[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 61 (Thursday, March 28, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13866-13867]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-7588]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[WO-350-1430-01-24 1A]


Extension of Currently Approved Information Collection; OMB 
Approval Number 1004-0004

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 from those 
persons who apply for a desert-land entry to reclaim, irrigate, and 
cultivate arid and semiarid public lands in the Western United States. 
The BLM uses the information to determine if the applicant is eligible 
to make a desert-land entry under the Desert Land Act of 1877.

DATES: Comments on the proposed information collection must be received 
by May 28, 1996, to be considered.

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: 1004-0004'' 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 NW., 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: Alzata L. Ransom, Realty Use Group, at 
(202) 452-7772.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with 5 CFR 1320.12(a), BLM is 
required to provide 60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning a 
collection of information contained in published current rules to 
solicit comments on (a) whether the collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information has practical utility; (b) the 
accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 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 
technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    The Desert Land Act of March 3, 1877 (19 Stat. 377; 43 U.S.C. 321-
323), as amended by the Act of March 3, 1891 (26 Stat. 1096; 43 U.S.C. 
231, 323, 325, 327-329), was passed by the Congress to encourage and 
promote the economic development of the arid and semiarid public lands. 
Under the Act, U.S. citizens may apply for a desert-land entry to 
reclaim, irrigate, and cultivate arid and semiarid public lands in the 
Western United States. The regulations in 43 CFR 2520 provide 
guidelines and procedures to obtain public lands under the Act. These 
regulations were adopted on June 13, 1970 (35 FR 9581).
    You qualify to file a desert-land entry if you are: (a) a Citizen 
of the United States; (b) 21 years old; and (c) a resident of the State 
of Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, North 
Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, or Wyoming (no residency is 
required in the State of Nevada).
    You may apply for one or more tracts of public lands totaling no 
more than 320 acres. The lands are located in the States of Arizona, 
California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, 
Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. The lands must be 
surveyed, unreserved, unappropriated, non-mineral, non-timber, and 
incapable of producing an agricultural crop without irrigation. The 
lands must be suitable for agricultural purposes and more valuable for 
that purpose than any other. The tracts of land must be sufficiently 
close to each other to be managed satisfactorily as an economic unit.
    You must find lands that you believe can be economically developed 
and determine the legal land description. You must contact the BLM 
State Office where the lands are located and verify the lands are 
available for desert-land application. If the lands are available for 
desert-land application, you may obtain a desert land entry application 
(Form 2520-1) from the BLM State Office.
    The information collected on Form 2520-1 is required by the 
regulations at 43 CFR Part 2520 to process requests for public lands 
under the provisions of the Desert Land Act. The following information 
is collected on the form: (a) Description of the lands you are applying 
for; (b) evidence of your legal right to the use of water for 
irrigation; (c) a permit from the State Department of Water 
Administration; (d) detailed description of soil characteristics, 
irrigation requirements, and economic

[[Page 13867]]
feasibility; and (e) full disclosure of your plans, arrangements 
(financial and otherwise), pertaining to the development and operation 
of your desert-land entry.
    BLM uses the information you provide to (a) determine your 
eligibility to make a desert-land entry, (b) classify the lands 
included in the application, and (c) ensure that the requirements of 
the Desert Land Act and implementing regulations are met. If BLM did 
not collect this information, beneficial development of desert lands 
would be precluded. This collection of information is short, simple, 
and limited to the information necessary for efficient operation of the 
program. The information, which is required by law, is a voluntary, 
non-recurring submission necessary to receive a benefit. There is no 
other source for the information, and failure by the applicant to 
furnish the required information will result in the applicant not being 
allowed to reclaim, irrigate and cultivate desert lands.
    Based on its experience administering the program, BLM estimates 
that approximately 20 applications are received annually and that it 
takes an average of 90 minutes for a applicant to supply the requested 
information. The frequency of response is once per entry. Based on the 
estimated number of applications BLM receives annually and the average 
time it takes an applicant to supply the requested information, the 
total annual burden is collectively 30 hours.
    Any interested member of the public may request and obtain, without 
charge, a copy of the desert land entry application (Form 2520-1) by 
contacting the person identified under For Further Information Contact.
    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: March 25, 1996.
Annetta L. Cheek,
Chief, Regulatory Management Team.
[FR Doc. 96-7588 Filed 3-27-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-P