Notice2022-11380
Agency Information Collection Activities: Federal Oil and Gas Valuation
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
May 26, 2022
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentNatural Resources Revenue Office
Abstract
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 ("PRA"), ONRR is proposing to renew an information collection. Through this Information Collection Request ("ICR"), ONRR seeks renewed authority to collect information necessary to (1) verify proper reporting and payment of royalties and other amounts due pursuant to Federal oil and gas leases; (2) determine requests for prepayment or accounting and auditing relief for certain marginal properties; and (3) determine requests to exceed transportation and processing allowance limits. ONRR uses form ONRR-4393 (Request to Exceed Regulatory Allowance Limitation) as part of these information collection requirements.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 102 (Thursday, May 26, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 102 (Thursday, May 26, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32050-32052]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-11380]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Office of Natural Resources Revenue
[Docket No. ONRR-2012-0006; DS63644000 DRT000000.CH7000 223D1113RT; OMB
Control Number 1012-0005]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Federal Oil and Gas
Valuation
AGENCY: Office of Natural Resources Revenue (``ONRR''), Interior.
ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(``PRA''), ONRR is proposing to renew an information collection.
Through this Information Collection Request (``ICR''), ONRR seeks
renewed authority to collect information necessary to (1) verify proper
reporting and payment of royalties and other amounts due pursuant to
Federal oil and gas leases; (2) determine requests for prepayment or
accounting and auditing relief for certain marginal properties; and (3)
determine requests to exceed transportation and processing allowance
limits. ONRR uses form ONRR-4393 (Request to Exceed Regulatory
Allowance Limitation) as part of these information collection
requirements.
DATES: You must submit your written comments on or before July 25,
2022.
ADDRESSES: All comment submissions must (1) reference ``OMB Control
Number 1012-0005'' in the subject line; (2) be sent to ONRR before the
close of the comment period listed under DATES; and (3) be sent through
one of the following two methods:
<bullet> Electronically via the Federal eRulemaking Portal: Please
visit <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. In the Search Box, enter the Docket
ID Number for this ICR renewal (``ONRR-2012-0006'') and click
``search'' to view the publications associated with the docket folder.
Locate the document with an open comment period and click the ``Comment
Now!'' button. Follow the prompts to submit your comment prior to the
close of the comment period.
<bullet> Email Submissions: Please submit your comments to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#014e4f53535e736466746d6075686e6f726c60686d636e79416e6f73732f666e77"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5b1415090904293e3c2e373a2f32343528363a32373934231b34352929753c342d">[email protected]</span></a> with the OMB Control Number (``OMB
Control Number 1012-0005'') listed in the subject line of your email.
Email submissions must be postmarked on or before the close of the
comment period.
Docket: To access the docket folder to view the ICR Federal
Register publications, go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and search
``ONRR-2012-0006'' to view renewal notices recently published in the
Federal Register, publications associated with prior renewals, and
applicable public comments received for this ICR. ONRR will make the
comments submitted in response to this notice available for public
viewing at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.
OMB ICR Data: OMB also maintains information on ICR renewals and
approvals. You may access this information at <a href="https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRASearch">https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRASearch</a>. Please use the following instructions: Under the
``OMB Control Number'' heading enter ``1012-0005'' and click the
``Search'' button located at the bottom of the page. To view the ICR
renewal or OMB approval status, click on the latest entry (based on the
most recent date). On the ``View ICR--OIRA Conclusion'' page, check the
box next to ``All'' to display all available ICR information provided
by OMB.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information
about this ICR, please contact Peter Christnacht, Royalty Valuation,
ONRR, by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1c4c7968796e325f746e756f68727d7f74685c73726e6e327b736a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f0a095849582deb398829983849e91939884b09f9e8282de979f86">[email protected]</span></a> or by telephone at (303)
231-3651. Individuals in the United States who are deaf, deafblind,
hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or
TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services. Individuals
outside the United States should use the relay services offered within
their country to make international calls to the point-of-contact in
the United States.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501, et
seq., and 5 CFR 1320.5, all information collections, as defined in 5
CFR 1320.3, require approval by OMB. ONRR may not conduct or sponsor,
and you are not required to respond to, a collection of information
unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.
As part of ONRR's continuing effort to reduce paperwork and
respondent burdens, ONRR is inviting the public and other Federal
agencies to comment on new, proposed, revised, and
[[Page 32051]]
continuing collections of information in accordance with the PRA and 5
CFR 1320.8(d)(1). This helps ONRR to assess the impact of its
information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting
burden. It also helps the public understand ONRR's information
collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired
format.
ONRR is especially interested in public comments addressing the
following:
(1) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the
proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether
the information will have practical utility.
(2) The accuracy of ONRR's estimate of the burden for this
collection of information, including the validity of the methodology
and assumptions used.
(3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected.
(4) How might the agency minimize the burden of the collection of
information on those who are to respond, including through the use of
appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological
collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g.,
permitting electronic submission of response.
Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of
public record. ONRR will include or summarize each comment in its
request to OMB to approve this ICR. 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 ONRR in your comment to
withhold your personal identifying information from public review, ONRR
cannot guarantee that it will be able to do so.
Abstract: (a) General Information: ONRR reviews and audits the
reporting and payment of royalties and other amounts due to the United
States pursuant to Federal oil and gas leases. See U.S. Department of
the Interior Departmental Manual, 112 DM 34.1 (Sept. 9, 2020). ONRR's
responsibilities include valuing oil and gas for royalty purposes,
evaluating claimed transportation and processing allowances, and
granting royalty prepayment, accounting, and other relief for marginal
properties in appropriate circumstances. ONRR collects the information
covered by this ICR for these purposes. ONRR shares information with
the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of
Safety and Environmental Enforcement, Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management, and State governments for their land and lease management
responsibilities.
(b) Federal Oil and Gas Royalties and Valuation: Title 30 CFR part
1202--Royalties, subparts B and C, and 30 CFR part 1206--Product
Valuation, subparts C and D, require a lessee to provide certain
information necessary to calculate royalties due to the United States.
Information collected under these subparts is used for oil and gas
valuation, calculating and allocating transportation and processing
allowances, determining location and quality differentials, and
allocating residue gas and gas plant products to leases. See Sec. Sec.
1206.102, 1206.108, 1206.110, 1206.113, 1206.141, 1206.142, 1206.148,
1206.150, 1206.152 to 1206.154, 1206.160, and 1206.161.
Some information collected under parts 1202 and 1206 is submitted
on form ONRR-2014 (Report of Sales and Royalty Remittance). This ICR
does not include burden hours for submitting information on form ONRR-
2014 because those burden hours are addressed in ONRR's ICR 1012-0004
(Royalty and Production Reporting). See Agency Information Collection
Activities; Royalty and Production Reporting, 87 FR 3300 (January 21,
2022).
(c) Accounting and Auditing Relief for Marginal Properties: Title
30 CFR part 1204 allows ONRR or a State that receives a statutorily
prescribed portion of the royalties from a Federal lease to grant
certain relief for marginal properties. This relief includes allowing a
lessee to make a lump-sum advance payment of royalties instead of
monthly royalty payments and various accounting and auditing relief
options. See 30 CFR 1204.3. Lessees must submit information to ONRR for
this relief. See Sec. Sec. 1204.202, 1204.203, 1204.205, 1204.206, and
1204.209 to 1204.211.
(d) Requests to Exceed Allowance Limits: Title 30 CFR part 1206--
Product Valuation, subparts C and D, prior to their amendment effective
January 1, 2017, permitted a Federal oil and gas lessee to request to
exceed certain caps that ONRR's regulations place on transportation and
processing allowances by filing form ONRR-4393. (Request to Exceed
Regulatory Allowance Limitation), with supporting documentation. See
Sec. Sec. 1206.109(c)(2) (2016), 1206.153(c)(3) (2016), and
1206.158(c)(3) (2016). Subject to the statute of limitations, a lessee
may file this form to request to exceed the caps for oil and gas
produced prior to January 1, 2017.
This ICR does not include burden hours for submitting information
on form ONRR-4393 for Indian leases because those burden hours are
addressed in ONRR's ICR 1012-0002 (Indian Oil and Gas Valuation).
(e) Information Collections: This ICR covers the paperwork
requirements under 30 CFR parts 1202, 1204, and 1206.
Title of Collection: Federal Oil and Gas Valuation--30 CFR parts
1202, 1204 and 1206.
OMB Control Number: 1012-0005.
Form Number: ONRR-4393.
Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
Respondents/Affected Public: Businesses.
Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 120 Federal lessees/
designees and 7 States for Federal oil and gas.
Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 139.
Estimated Completion Time per Response: The average completion time
is 71.32 hours per response. The average completion time is calculated
by dividing the total estimated burden hours (9,913) by the estimated
annual responses (139).
Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 9,913 hours.
For this renewal cycle, the burden hours have decreased 105 hours
in part 1206 due to the Consolidated Federal and Indian Oil & Gas and
Federal & Indian Coal Valuation Reform Final Reform Rule published on
July 1, 2016 (81 FR 43337), and effective January 1, 2017.
Respondent's Obligation: The information that a lessee must submit
pursuant to 30 CFR parts 1202 and 1206 for calculating royalties and
other payment obligations for Federal oil and gas leases is mandatory.
The information that a lessee must submit to obtain prepayment,
accounting, or auditing relief for qualifying Federal marginal
properties or to exceed the transportation and processing regulatory
caps for oil and gas produced prior to 2017 is required to obtain or
retain a benefit.
Frequency of Collection: Annually and on occasion.
Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: ONRR has identified no
``nonhour'' cost burden associated with the collection of information.
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.
[[Page 32052]]
Authority: Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq).
Howard Cantor,
Acting Director, Office of Natural Resources Revenue.
[FR Doc. 2022-11380 Filed 5-25-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4335-30-P
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This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.