federal register - U.S. Government Printing Office

Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 28 / Tuesday, February 11, 1997 / Proposed Rules6153Information means geological andgeophysical data that have beenanalyzed, processed, or interpreted.Interpreted geological informationmeans knowledge, often in the form ofschematic cross sections, 3-dimensionalrepresentations, and maps, developedby determining the geologicalsignificance of geological data andanalyzed geologic information.Interpreted geophysical informationmeans knowledge, often in the form ofseismic cross sections, 3-dimensionalrepresentations, and maps, developedby determining the geologicalsignificance of geophysical data andprocessed geophysical information.Lease means:(1) Any form of authorization whichis issued under section 8 or maintainedunder section 6 of the Act and whichauthorizes exploration for, and/ordevelopment and production of,minerals; or(2) The area covered by suchauthorization, whichever is required bythe context.Lessee has the same meaning asprovided in 30 CFR 250.2.Marine environment means thephysical, atmospheric, and biologicalcomponents, conditions, and factorsthat interactively determine the qualityof the marine ecosystem in the coastalzone and in the OCS.Minerals means oil, gas, sulphur,geopressured-geothermal and associatedresources, and all other minerals whichare authorized by an Act of Congress tobe produced from ‘‘public lands’’ asdefined in section 103 of the FederalLand Policy and Management Act of1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702).Notice means a written statement ofintent to conduct geological orgeophysical scientific research related tooil, gas, and sulphur in the OCS otherthan under a permit.Oil, gas, and sulphur means oil, gas,sulphur, geopressured-geothermal, andassociated resources.Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) meansall submerged lands lying seaward andoutside the area of lands beneathnavigable waters as defined in section 2of the Submerged Lands Act (43 U.S.C.1301), and of which the subsoil andseabed appertain to the United Statesand are subject to its jurisdiction andcontrol.Permit means the contract oragreement, other than a lease, issuedpursuant to this part, under which aperson acquires the right to conduct inthe OCS:(1) Geological exploration for mineralresources;(2) Geophysical exploration formineral resources;(3) Geological scientific research; or(4) Geophysical scientific research inaccordance with appropriate statutes,regulations, and stipulations.Permittee means the personauthorized by a permit issued pursuantto this part to conduct activities in theOCS.Person means a citizen or national ofthe United States; an alien lawfullyadmitted for permanent residence in theUnited States as defined in section 8U.S.C. 1101(a)(20); a private, public, ormunicipal corporation organized underthe laws of the United States or of anyState or territory thereof; andassociations of such citizens, nationals,resident aliens, or private, public, ormunicipal corporations, States, orpolitical subdivisions of States oranyone operating in a manner providedfor by treaty or other applicableinternational agreements. The term doesnot include Federal agencies.Processed geological or geophysicalinformation means data collected undera permit and later processed orreprocessed. Processing involveschanging the form of data so as tofacilitate interpretation. Processingoperations may include, but are notlimited to, applying corrections forknown perturbing causes, rearranging orfiltering data, and combining ortransforming data elements.Reprocessing is the additionalprocessing other than ordinaryprocessing used in the general course ofevaluation. Reprocessing operationsmay include varying identifiedparameters for the detailed study of aspecific problem area.Secretary means the Secretary of theInterior or a subordinate authorized toact on the Secretary’s behalf.Shallow test drilling means drillinginto the sea bottom to depths less thanthose specified in the definition of adeep stratigraphic test.Third Party means any person otherthan a representative of the UnitedStates or the permittee, including allpersons to whom the permittee sold,licensed, traded, or otherwisetransferred data or information acquiredunder a permit.Violation means a failure to complywith any provision of the Act, or aprovision of a regulation or order issuedunder the Act, or any provision of alease, license, or permit issued underthe Act.You means a person who inquiresabout or obtains a permit or files anotice to conduct geological orgeophysical exploration or scientificresearch related to oil, gas, and sulphurin the OCS.§ 251.2 Purpose of this part.(a) To allow you to conduct G&Gactivities in the OCS related to oil, gas,and sulphur on unleased lands or onlands under lease to a third party.(b) To ensure that you carry out G&Gactivities in a safe and environmentallysound manner so as to prevent harm ordamage to, or waste of, any naturalresources (including any mineraldeposit in areas leased or not leased),any life (including fish and otheraquatic life), property, or the marine,coastal, or human environment.(c) To inform you of your legal andcontractual obligations.§ 251.3 Authority and applicability of thispart.MMS authorizes you to conductexploration or scientific researchactivities under this part in accordancewith the Act, the regulations in thispart, orders of the Director/RegionalDirector, and other applicable statutes,regulations, and amendments.(a) This part does not apply to G&Gexploration conducted by or on behalfof the lessee on a lease in the OCS. Referto 30 CFR part 250 if you plan toconduct G&G activities related to oil,gas, or sulphur under terms of a lease.(b) Federal agencies are exempt fromthe regulations in this part.(c) G&G exploration or G&G scientificresearch related to minerals other thanoil, gas, and sulphur is covered byregulations at 30 CFR part 280.§ 251.4 Types of G&G activities thatrequire permits or notices.(a) Exploration. You must have anMMS-approved permit to conduct G&Gexploration, including deepstratigraphic tests, for oil, gas, orsulphur resources. If you conduct bothgeological and geophysical exploration,you must have a separate permit foreach.(b) Scientific research. You may onlyconduct G&G scientific research relatedto oil, gas, and sulphur in the OCS afteryou obtain an MMS-approved permit orfile a notice.(1) Permit. You must obtain a permitif the research activities you propose toconduct involve:(i) Using solid or liquid explosives; or(ii) Drilling a deep stratigraphic test.(2) Notice. Any other G&G scientificresearch that you conduct related to oil,gas, and sulphur in the OCS requiresyou to file a notice with the RegionalDirector at least 30 days before youbegin. If circumstances preclude a 30-day notice, you must provide oral noticeand followup in writing. You must alsonotify MMS in writing when youconclude your work.