[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 39 (Tuesday, February 27, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7272-7273]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-4415]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[WO-320-1330-01-24 1A]


OMB Approval Number 1004-0103; Notice of Proposed Information 
Collection

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is announcing its intention to request 
approval for the collection of information from applicants who apply 
for purchase of mineral materials from public lands under the 43 CFR 
3600 regulations. Respondents supply information as to their identity 
and address and the location and amount of material desired for 
purchase. The information enables the authorized officer to identify 
and communicate with the applicant and to evaluate the effect of the 
proposal on the environment and land uses and to determine whether or 
not a mineral material contract may be granted.

DATES: Comments on the proposed information collection must be received 
by April 29, 1996 to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to: Regulatory Management Team (420), 
Bureau of Land Management, 1849 C Street NW, Room 401LS, Washington, 
D.C. 20240.
    Comments may be sent via Internet to: WO[email protected]. Please 
include ``ATTN: Patrick Boyd'' and your name and return address in your 
Internet message. Comments may be hand-delivered to the Bureau of Land 
Management Administrative Record, 

[[Page 7273]]
Room 401, 1620 L Street, NW, Washington, DC. Comments will be available 
for public review at the L Street address during regular business hours 
(7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.), Monday through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Durga N. Rimal, (202) 452-0350.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with 5 CFR 1320.8(d), the BLM 
is required to provide 60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning 
a proposed collection of information to solicit comments on (a) whether 
the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper 
performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the 
information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the 
agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on those who are to respond, including 
through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or 
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    The Materials Act of 1947, as amended (30 U.S.C. 601, 602), 
provides for the disposal of mineral materials such as sand, gravel, 
and petrified wood from the public lands by sale or free use. Such 
disposals are made at the discretion of the Secretary of the Interior, 
consistent with the 43 CFR 3600 regulations. These regulations were 
last revised in 1983. The methods and information required from the 
public are still the same.
    The information that the regulations require an applicant/permittee 
to submit will be used by the BLM to determine if the sale of materials 
is in the public interest, to mitigate environmental impacts of mineral 
materials development, to get fair market value for the materials sold, 
and to prevent trespass removal of the materials.
    An applicant requesting purchase of mineral materials must submit a 
written request to the authorized officer. Information requirements are 
not specified in the regulations but the authorized officer is required 
to make all sales agreements on contract forms approved by the Director 
of the BLM. Two forms are used. Form 3600-4 is used when the total sale 
value is less than $2,000 and full payment is due upon execution of the 
contract. Form 3600-5 is used for sales of $2,000 or greater and 
provides for installment payments. Both forms require that the 
applicants provide their name, address, and authorized signature, and 
location and amount of material to be purchased. In addition to being 
necessary for a binding contractual agreement, the information is used 
by the authorized officer to identify and communicate with the 
applicant. Without binding contractual agreements, the Government would 
not be able to require appropriate reclamation of disturbed sites, 
protect natural resources, and ensure regular payment for mineral 
materials sold.
    The public reporting burden for this entire collection, including 
the form, is estimated to average one-half hour per response. The 
respondents are sand, gravel, stone and other mineral materials 
operators. The number of responses per respondent is one to two per 
year.
    The majority of respondents consist of permittees with small sales 
contracts, for sales amounting to less than $2,000. Depending on the 
site and amount of material the authorized officer may require the 
applicant to provide an outline of a mining and reclamation plan at the 
time of application, prior to processing of the application (43 CFR 
3602.1). However, a majority of sales occur from community pits for 
which the BLM has already developed a mining and reclamation plan, and 
there is no burden to the applicant. Estimated average preparation time 
for completing Form 3600-4 and Form 3600-5 and preparing supporting 
documents, is about 30 minutes. Actual time varies from 15 minutes 
(most common) to several days for larger projects. The number of new 
responses is estimated to be 2,500 per year. The estimated total annual 
burden on new respondents is collectively 1,250 hours. For sales 
contracts whose terms exceed one year, the respondents are required to 
submit annual production reports during the duration of the contract 
(43 CFR 3610.1-3). The average reporting burden for such respondents is 
about 30 minutes. The estimated number of respondents with contracts 
requiring annual production reports is 470 with annual burden 
collectively estimated to be 235 hours. The regulations allow an 
applicant to perform sampling and testing of deposits, by obtaining a 
letter of use authorization from the authorized officer, prior to the 
issuance of a sales contract or permit (CFR 3602.2). A majority of 
mineral materials sales are made from known deposits where the 
applicants perform sampling and testing of deposits, by obtaining a 
letter of use authorization from the authorized officer, prior to the 
issuance of a sales contract or permit (CFF 3602.2). A majority of 
mineral materials sales are made from known deposits where the 
applicants do not ask for permits for sampling and testing. In an 
average year only about 100 such authorizations are issued and the 
permittees are required to submit their findings to the authorized 
officer. The collective annual burden on respondents is estimated to be 
75 hours. The total burden for all respondents would collectively total 
1,560 hours.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for Office of Management and Budget approval. All comments will 
also become a matter of public record.

    Dated: February 22, 1996.
Annetta Cheek,
Chief, Regulatory Management.
[FR Doc. 96-4415 Filed 2-26-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-P