[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 5, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8638-8640]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-5105]



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[[Page 8639]]


DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[WO-310-1310-01-24 1A]


Extension of Currently Approved Information Collection; OMB 
Approval Number 1004-0145

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 
extension of approval for the collection of information which will be 
used to determine the eligibility of an applicant to hold, explore for, 
and produce oil and gas on Federal lands. The information supplied 
allows the Bureau of Land Management to determine whether an applicant 
is qualified to conduct geophysical operations and to hold a lease to 
obtain a benefit under the terms of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920.

DATES: Comments on the proposed information collection must be received 
by May 6, 1996 to be considered.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to: Regulatory Management Team (420), 
Bureau of Land Management, 1849 C Street NW, Room 401 LS Bldg., 
Washington, D.C. 20240.
    Comments may be sent via Internet to: WO[email protected]. Please 
include ``Attn: 1004-0145'' and your name and address in your Internet 
message.
    Comments may be hand delivered to the Bureau of Land Management 
Administrative record, Room 401 L Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.
    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: Gloria J. Austin, (202) 452-0340.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with 5 CFR 1320.8(d), BLM is 
required to provide a 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, 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 Mineral Leasing Act (MLA) of 1920 (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.) gives 
the Secretary of the Interior responsibility for oil and gas leasing on 
approximately 570 million acres of public lands and national forests, 
and private lands where mineral rights have been reserved by the 
Federal Government. The Act of May 21, 1930 (30 U.S.C. 301-306), 
authorizes the leasing of oil and gas deposits under railroads and 
other rights-of-way. The Act of August 7, 1947 (Mineral Leasing Act of 
Acquired Lands), authorizes the Secretary to lease lands acquired by 
the United States (30 U.S.C. 341-359).
    The regulations at 43 CFR Group 3100 outline procedures for members 
of the public to submit applications, offers, statements, petitions, 
and various forms. BLM needs the information requested in the 
applications, statements and petitions to determine whether an 
applicant is qualified to hold a lease to obtain a benefit under the 
terms of the MLA of 1920 and its subsequent amendments and implementing 
regulations.
    BLM uses the information to determine the eligibility of an 
applicant to lease, explore for, and produce oil and gas on Federal 
lands. Applicants may submit information in person or by mail to the 
proper BLM office or the Department of the Interior, Minerals 
Management Service. Applicants are required to certify that they are 
citizens of the United States, and do not own or control in excess of 
246,080 acres each in public domain and acquired lands of Federal oil 
and gas leases in a particular State as required by law under 30 U.S.C. 
184(d)(1), and in accordance with the regulations at 43 CFR 3101.2 and 
3102. Legal descriptions of lands are required to determine where the 
involved Federal lands are located. The names and addresses are needed 
to identify the applicant and allow the authorized officer to ensure 
that the applicant meets the requirements of the law. An attorney-in-
fact or agent signature is needed only if an attorney or agent is 
filing the information required on behalf of an applicant or lessee. 
The information required on the statements, petitions, offers and 
applications is needed for orderly processing of oil and gas leases and 
is needed to comply with the terms and conditions of the statutes. BLM 
also needs the information to determine whether an entity is qualified 
to hold a lease to obtain a benefit. Attestations to compliance with 
the regulations concerning parties of interest and qualifications is 
necessary, subject to criminal sanctions in accordance with 18 U.S.C., 
Section 1001. If the information contained on the applications 
statements, petitions and offers is not collected, the leasing of oil 
and gas could not occur to allow a benefit and millions of dollars in 
revenue to the Federal Government would be lost.
    All information collections in the regulations at 43 CFR Subparts 
3000-3120 that do not require a form are covered by this notice. BLM 
intends to submit these information collections collectively for 
approval by the Office of Management and Budget, as they were 
originally submitted and approved.

          Breakdown of Information Collections and Total Hours          
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      Reporting         
         Information  collection            No. of    hours per   Total 
                                          responses  respondent   hours 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
3100.3-1................................        30         1          30
3100.3-3................................        50         1          50
3101.2-4(a).............................        10         1          10
3101.2-6................................        10         1.5        15
3101.3-1................................        50         1          50
3103.4-1................................        20         2          40
3105.2..................................       150         2         300
3105.3..................................        50         2         100
3105.4..................................        20         1          20
3105.5..................................        50         1          50
3106.8-1................................        40         1          40
3106.8-2................................        60         1          60
3106.8-3................................       100         2         200
3107.8..................................        30         1          30
3108.1..................................       150          .5        75
3108.2..................................       500          .5       250
3109.1..................................        20         1          20
3152.1..................................        20         1          20
3152.6..................................        20         1          20
3152.7..................................        20         1          20
                                         -------------------------------
      Total.............................     1,400   ..........    1,400
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    Based on its experience managing oil and gas leasing activities, 
BLM estimates that it will take an average of 1 hour to complete the 
applications, petitions, offers and statements required. The applicants 
have access to records, plats and maps necessary for providing legal 
land descriptions. The type of information necessary is outlined in the 
regulations and is already maintained by the respondents for their own 
record-keeping purposes and needs only to be compiled in a reasonable 
format. The estimate also includes the time required for assembling the 
information, as well as the time of clerical personnel if needed.
    BLM estimates that approximately 1,400 applications, offers, 
petitions or statements will be filed annually for a total of 1,400 
reporting hours. 

[[Page 8640]]
Respondents vary from individuals to small businesses and major 
corporations.
    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 part of the public record.

    Dated February 29, 1996.
Annetta L. Cheek,
Chief, Regulatory Management Team.
[FR Doc. 96-5105 Filed 3-4-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-P