Agency Information Collection Activities; Application To Be Recognized as Qualified To Bid On, Hold, or Operate a Lease or Grant on the OCS in Accordance With the Requirements of 30 CFR 556, Subpart D

Issuing agencies

Abstract

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is proposing a new information collection request (ICR).

Full Text

<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 161 (Friday, August 21, 2026)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 161 (Friday, August 21, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54377-54378]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-17149]



[[Page 54377]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

[OMB Control Number 1010-NEW; Docket ID: BOEM-2026-0958]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Application To Be 
Recognized as Qualified To Bid On, Hold, or Operate a Lease or Grant on 
the OCS in Accordance With the Requirements of 30 CFR 556, Subpart D

AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is proposing a new information 
collection request (ICR).

DATES: Comments must be received by BOEM no later than October 20, 
2026.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments on this ICR by either of the following 
methods listed below:
    <bullet> Visit <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>. In the Search box, enter 
BOEM-2026-0958 then click search. Follow the instructions to submit 
public comments and view all related materials.
    <bullet> Email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#63110604160f02170c111a020505020a111023010c060e4d040c15"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="780a1d1f0d14190c170a01191e1e19110a0b381a171d15561f170e">[email&#160;protected]</span></a> or mail or hand-carry 
comments to the Department of the Interior; BOEM Information Collection 
Clearance Officer, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 1849 C Street NW, 
Washington, DC 20240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Thundiyil by email at 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b7c5d2d0c2dbd6c3d8c5ced6d1d1d6dec5c4f7d5d8d2da99d0d8c1"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="42302725372e23362d303b232424232b303102202d272f6c252d34">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>, or by telephone at 202-742-0970. 
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 of 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: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, BOEM provides the general public and other Federal 
agencies with an opportunity to comment on new, proposed, revised, and 
continuing collections of information. This helps BOEM assess the 
impact of its information collection requirements and minimize the 
public's reporting burden. It also helps the public understand BOEM's 
information collection requirements and provide the requested data in 
the desired format.
    BOEM is soliciting comments on the proposed ICR described below. 
BOEM is especially interested in public comments addressing the 
following issues: (1) is the collection necessary to the proper 
functions of BOEM; (2) what can BOEM do to ensure that this information 
is processed and used in a timely manner; (3) is the burden estimate 
accurate; (4) how might BOEM enhance the quality, utility, and clarity 
of the 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 ICR 
to OMB for approval of this information collection. You should be aware 
that your entire comment--including your address, phone number, email 
address, or other personally identifiable information included in your 
comment--may be made publicly available at any time. Even if BOEM 
withholds your personally identifiable information in the context of 
this ICR, your comment is subject to the Freedom of Information Act 
(FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552). Your information will only be withheld if a 
determination is made that one of the FOIA exemptions to disclosure 
applies. Such a determination will be made in accordance with the 
Department of the Interior's (DOI) FOIA implementing regulations (43 
CFR part 2) and applicable law.
    In order for BOEM to consider withholding from disclosure your 
personally identifiable information, you must identify, in a cover 
letter, any information contained in the submittal of your comments 
that, if released, would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of 
your personal privacy. You must also briefly describe any possible 
harmful consequences of the disclosure of information, such as 
embarrassment, injury, or other harm. Note that BOEM will make 
available for public inspection, in their entirety, all comments 
submitted by organizations and businesses, or by individuals 
identifying themselves as representatives of organizations or 
businesses.
    BOEM protects proprietary information in accordance with FOIA, 
DOI's implementing regulations (43 CFR part 2), and 30 CFR 580.70, 
promulgated pursuant to the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCS 
Lands Act) (43 U.S.C. 1352(c)).
    Title of Collection: ``Application to be Recognized as Qualified to 
Bid On, Hold, or Operate a Lease or Grant on the OCS in Accordance with 
the Requirements of 30 CFR 556, Subpart D.''
    Abstract: This ICR seeks approval for a new form entitled 
Application to be Recognized as Qualified to Bid On, Own, Hold, or 
Operate a Lease or Grant on the OCS in Accordance with the Requirements 
of 30 CFR 556, Subpart D. The form establishes a single, standardized 
method for applicants to submit the information required to obtain a 
BOEM qualification number under 30 CFR 556. Its purpose is to 
streamline both applicant submissions and BOEM's review process.
    The burden hours associated with collecting this information are 
already covered under OMB Control Number 1010-0006. However, because 
that control number is currently associated with a rulemaking under OMB 
review, BOEM is requesting a separate control number for this form to 
ensure it receives OMB review and approval.
    BOEM seeks to streamline its process for collecting information 
required under 30 CFR 556, Subpart D. Entities wishing to bid on, own, 
hold, or operate a lease or grant on the OCS must first obtain a 
qualification number from BOEM by submitting the evidence required 
under 30 CFR 556.402. Historically, BOEM has not provided a single 
standardized format for entities seeking qualification to bid on, own, 
hold, or operate an OCS lease or grant. Applicants were required to 
prepare and submit multiple certificates and resolutions to demonstrate 
eligibility under 30 CFR 556. The new form consolidates all required 
information into one submission, reducing administrative effort for 
applicants and enabling more efficient processing of qualification 
requests.
    The collection of information required by this form does not add 
any new burden hours. All relevant hours are already included under OMB 
Control Number 1010-0006, which covers the submission of evidence 
needed for an applicant to qualify to bid on, own, hold, or operate a 
lease or grant on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).
    This ICR requests OMB approval for a new BOEM form under a new OMB 
control number to collect the required information in a single, 
standardized format, eliminating the need for applicants to prepare, 
execute, and submit multiple separate certificates and resolutions. 
This streamlined approach will simplify and expedite the process for 
applicants seeking to qualify to conduct business on the OCS.

[[Page 54378]]

Additionally, consolidating all required information into one uniform 
submission will enable more efficient processing of initial 
qualification applications.
    In accordance with 30 CFR 556.401 and 556.402, the form collects 
only the information required by regulation to establish eligibility 
for an OCS lease or grant and to obtain a qualification number. 
Applicants must indicate their category--such as U.S. citizens, lawful 
permanent residents, corporations, associations, States, political 
subdivisions, or trusts.
    The form also collects information required by 556.402, which 
specifies that certain categories, like businesses, must provide extra 
documentation, including evidence of operating rules and a list of 
individuals authorized to bind the entity. By collecting all the 
information and evidence required in 556.401 and 556.402, the form 
ensures all regulatory requirements are met for each applicant type.
    The submitted statements and supporting evidence are used to 
determine eligibility and inform BOEM's qualification decisions.
    OMB Control Number: 1010-NEW.
    Form Number: Form BOEM-0153, Application to Qualify.
    Type of Review: New.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Potential respondents are OCS 
applicants for leases and grants on the OCS.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 50 responses.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 50 hours, but the 
submission of this information is already accounted for and collected 
under OMB Control Number 1010-0006.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Frequency of Collection: Once.
    Total Estimated Annual Non-Hour Burden Cost: None.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: BOEM estimates 
that approximately 50 respondents will submit this form annually, with 
an estimated burden of 1 hour per response. The total estimated annual 
burden is 50 hours, which is already accounted for under OMB Control 
Number 1010-0006. No additional burden hours are associated with this 
request.
    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.).

Karen Thundiyil,
Director, Office of Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Ocean Energy 
Management.
[FR Doc. 2026-17149 Filed 8-20-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4340-98-P


</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>