Notice2026-19293
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Decommissioning Activities
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
September 22, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentSafety and Environmental Enforcement Bureau
Abstract
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) proposes to renew an information collection.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 182 (Tuesday, September 22, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 182 (Tuesday, September 22, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60146-60148]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-19293]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement
[Docket ID BSEE-2025-0233; EEEE500000--256E1700D2--ET1SF0000.EAQ000;
OMB Control Number 1014-0010]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval;
Decommissioning Activities
AGENCY: Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995,
the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) proposes to
renew an information collection.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before
October 22, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of
this notice to <a href="http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a>. Find this particular
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function. Please
provide a copy of your comments to Kelly Odom, Acting BSEE ICCO, 45600
Woodland Road, Sterling, VA 20166; or by email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#8fc4eae3e3f6a1c0ebe0e2cfedfceaeaa1e8e0f9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a6edc3cacadf88e9c2c9cbe6c4d5c3c388c1c9d0">[email protected]</span></a>.
Please reference OMB Control Number 1014-0010 in the subject line of
your comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information
about this ICR, contact Kelly Odom by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5e153b32322770113a31331e3c2d3b3b70393128"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="29624c45455007664d4644694b5a4c4c074e465f">[email protected]</span></a>, or
by telephone at (703) 787-1775. 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. You may also view the ICR at
<a href="http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the PRA and 5 CFR
1320.8(d)(1), 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
September 25, 2025 (90 FR 46251). No comments were received.
As part of our continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent
burdens, we are again soliciting comments from the public and other
Federal agencies on the proposed ICR that is described below. We are
especially interested in public comment addressing the following:
(1) Whether or not the collection of information is necessary for
the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including
whether or not the information will have practical utility;
(2) The accuracy of our estimate of the burden for this collection
of
[[Page 60147]]
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; and
(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. 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: BSEE uses the information collected under Subpart Q
primarily for the following reasons:
<bullet> To determine the necessity for allowing a well to be
temporarily abandoned, the lessee/operator must demonstrate that there
is a reason for not permanently plugging the well, and the temporary
abandonment will not interfere with fishing, navigation, or other uses
of the OCS. We use the information and documentation to verify that the
lessee/operator is diligently pursuing the final disposition of the
well and has performed the temporary plugging of the wellbore.
<bullet> To ensure the information submitted in initial
decommissioning plans in the Alaska and Pacific OCS Regions will permit
BSEE to become involved on the ground floor planning of platform
removals anticipated to occur in these OCS regions.
<bullet> To ensure that all objects (wellheads, platforms, etc.)
installed on the OCS are properly removed using procedures that will
protect marine life and the environment during removal operations, and
the site cleared so as not to conflict with or harm other uses of the
OCS in coordination with other Federal, State, and local government
agencies.
<bullet> To ensure that information regarding decommissioning a
pipeline in place will not constitute a hazard to navigation and
commercial fishing operations, unduly interfere with other uses of the
OCS, such as sand resource areas for coastal restoration projects, or
have adverse environmental effects.
<bullet> To verify that decommissioning activities comply with
approved applications and procedures and are satisfactorily completed.
<bullet> To evaluate and approve the adequacy of the equipment,
materials, and/or procedures that the lessee or operator plans to use
during well modifications and changes in equipment, etc.
<bullet> To help BSEE better estimate future decommissioning costs
for OCS leases, rights-of-way, and rights of use and easements. BSEE's
future decommissioning cost estimates may then be used by BOEM to set
necessary financial assurance levels to minimize or eliminate the
possibility that the government will incur abandonment liability. The
information will assist BSEE and BOEM in meeting their stewardship
responsibilities and in their roles as regulators.
Title of Collection: 30 CFR 250, Subpart Q, Decommissioning
Activities.
OMB Control Number: 1014-0010.
Form Number: None.
Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
Respondents/Affected Public: Potential respondents include Federal
OCS oil, gas, and sulfur lessees and/or operators and holders of
pipeline rights-of-way.
Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: Currently there are
approximately 555 Federal OCS oil, gas, and sulfur lessees and holders
of pipeline rights-of-way. Not all the potential respondents will
submit information in any given year, and some may submit multiple
times.
Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 984.
Estimated Completion Time per Response: Varies from 1 hour to 47
hours, depending on activity.
Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 19,965.
Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
Frequency of Collection: Submissions are generally on occasion,
varies by section, and annual.
Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: $745,142.
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Annual
Hour Average number of annual burden
Citation 30 CFR 250 subpart Q Reporting requirement * burden responses hours
(rounded)
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Non-hour cost burdens
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General
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1704(g); 1706(a), (f); 1712; These sections contain APM burden covered under 1014-0026. 0
1715; 1716; 1721(a), (d), (f)- references to
(g); 1722(a), (b), (d); 1723(b); information, approvals,
1743(a); Sub G. requests, payments,
etc., which are
submitted with an APM,
the burdens for which
are covered under its
own information
collection.
