Supporting Statement A
30 CFR 250, subpart H, Oil and Gas Production Safety Systems
OMB Control Number 1014-0003
Current Expiration Date: 7/31/2025
Terms of Clearance: None
General Instructions
A completed Supporting Statement A must accompany each request for approval of a collection of information. The Supporting Statement must be prepared in the format described below, and must contain the information specified below. If an item is not applicable, provide a brief explanation. When the question, "Does this information collection request (ICR) contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods?" is checked "Yes," then a Supporting Statement B must be completed. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) reserves the right to require the submission of additional information with respect to any request for approval.
Specific Instructions
A. Justification
1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary. Identify any legal or administrative requirements that necessitate the collection.
The Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lands Act (OCSLA), as amended (43 USC 1331 et seq. and 43 USC 1801 et seq.), authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to prescribe rules and regulations to administer leasing of mineral resources on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). Such rules and regulations will apply to all operations conducted under a lease, right-of-way, or a right-of-use and easement. Operations on the OCS must preserve, protect, and develop oil and natural gas resources in a manner that is consistent with the need to make such resources available to meet the Nation's energy needs as rapidly as possible; to balance orderly energy resource development with protection of human, marine, and coastal environments; to ensure the public a fair and equitable return on the resources of the OCS; and to preserve and maintain free enterprise competition. Section 1332(6) states that "operations in the Outer Continental Shelf should be conducted in a safe manner by well trained personnel using technology, precautions, and other techniques sufficient to prevent or minimize the likelihood of blowouts, loss of well control, fires, spillages, physical obstructions to other users of the waters or subsoil and seabed, or other occurrences which may cause damage to the environment or to property or endanger life or health."
In addition to the general rulemaking authority of the OCSLA at 43 USC 1334, section 301(a) of the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act (FOGRMA), 30 USC 1751(a), grants authority to the Secretary to prescribe such rules and regulations as are reasonably necessary to carry out FOGRMA's provisions. While the majority of FOGRMA is directed to royalty collection and enforcement, some provisions apply to offshore operations. For example, section 108 of FOGRMA, 30 USC 1718, grants the Secretary broad authority to inspect lease sites for the purpose of determining whether there is compliance with the mineral leasing laws. Section 109(c)(2) and (d)(1), 30 USC 1719(c)(2) and (d)(1), impose substantial civil penalties for failure to permit lawful inspections and for knowing or willful preparation or submission of false, inaccurate, or misleading reports, records, or other information. Because the Secretary has delegated some of the authority under FOGRMA to BSEE, 30 USC 1751 is included as additional authority for these requirements.
The Independent Offices Appropriations Act (31 USC 9701), the Omnibus Appropriations Bill (Pub. L. 104-133, 110 Stat. 1321, April 26, 1996), and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-25, authorize Federal agencies to recover the full cost of services that confer special benefits. Under the Department of the Interior's (DOI) implementing policy, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) is required to charge the full cost for services that provide special benefits or privileges to an identifiable non-Federal recipient above and beyond those which accrue to the public at large. Facility Production Safety System Applications are subject to cost recovery and BSEE regulations specify service fees for these applications.
Regulations governing production safety systems are primarily covered in 30 CFR 250, subpart H and are the subject of this collection. In addition, BSEE also issues various Notices to Lessees (NTLs) and Operators to clarify and provide additional guidance on some aspects of the regulations, as well as forms to capture the data and information. Additional guidance pertaining to Oil-Spill Response Requirements is provided by NTLs when needed.
2. Indicate how, by whom, and for what purpose the information is to be used. Except for a new collection, indicate the actual use the agency has made of the information received from the current collection. Be specific. If this collection is a form or a questionnaire, every question needs to be justified.
Subpart H:
BSEE uses the information collected under subpart H (see the burden table under A.12 to see what specific information BSEE collects) to:
• review safety system designs prior to installation to ensure that minimum safety standards will be met;
• evaluate equipment and/or procedures used during production operations;
• review records of erosion control to ensure that erosion control programs are effective;
• review plans to ensure safety of operations when more than one activity is being conducted simultaneously on a production facility;
• review records of safety devices to ensure proper maintenance during the useful life of that equipment; and
• verify proper performance of safety and pollution prevention equipment (SPPE).
3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses, and the basis for the decision for adopting this means of collection. Also describe any consideration of using information technology to reduce burden and specifically how this collection meets GPEA requirements.
Currently, 90 percent of all information for this collection is submitted electronically via email, CDs, TIMS Web, and BSEE's facility safety system (FSS) which is an electronic permitting system that is part of BSEE's eInspections system. BSEE is currently expanding the eInspection system's capability to accept more information going forward.
4. Describe efforts to identify duplication. Show specifically why any similar information already available cannot be used or modified for use for the purposes described in Item 2 above.
