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OMB Control No: 1010-0006	ICR Reference No: 202506-1010-001
Status: Historical Inactive	Previous ICR Reference No: 202502-1010-003
Agency/Subagency: DOI/BOEM	Agency Tracking No: 1010-AE26 NPRM
Title: 30 CFR 550, 556, and 560, Leasing of Sulfur or Oil and Gas in the Outer Continental Shelf
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR: No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Comment filed on proposed rule and continue	Conclusion Date: 06/24/2026
	Date Received in OIRA: 03/10/2026
Terms of Clearance: In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, OMB is filing comment and withholding approval at this time. The agency shall examine public comment in response to the proposed rulemaking and include in the supporting statement of the next ICR--to be submitted to OMB at the final rule stage--a description of how the agency has responded to any public comments on the ICR, including comments on maximizing the practical utility of the collection and minimizing the burden. Given that the cost estimates presented rely largely on non-public data, the agency is requested to work with OMB to increase the amount of quality supporting information underlying the cost estimates before this information collection is submitted for renewal. Lastly, the supporting statement submitted at final rule stage should include any changes that occurred between the proposed and final rule related to this ICR.

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	07/31/2027	36 Months From Approved	07/31/2027
Responses	22,090	0	22,090
Time Burden (Hours)	22,012	0	22,012
Cost Burden (Dollars)	766,053	0	766,053

Abstract: The Department of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), is amending its risk management and financial assurance regulations. The major proposed amendments in this rule include: (1) returning to the previous BOEM practice of considering the financial strength of jointly liable predecessor lessees; (2) revising the credit rating threshold for determining whether oil, gas, and sulfur lessees, right-of-use and easement grant holders, and pipeline right-of-way grant holders on the OCS are required to provide supplemental financial assurance above the required general financial assurance amount to ensure compliance with their Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act obligations; (3) revising the decommissioning estimate used to determine the amount of supplemental financial assurance required; and (4) revising the appeals bond provision related to the Interior Board of Land Appeals appeal procedures. This rule would reduce the amount of supplemental financial assurance required from oil, gas, and sulfur lessees operating on the OCS.

Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 31 USC 9701 Name of Law: Independent Offices Appropriations Act
   US Code: 43 USC 1331 and 1801 Name of Law: Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act
   US Code: 42 USC 6213(C) Name of Law: Energy Policy and Conservation Act

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
1010-AE26	Proposed rulemaking	91 FR 11212	03/09/2026

Federal Register Notices & Comments
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Changing Regulations

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: Overall, this rule results in the following adjustments in hour burden, which leads to an overall increase of 21 annual burden hours: •The Department is proposing to add a new paragraph (i) in section 556.901 to allow an lessee to provide a proposed installment schedule for supplemental financial assurance prior to the receipt of an official demand letter. BOEM is adding additional burden for the submission of this installment schedule. BOEM estimates an increase of 20 annual burden hours (20 responses x 1 hour burden). •The Department is proposing a new section 556.908 to address instances where decommissioning will occur within one year of a new supplemental financial assurance demand, which would allow the Regional Director the discretion to accept third-party decommissioning contracts and/or decommissioning schedules from those entities in lieu of supplemental financial assurance. This is a new provision that may slightly increase annual burden hours. BOEM estimates an increase of 1 annual burden hours (2 responses x ½ hour burden).

Annual Cost to Federal Government: $3,269,676

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination. No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination. No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? No

Agency Contact: Anna Atkinson 202 912-7438 amatkinson@blm.gov

View ICR - OIRA Conclusion