must comply with the National
Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), Endangered Species
Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), National Historic Preservation Act (54
U.S.C. 300101 et seq.), and Marine Mammal Protection Act (16 U.S.C.
1361 et seq.), among other environmental laws. Compliance with the
Endangered Species Act includes a substantive duty to carry out agency
action in a manner that is unlikely to jeopardize protected species or
adversely modify designated critical habitat and a procedural duty to
consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine
Fisheries Service, as applicable, before engaging in a discretionary
action that may affect a protected species.
Under 30 CFR 580.12(a), applicants must submit form BOEM-0134,
``Requirements for Geological and Geophysical Prospecting, Exploration,
or Scientific Research on the Outer Continental Shelf Related to
Minerals Other than Oil, Gas, and Sulphur,'' to provide the information
necessary to evaluate requests to conduct G&G activities for commercial
prospecting, noncommercial exploration, and certain scientific
research.\3\ Under 30 CFR 580.11(b) and 580.12(c), a notice must be
filed with BOEM for scientific research activities that do not involve
explosives, deep stratigraphic drilling, or proprietary interests in
the collected data. BOEM uses the submitted information for several
purposes: (1) To ensure there are neither adverse effects to the
marine, coastal, or human environments nor unreasonable interferences
with other uses; (2) to enhance personal and operational safety; (3) to
analyze and evaluate preliminary or planned mining activities; (4) to
monitor progress and activities on the OCS; (5) to acquire G&G data and
information collected under a Federal permit or authorization; and (6)
to determine eligibility for reimbursement from the Government for
certain costs.
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\3\ Form BOEM-0134 is required for scientific research
activities involving explosives, deep stratigraphic drilling, or
proprietary interests in the collected data. 30 CFR 580.11(a)(1)-
(3).
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Upon approval, BOEM issues applicants a permit or an authorization
(as currently titled form BOEM-0135, ``Permit for Geophysical
Prospecting for Mineral Resources or Scientific Research on the Outer
Continental Shelf Related to Minerals Other than Oil, Gas, and
Sulphur,'' or form BOEM-0136, ``Permit for Geological Prospecting for
Mineral Resources or Scientific Research on the Outer Continental Shelf
Related to Minerals Other than Oil, Gas, and Sulphur).
BOEM may use the information collected during G&G activities to
understand the characteristics of marine mineral-bearing physiographic
regions of the OCS. The information aids BOEM in analyzing and weighing
the potential for environmental damage, the discovery of marine
minerals, and any associated impacts on adjacent coastal States.
OMB Control Number: 1010-0072.
Form Number: Please note: Upon OMB approval of this ICR, BOEM will
implement new titles for the three existing forms discussed previously
as follows. BOEM-0134, ``Requirements for Geological and Geophysical
Prospecting, Exploration, or Scientific Research on the OCS Related to
Minerals Other Than Oil, Gas, and Sulphur.''
The following forms are the permits or authorizations issued by
BOEM based on information provided in BOEM-0134:
BOEM-0135, ``Permit for Geophysical Prospecting, Authorization of
Noncommercial Geophysical Exploration or Permit for Scientific Research
Related to Minerals Other Than Oil, Gas, and Sulphur on the Outer
Continental Shelf.''
BOEM-0136, ``Permit for Geological Prospecting, Authorization of
Noncommercial Geological Exploration, or Permit for Scientific Research
Related to Minerals Other Than Oil, Gas, and Sulphur on the Outer
Continental Shelf.''
Type of Review: Renewal of a currently approved collection.
Respondents/Affected Public: Permittees, applicants, and other
respondents, including those required to only file notices (scientific
research).
Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 49 responses.
Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 730 hours.
Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory or required to obtain or retain
a benefit.
Frequency of Collection: On occasion, annual, or as specified in
permits or authorizations.
Total Estimated Annual Non-Hour Burden Cost: $4,024 non-hour cost
burden.
Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: BOEM estimates
730 burden hours for this renewal, which is a 245-hour increase in
annual burden hours over the currently approved information collection.
The increase in burden hours is attributed to the expected increase in
the number of annual applications, permits, and authorizations.
A Federal Register notice with a 60-day public comment period on
this proposed ICR was published on April 5, 2021 (86 FR 17636). BOEM
did not receive any comments during the 60-day comment period.
BOEM is again soliciting comments on this proposed ICR. BOEM is
especially interested in public comment addressing the following
issues: (1) Is the collection necessary to the proper functions of
BOEM; (2) what can BOEM do to ensure this information will be processed
and used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate;
(4) how might BOEM enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
[[Page 46879]]
information to be collected; and (5) how might BOEM minimize the burden
of this collection on the respondents, including minimizing the burden
through the use of information technology?
Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of
public record. BOEM will include or summarize each comment in its
request to OMB for approval of this ICR. You should be aware that your
entire comment--including your address, phone number, email address, or
other personally identifying information--may be publicly disclosed. In
order to inform BOEM's decision whether it can withhold from disclosure
your personally identifiable information, you must identify any
information contained in your comment that, if released, would clearly
constitute an unwarranted invasion of your privacy. Also, you must
briefly describe possible harmful consequences of disclosing that
information, such as embarrassment, injury, or other harm. While you
can ask BOEM in your comment to withhold your personally identifiable
information from public disclosure, BOEM cannot guarantee that it will
be able to do so.
BOEM protects proprietary information in accordance with the
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA, 5 U.S.C. 552), and the Department of
the Interior's implementing regulations (43 CFR part 2).
A Federal 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 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. (Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995).
Signed:
Deanna Meyer-Pietruszka,
Chief, Office of Policy, Regulation, and Analysis.
[FR Doc. 2021-17831 Filed 8-19-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P
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