Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.
Notice of extension of an information collection (1010–0112).
To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), we are notifying the public that we have submitted to OMB an information collection request (ICR) to renew approval of the paperwork requirements in Form MMS–131, Performance Measures Data. This notice also provides the public a second opportunity to comment on the paperwork burden of these regulatory requirements.
Submit written comments by January 17, 2008.
You may submit comments either by fax (202) 395–6566 or email (
Cheryl Blundon, Regulations and Standards Branch, (703) 787–1607. You may also contact Cheryl Blundon to obtain a copy, at no cost, of the form that requires the subject collection of information.
In 1991 MMS began promoting, on a voluntary basis, the implementation of a comprehensive Safety and Environmental Management Program (SEMP) for the offshore oil and gas industry as a complement to current regulatory efforts to protect people and the environment during OCS oil and gas exploration and production activities. From the beginning, MMS, the industry as a whole, and individual companies realized that at some point they would want to know the effect of SEMP on safety and environmental management of the OCS. The natural consequence of this interest was the establishment of performance measures. We are requesting OMB approval for a routine renewal of Form MMS–131, Performance Measures Data.
The responses to this collection of information are voluntary, although we consider the information to be critical for assessing the effects of the OCS Safety and Environmental Management Program. We can better focus our regulatory and research programs on areas where the performance measures indicate that operators are having difficulty meeting MMS expectations. We are more effective in leveraging resources by redirecting research efforts, promoting appropriate regulatory initiatives, and shifting inspection program emphasis. The performance measures give us valuable quantitative information to use in judging the reasonableness of company requests for alternative compliance or departures under 30 CFR 250.141 and 250.142. We also use the information collected to work with industry representatives to identify and request “pacesetter” companies make presentations at periodic workshops.
Knowing how the offshore operators as a group are doing, and where their own company ranks, provides company management with information to focus their continuous improvement efforts. This leads to more cost-effective prevention actions and, therefore, better cost containment. This information also provides offshore operators and organizations with a credible data
No questions of a “sensitive” nature are asked, and the collection of information involves no proprietary information. We intend to release data collected on Form MMS–131 only in a summary format that is not company-specific. We will protect the information according to the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and its implementing regulations (43 CFR 2).
To comply with the public consultation process, on June 1, 2007, we published a
If you wish to comment in response to this notice, send your comments directly to the offices listed under the