BSEE and other Federal Government agencies have Memoranda of Understanding that define the responsibilities of their agencies with respect to activities on the OCS. These are effective in avoiding duplication of regulations and most reporting and recordkeeping requirements. The information collected is unique to the site, well, or operation, and is not available from other sources.
5. If the collection of information impacts small businesses or other small entities, describe any methods used to minimize burden.
This collection of information could have a significant economic effect on a substantial number of small entities. Any direct effects primarily impact the OCS lessees and operators. However, many of the OCS lessees and operators have less than 500 employees and are considered small businesses as defined by the Small Business Administration. Regulations require safe work practices and protection of the environmental resources; and because of the factors involved when drilling for oil, gas, or sulfur, the hour burden on any small entity subject to these regulations cannot be reduced to accommodate them.
6. Describe the consequence to Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently, as well as any technical or legal obstacles to reducing burden.
If BSEE did not collect the information, we could not carry out the mandate of the OCS Lands Act to ensure safe operations in the OCS. Specifically, we could not evaluate equipment and/or procedures that lessees and operators use during production operations, including evaluation of requests for departures or use of alternate procedures or equipment under 30 CFR 250, subpart A. Information is also needed to verify that production operations are safe and protect the human, marine, and coastal environment. BSEE inspectors review the records required by this subpart to verify compliance with testing and minimum safety requirements.
7. Explain any special circumstances that would cause an information collection to be conducted in a manner:
(a) requiring respondents to report information to the agency more often than quarterly;
Under 250.803(b), Industry is required to perform an investigation and a failure analysis within 120 days of having a safety equipment failure to determine the cause of the failure and that the results and any corrective action are documented.
(b) requiring respondents to prepare a written response to a collection of information in fewer than 30 days after receipt of it;
Requirements for safety and pollution prevention equipment (SPPE) contain information that must be submitted in fewer than 30 days to ensure that issues that led to SPPE failure are identified and addressed quickly. The notification/contacts under Subsea and Subsurface Safety Systems – Subsea Trees, all of these requirements pertain to SPPE and BSEE needs to be aware of any issues that could interfere with the operator identifying problems with these critical pieces of safety equipment.
(c) requiring respondents to submit more than an original and two copies of any document;
Not applicable in this collection.
(d) requiring respondents to retain records, other than health, medical, government contract, grant-in-aid, or tax records, for more than 3 years;
Under § 250.876, Industry is required to remove and inspect, repair, or replace the fire tube for tube-type heaters every 5 years. Due to the regulatory requirement, we have required Industry to retain the documents for at least one complete inspection cycle.
(e) in connection with a statistical survey, that is not designed to produce valid and reliable results that can be generalized to the universe of study;
(f) requiring the use of statistical data classification that has been reviewed and approved by OMB;
(g) that includes a pledge of confidentiality that is not supported by authority established in statute or regulation, that is not supported by disclosure and data security policies that are consistent with the pledge, or which unnecessarily impedes sharing of data with other agencies for compatible confidential use; or
(h) requiring respondents to submit proprietary trade secrets or other confidential information unless the agency can demonstrate that it has instituted procedures to protect the information's confidentiality to the extent permitted by law.
Not applicable in this collection.
8. If applicable, provide a copy and identify the date and page number of publication in the Federal Register of the agency's notice, required by 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting comments on the information collection prior to submission to OMB. Summarize public comments received in response to that notice and in response to the PRA statement associated with the collection over the past 3 years and describe actions taken by the agency in response to these comments. Specifically address comments received on cost and hour burden.
Describe efforts to consult with persons outside the agency to obtain their views on the availability of data, frequency of collection, the clarity of instructions and recordkeeping, disclosure, or reporting format (if any), and on the data elements to be recorded, disclosed, or reported.
Consultation with representatives of those from whom information is to be obtained or those who must compile records should occur at least once every 3 years – even if the collection of information activity is the same as in prior periods. There may be circumstances that may preclude consultation in a specific situation. These circumstances should be explained.
As required in 5 CFR 1320.8(d), BSEE published a 60-day notice on August 30, 2024, in the Federal Register (89 FR 70664). Also, 30 CFR 250.199 explains that BSEE will accept comments at any time on the information collection burden of our 30 CFR 250 regulations and related forms. We display the OMB control numbers and provide the address for sending comments to BSEE. We received no comments in response to the Federal Register notice.
To prepare this ICR, companies were contacted to determine the estimated burden this subpart places on respondents. The following company representatives that commented were:
DCOR LLC, Regulatory Specialist, (805) 535-2000, 1000 Town Center Drive, Suite 600, Oxnard, CA 93036
Walter Oil & Gas Corporation, Regulatory Assistant, (713) 659-1221, 1100 Louisiana Street, Houston, TX 77002
Murphy Exploration and Production Company, USA, (832) 316-8430, 9805 Katy Fwy, Houston, TX 77024
Chevron, Senior Regulatory Specialist, GOMR Operations Support, 5001 Executive Parkway, Suite 200, San Ramon, CA 94583, U.S.A.
