The International Association of Oil and Gas Contractors posted the following article on the IAGS website:
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, U.S. Department of Interior, has sent an Information Collection Request to the Office of Management and Budget for review and possible approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act. This ICR concerns 30 CFR 550, Subpart B, Plans and Information, as well as related Notices to Lessees and Operators (NTLs) that BOEM issues to clarify or provide additional guidance on some aspects of our regulations.
Public comments are due to OMB on this proposed ICR 30 days after date of the ICR notice’s publication in the Federal Register, which is scheduled for March 29, 2018. The information covered by this ICR is discussed in more detail below.
The U.S. Department of Commerce will submit to the U.S. Office of Management and Budget for clearance the following proposal for collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35):
Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Title: National Marine Sanctuary Permits.
OMB Control Number: 0648–0141.
Type of Request: Regular (extension of a currently approved information collection).
Number of Respondents: 555.
Average Hours per Response: General permits, 1 hour and 30 minutes; special use permits, 8 hours; historical resources permits, 13 hours; baitfish permits and lionfish removal permits, 5 minutes; permit amendments and certifications, 30 minutes; voluntary registrations, 15 minutes; appeals, 24 hours; Tortugas access permits, 6 minutes. Burden Hours: 2,095.
The International Association of Geophysical Contractors posted the following article on one of its websites:
The International Association of Geophysical Contractors will present the following Breakfast Session at the Offshore Technology Conference, on Tuesday, May 1, at 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., NRG Park, Houston, Texas:
“Ocean Sound and Marine Animals: Advancing the Geophysical Industry in a Complex Regulatory Environment”
Chairperson- Alex Martinez, Exxon Mobil Corporation
Moderator- Nikki Martin (IAGC)
Panel: Bob Gisiner (IAGC); Dustin VanLiew (IAGC); Gary Isaksen (Sound and Marine Life Joint Industry Program
Click here for more details about the OTC.
The U. S. National Marine Fisheries Service has received a request from the U.S. Navy for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to the Navy’s training and testing activities conducted in the Atlantic Fleet Training and Study Area. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act,NMFS requests comments on its proposal to issue regulations and subsequent Letters of Authorization to the Navy to incidentally take marine mammals during the specified activities. Comments and information must be received by NMFS no later than April 26, 2018.
These proposed authorizations extensively discuss regulation of seismic sound sources.
The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service has received a requestfrom Harvest Alaska, LLC, a subsidiary of Hilcorp, for authorization to take marine mammals incidental toinstalling two pipelines in Cook Inlet.
Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act, comments are due on to NMFS on or before March 29, 2018, on NMFS’ proposal toissue an incidental harassment authorization to incidentally takemarine mammals during the specifiedactivities.
Click here for more detail and relevant links.
The Center for Regulatory Effectiveness sent the Department of Commerce a letter requesting that Commerce stop NOAA/NMFS’ use of their Technical Memorandum NMFS-OPR-55 of July 2016 (“Acoustic Guidance”). CRE’s letter included the following paragraphs:
“NOAA/NMFS continue to use their Technical Memorandum NMFS-OPR-55 of July 2016 (“Acoustic Guidance”) for several purposes. This continued regulatory use conflicts with several Presidential Executive Orders and other regulatory requirements such as the Paperwork Reduction Act. On behalf of the Center for Regulatory Effectiveness (“CRE”), I request that you bring these conflicts to the attention of the appropriate Commerce staff and officials so they can stop this improper use of the Acoustic Guidance.