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1700 thru 1754................... General departure and Burden covered under Subpart A 1014- 0
alternative compliance 0022.
requests not
specifically covered
elsewhere in Subpart Q
regulations.
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1704(b); 1708.................... Submit work plan and 16 34......................... 544
schedule under Sec.
250.1704(b) that
addresses all wells,
platforms and other
facilities, pipelines,
and site clearance
within 150 days upon
receiving an order to
perform decommissioning;
additional information
as requested by BSEE.
1704(j), (k)..................... Submit to BSEE, within 26.7 275........................ 7,343
120 days after
completion of each
decommissioning activity
(including pipelines), a
summary of expenditures
incurred; any additional
information that will
support and/or verify
the summary.
1704(j); NTL..................... Request and obtain 3.3 38 requests................ 125
approval for extension
of 120-day reporting
period; including
justification.
1713............................. Notify BSEE 48 hours 0 0 notices.................. 0
before beginning
operations to
permanently plug a well.
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1721(f).......................... Install a protector Burden covered under Subpart I 1014- 0
structure designed 0011.
according to 30 CFR 250,
Subpart I, and equipped
with aids to navigation.
(These requests are
processed via the
appropriate Platform
Application, 30 CFR 250
Subpart I by the OSTS.).
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[[Page 60148]]
1721(e); 1722(e), (h)(1); 1741(c) Identify and report U.S. Coast Guard requirements. 0
subsea wellheads, casing
stubs, or other
obstructions; mark wells
protected by a dome;
mark location to be
cleared as navigation
hazard.
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1722(c), (g)(2).................. Notify BSEE within 5 days 1.3 3 notices.................. 4
if trawl does not pass
over protective device
or causes damages to it;
or if inspection reveals
casing stub or mud line
suspension is no longer
protected.
1722(f), (g)(3).................. Submit annual report on 0 0 reports.................. 0
plans for re-entry to
complete or permanently
abandon the well and
inspection report.
1722(h).......................... Request waiver of 2.8 1 requests................. 3
trawling test.
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1725(a).......................... Requests to maintain the Burden covered under Subpart I 1014- 0
structure to conduct 0011.
other activities are
processed, evaluated and
permitted by the OSTS
via the appropriate
Platform Application
process, 30 CFR 250
Subpart I. (Other
activities include but
are not limited to
activities conducted
under the grants of
right-of-ways (ROWs),
rights-of-use and
easement (RUEs), and
alternate rights-of-use
and easement authority
issued under 30 CFR 250
Subpart J, 30 CFR
550.160, and/or 30 CFR
585, etc.).
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1725(e).......................... Notify BSEE 48 hours 1 74 Notices................. 74
before beginning removal
of platform and other
facilities.
1726; 1704(a).................... Submit initial 0 0.......................... 0
decommissioning
application in the
Pacific and Alaska OCS
Regions.
1727; 1728; 1730; 1703; 1704(c); Submit final application 46.7 114 applications........... 5,324
1725. and appropriate data to
remove platform or other
subsea facility
structures (This
included alternate depth
departures and/or
approvals of partial
removal or toppling for
conversion to an
artificial reef.).
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$4,684 fee x 114 = $533,976.
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1729; 1704(d).................... Submit post platform or 34.3 57 reports................. 1,955
other facility removal
report; supporting
documentation; signed
statements, etc.
1740(a) and (c); 1741(g)......... Request approval to use 0 0 requests/contacts........ 0
alternative methods of
well site, platform, or
other facility
clearance; contact
pipeline owner/operator
before trawling to
determine its condition.
1743; 1704(g), (i)............... Verify permanently 13.3 81 certifications.......... 1,077
plugged well, platform,
or other facility
removal site cleared of
obstructions; supporting
documentation; and
submit certification
letter.
1750; 1751; 1752; 1754; 1704(e).. Submit application to 18.7 88 L/T applications........ 1,646
decommission pipeline in
place or remove pipeline
(L/T or ROW).
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$1,142 L/T decommission fee x 88 = $100,496.
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8 51 ROW applications........ 408
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$2,170 ROW decommissioning fees x 51 = $110,670.
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1753; 1704(f).................... Submit post pipeline 8.7 168 reports................ 1,462
decommissioning report.
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Total Burden....................................................... 984 responses.............. 19,965
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$745,142 Non-Hour Cost Burdens.
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The current OMB approved annual hour burden is 15,997 burden hours
for this collection of information. This submission requests 19,965
burden hours. The adjustment increase of 3,968 hours is, in part, due
to differing interpretations of the time required for regulatory
submission versus the total time needed to collect and complete the
associated paperwork. The figures reflect the information provided by
the oil and gas industry.
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.).
Kirk Malstrom,
Chief, Regulations and Standards Branch.
[FR Doc. 2026-19293 Filed 9-21-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-VH-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on September 22, 2026.
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