Eni US Operating Co. Inc., SEQ Director, (713) 393-6300, 1200 Smith, Suite 1700, Houston, TX 77002
All the different reporting and recordkeeping requirements that are listed in the Subpart H burden table (Section A.12) were thoroughly reviewed by the company representatives listed. The companies that replied to our request provided the burden estimates that are reflected in Section A.12.
9. Explain any decision to provide any payment or gift to respondents, other than remuneration of contractors or grantees.
BSEE will not provide payment or gifts to respondents in this collection.
10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for the assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.
BSEE will protect proprietary information according to 30 CFR 250.197, Data and information to be made available to the public or for limited inspection, 30 CFR part 252, OCS Oil and Gas Information Program, and the Freedom of Information Act (5 USC 552) and its implementing regulations (43 CFR 2).
11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered private. This justification should include the reasons why the agency considers the questions necessary, the specific uses to be made of the information, the explanation to be given to persons from whom the information is requested, and any steps to be taken to obtain their consent.
The collection does not include sensitive or private questions.
12. Provide estimates of the hour burden of the collection of information. The statement should:
(a) Indicate the number of respondents, frequency of response, annual hour burden, and an explanation of how the burden was estimated. Unless directed to do so, agencies should not conduct special surveys to obtain information on which to base hour burden estimates. Consultation with a sample (fewer than 10) of potential respondents is desirable. If the hour burden on respondents is expected to vary widely because of differences in activity, size, or complexity, show the range of estimated hour burden, and explain the reasons for the variance. Generally, estimates should not include burden hours for customary and usual business practices.
(b) If this request for approval covers more than one form, provide separate hour burden estimates for each form and aggregate the hour burdens.
Potential respondents include Federal OCS oil, gas, and sulfur lessees and operators. Currently there are approximately 60 Oil and Gas Drilling and Production Operators in the OCS. Not all the potential respondents will submit information in any given year, and some may submit multiple times. The burden estimates include the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Submissions are generally on occasion and are mandatory. BSEE estimates 91,250 burden hours to comply with Subpart H. Refer to the following table for a breakdown of the burdens.
Burden Table
(c) Provide estimates of annualized cost to respondents for the hour burdens for collections of information, identifying and using appropriate wage rate categories. The cost of contracting out or paying outside parties for information collection activities should not be included here. Instead, this cost should be included under "Annual Cost to Federal Government."
The average respondent cost is $138/hour (rounded). This cost is broken out in the following table using the Society of Petroleum Engineers Salary Survey. See SPE.org website: https://www.spe.org/en/industry/oil-and-gas-salary-survey/
Position |
Base Pay Hourly Rate ($/hr) |
Hourly Rate including Benefits (1.4* x $/hr) |
Percent of time spent on collection |
Weighted Average ($/hour/ rounded) |
Non-Engineering Technical |
$62.67 |
$87.74 |
5% |
$4.39 |
Engineering-Completions |
$96.12 |
$134.57 |
45% |
$60.56 |
Earth Science/Geology |
$104.92 |
$146.88 |
40% |
$58.75 |
Engineering – Other or Combo |
$103.37 |
$144.72 |
10% |
$14.47 |
Weighted Average ($/hour) |
$138 |
*A multiplier of 1.4 (as implied by BLS news release USDL-25-0335, March 14, 2025 (see http://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm )) was added for benefits.
Based on a cost factor of $138 per hour, we estimate the hour burden as a dollar equivalent to industry is $12,592,500 ($138 x 91,250 hours = $12,592,500).
13. Provide an estimate of the total annual non-hour cost burden to respondents or recordkeepers resulting from the collection of information. (Do not include the cost of any hour burden already reflected in Item 12).
(a) The cost estimate should be split into two components: (1) a total capital and start-up cost component (annualized over its expected useful life) and (2) a total operation and maintenance and purchase of services component. The estimates should take into account costs associated with generating, maintaining, and disclosing or providing the information (including filing fees paid for form processing). Include descriptions of methods used to estimate major cost factors including system and technology acquisition, expected useful life of capital equipment, the discount rate(s), and the time period over which costs will be incurred. Capital and start-up costs include, among other items, preparations for collecting information such as purchasing computers and software; monitoring, sampling, drilling and testing equipment; and record storage facilities.
(b) If cost estimates are expected to vary widely, agencies should present ranges of cost burden and explain the reasons for the variance. The cost of purchasing or contracting out information collection services should be a part of this cost burden estimate. In developing cost burden estimates, agencies may consult with a sample of respondents (fewer than 10), utilize the 60-day pre-OMB submission public comment process and use existing economic or regulatory impact analysis associated with the rulemaking containing the information collection, as appropriate.
