[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 61 (Thursday, March 28, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13867-13868]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-7589]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[WO-350-1430-00]


Extension of Currently Approved Information Collection; OMB 
Approval Number 1004-0010

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 seeking to acquire title to public land under the color-of-
title authority. The BLM collects information to assure that statutory 
requirements for conveyance of title under the Color-of-Title Act have 
been met.

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 401 LS, Washington, 
DC 20240.
    Comments may be sent via Internet to: !WO[email protected]. Please 
include ``Attn: 1004-0011'' and your name and return address in your 
Internet address.
    Comments may be hand delivered to the Bureau of Land Management 
Administrative Record, Room 401, L Street NW., Washington, DC 20036.
    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: Vanessa R. Engle, Realty Use Group, 
(202) 452-7776.

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 
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology. BLM will receive and analyze any comments sent in response 
to this notice and include them with its request for approval from the 
Office of Management and Budget under 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.
    The Color-of-Title Act of December 22, 1928, as amended (43 U.S.C. 
1068, 1068a, 1068b), provides for the issuance of a land patent (deed) 
to eligible individuals, groups, or corporations who believe they have 
a valid claim to public lands under color-of-title. The information 
collected on Conveyances Affecting Color or Claim of Title Form 2540-2, 
is required by Departmental regulations 43 CFR 2541.2 (35 FR 9592, June 
13, 1970), and is used by the agency to identify information concerning 
conveyances of title and related matters.
    Any individual seeking to acquire a title to public land under the 
color-of-title authority must make application and provide information 
essential to compliance with law, regulations, and procedures. As 
required by the Color-of-Title Act and 43 CFR 2541.2 (b) and (c), 
information provided on Form 2540-2 is used to certify the applicant's 
claim for land property title rights from the Federal government. 
Without this conveyance information, the BLM cannot finalize the claim.
    Form 2540-2 may be submitted in person or by mail to the proper BLM 
office. The following is an explanation of specific items of 
information requested on Conveyances Affecting Color of Claim of Title 
2540-2, pursuant to 43 CFR 2541.2 (b) and (c): (1) the name of 
applicant is needed to identify the person/entity filing a claim; (2) 
the legal description of the claimed land must be listed as recorded in 
public records of the county concerned; (3) grantor-grantee recorded 
ownership for each conveyance of the subject property as required by 
law; and (4) certification from the public official administering the 
county records or a certified abstracter must be provided to determine 
the validity of the application. Response is mandatory if the color-of-
title claimant wishes to obtain the benefits of the statute and gain 
clear title to the claimed property. Failure to provide the necessary 
information results in the rejection of the color-of-title application.
    If the information on Conveyances Affecting Color or Claim of Title 
Form 2540-2 was not collected, the BLM would be unable to carry out the 
mandate of the Color-of-Title Act and the responsibilities for 
implementing 43 CFR 2540 and 2541. Form 2450-2 requires only the 
minimal information necessary to determine claim validity. Based on its 
experience processing Color-of-Title applications, the BLM estimates 
the public reporting burden for completing Conveyances Affecting Color 
or Claim of Title Form 2540-2 is one hour. It is estimated that 
approximately 37 Color-of-Title applications are filed annually for a 
total annual burden of 37 hours.

[[Page 13868]]

    Any interested member of the public may request and obtain, without 
charge, a copy of Conveyances Affecting Color or Claim of Title Form 
2540-2 by contacting any BLM Office or 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. 96-7589 Filed 3-27-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-P