In accordance
with 5 CFR 1320, OMB is withholding approval at this time. Prior to
publication of the final rule, the agency must submit to OMB a
summary of all comments related to the information collection
contained in the proposed rule and the agency response. The agency
should clearly indicate any changes made to the information
collection as a result of these comments.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
36 Months From Approved
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ONRR proposes to amend the regulations
to provide guidance to lessees and designees for the purposes of
reporting royalties on the required volume allocations of Federal
oil and gas production. On August 13, 1996, Congress enacted the
Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Simplification and Fairness Act (RSFA),
Pub. L. 104-185, as corrected by Pub. L. 104-200-Sept. 22, 1996.
The RSFA amends portions of the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty
Management Act of 1982 (FOGRMA), 30 U.S.C. 1701 et seq. The
proposed rule, RIN 1012-AA02, would (1) remove Federal leases from
30 CFR 1202.100(e)(2); (2) establish a new part 1205 containing new
information collections; and (3) make a technical amendment to the
table at 30 CFR 1210.10 by adding the OMB control number for the
new information collection request (ICR). This new ICR would
collect information necessary to implement section 6(d) of RSFA and
change the way all lessees and designees report and pay on the
required volume allocations of Federal oil and gas production.
Section 6(d) of RSFA requires lessees or designees of a 100-percent
Federal unit or communitization agreement to report on the basis of
takes (based on the actual volume of production sold by, or on
behalf of, the lessee). It also requires a lessee or designee of a
mixed unit or communitization agreement to report on the basis of
entitlements (based on the volume of oil and gas produced from such
agreement and allocated to the lease in accordance with the terms
of the agreement. Further, it allows a lessee to submit a request
for an alternative method of royalty reporting and payment for
units or communitization agreements, provided that all lessees
contractually agree to such method and as long as such alternative
method does not reduce the amount of the royalty obligation to the
Federal Government. Finally, section 6(d) provides for a marginal
property reporting exception that would allow lessees to report and
pay on their take volume each month and adjust to their entitled
volume after the end of the calendar year rather than reporting and
paying based on their entitled volume each month.
US Code:
30
USC 189 Name of Law: Public Lands
US Code: 30
USC 359 Name of Law: Acquired Lands
US Code: 30
USC 192 Name of Law: The Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, Section
36, as amended
US Code: 43
USC 1353 Name of Law: Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act of
1953, Section 27, as amended
US Code:
30 USC 1701 et. seq.--Jan 12, 1983 Name of Law: Federal Oil and
Gas Royalty Management Act
PL:
Pub.L. 104 - 185 Aug. 13, 1996 Name of Law: Royalty
Simplification and Fairness Act
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
30 CFR 1210.10.pdf
Termination of alternative method of reporting and payment