(c) Generally, estimates should not include purchases of equipment or services, or portions thereof, made: (1) prior to October 1, 1995, (2) to achieve regulatory compliance with requirements not associated with the information collection, (3) for reasons other than to provide information or keep records for the government, or (4) as part of customary and usual business or private practices.
This ICR includes 19 non-hour cost burdens totaling $11,455,906:
In §§ 250.801(c) and 250.802(c)(1) there is a new non-hour cost for 3rd party review for various statements throughout the subpart totaling $108,000.
In § 250.842 there are 10 cost recovery fees totaling $269,906; as well as 6 non-hour cost burdens totaling $5,478,536 for Professional Engineering (PE) costs.
Submit application for a production safety system with > 125 components - $5,426 per submission; $14,280 per offshore visit; and $7,426 per shipyard visit, including $36,000 in PE costs.
Submit application for a production safety system with 25 – 125 components - $1,314 per submission; $8,967 per offshore visit; and $5,141 per shipyard visit, including $18,000 in PE costs.
Submit application for a production safety system with < 25 components - $652 per submission, including $5,000 in PE costs.
Submit modification to application for production safety system with > 125 components - $605 per submission, including $18,000 in PE costs.
Submit modification to application for production safety system with 25 – 125 components - $217 per submission, including $9,000 in PE costs.
Submit modification to application for production safety system with < 25 components - $92 per submission, including $2,500 in PE costs.
In § 250.861(b) there is a new non-hour cost for 3rd party testing of foam concentrate for quality condition totaling $60,000.
In § 250.876 there is a new non-hour cost for 3rd party inspections of fire tubes totaling $4,500,000.
14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal Government. Also, provide a description of the method used to estimate cost, which should include quantification of hours, operational expenses (such as equipment, overhead, printing, and support staff), and any other expense that would not have been incurred without this collection of information.
The average government cost is $90/hour (rounded). This cost is broken out in the below table using the Office of Personnel Management salary data for the REST OF THE UNITED STATES
(https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/).
Position |
Grade |
Hourly Pay rate ($/hour estimate) |
Hourly rate including benefits (1.6* x $/hour) |
Percent of time spent on collection |
Weighted Average ($/hour rounded |
Clerical |
GS-7/5 |
$27.13 |
$43.41 |
10% |
$4.34 |
Petroleum Engineer |
GS-13/5 |
$57.23 |
$91.57 |
70% |
$64.10 |
Supv. Petroleum Engineer |
GS-14/5 |
$67.63 |
$108.21 |
20% |
$21.64 |
Weighted Average ($/hour) |
$90 |
*A multiplier of 1.6 (as implied by BLS news release USDL-25-0335, March 14, 2025 (see http://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm)) was added for benefits.
To analyze and review the information required by subpart H, we estimate the Government will spend an average of approximately .5 hour for each hour spent by the respondents for a total of 45,625 hours.
Based on a cost factor of $90 per hour, the cost to the Government is $4,106,250 (91,250 hours x .5 hour = 45,625 x $90 = $4,106,250).
15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments in hour or cost burden.
Current subpart H regulations have 95,488 hours approved. This ICR requests a total of 91,250 burden hours; resulting in an adjustment decrease of -4,238 hours. The adjustment decrease is a result of hourly input we received from Industry Outreach. All the different reporting and recordkeeping requirements that are listed in the Subpart H burden table (Section A.12) were thoroughly reviewed by the company representatives listed in A.8. All changes to burden hours are shown in bold in A.12
The current OMB approved non-hour cost burden for subpart H is $10,547,442. In this submission, we are requesting $11,455,906; resulting in an adjustment increase of $908,464. This increase is a result of input we received from Industry Outreach, including all the Professional Engineering costs in § 250.842 have gone up. All the different reporting and recordkeeping requirements that are listed in the Subpart H burden table (Section A.12) were thoroughly reviewed by the company representatives listed in A.8. All changes are shown in bold in A.12
16. For collections of information whose results will be published, outline plans for tabulation and publication. Address any complex analytical techniques that will be used. Provide the time schedule for the entire project, including beginning and ending dates of the collection of information, completion of report, publication dates, and other actions.
BSEE will not tabulate or publish the data.
17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection, explain the reasons that display would be inappropriate.
BSEE will display the OMB control number and approval expiration date appropriately (§ 250.199).
18. Explain each exception to the topics of the certification statement identified in, "Certification for Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions."
To the extent that the topics apply to this collection of information, we are not making any exceptions to the "Certification for Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions."
File Type | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document |
File Title | Supporting Statement for Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions |
Author | Cheryl Blundon |
File Modified | 0000-00-00 |
File Created | 2025-05-31 |