[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 69 (Tuesday, April 9, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15830-15831]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-8821]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement


Notice of Proposed Information Collection

AGENCY: Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is 
announcing its intention to request approval for the continued 
collection of information on the initial regulatory program; the 
general requirements for surface coal

[[Page 15831]]
mining and reclamation operations on Federal lands; and fee collection 
and coal production reporting for the abandoned mine reclamation fund.

DATES: Comments on the proposed information collection must be received 
by June 10, 1996, to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to John A. Trelease, Office of 
Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 1951 Constitution Ave, NW, 
Room 120--SIB, Washington, DC 20240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
To request a copy of the information collection proposal, contact John 
A. Trelease, at (202) 208-2783.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
regulations at 5 CFR 1320, which implement provisions of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13), require that interested members 
of the public and affected agencies have an opportunity to comment on 
information collection and recordkeeping activities (see 5 CFR 
1320.8(d)). This notice identifies information collections that OSM 
will be submitting to OMB for extension. These collections are 
contained in (1) 30 CFR 710, Initial regulatory program; (2) 30 CFR 
740, General requirements for surface coal mining and reclamation 
operations on Federal lands; and (3) 30 CFR 870, Abandoned mine 
reclamation fund--fee collection and coal production reporting.
    OSM has revised burden estimates, where appropriate, to reflect 
current reporting levels or adjustments based on reestimates of burden 
or respondents, or programmatic changes. OSM will request a 3-year term 
of approval for each information collection activity.
    Comments are invited on: (1) The need for the collection of 
information for the performance of the functions of the agency; (2) the 
accuracy of the agency's burden estimates; (3) ways to enhance the 
quality, utility and clarity of the information collection; and (4) 
ways to minimize the information collection burden on respondents, such 
as use of automated means of collecting the information. A summary of 
the public comments received will accompany OSM's submission of the 
information collection request to OMB.
    The following information is provided for each information 
collection: (1) Title of the information collection; (2) OMB control 
number; (3) summary of the information collection activity; and (4) 
frequency of collection, description of the respondents, estimated 
total annual responses, and the total annual reporting and 
recordkeeping burden for the collection of information.
    Title: Initial regulatory program.
    OMB Control Number: 1029-0095.
    Summary: Information collected in Part 710 is used to ensure States 
are conducting minesite inspections and enforcement under the initial 
regulatory program established by the Surface Mining Control and 
Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA). Information collected is also used to 
grant small operators exemptions from some of the initial regulatory 
program requirements.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Description of Respondents: Coal mine operators.
    Total Annual Responses: 1.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 1.
    Title: General requirements for surface coal mining and reclamation 
operations on Federal lands.
    OMB Control Number: 1029-0027.
    Summary: Section 522 of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation 
Act of 1977 (Act) requires that a Federal lands program be established 
to govern surface coal mining and reclamation operations on Federal 
lands. The information requested is needed to assist the regulatory 
authority in determining the eligibility of the applicant and 
compliance with the requirements of the Act.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Description of Respondents: Coal mine operators on Federal lands.
    Total Annual Responses: 30.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 643
    Title : Abandoned mine reclamation fund--fee collection and coal 
production reporting.
    OMB Control Number: 1029-0090.
    Summary: Section 402 of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation 
Act of 1977 requires fees to be paid to the Abandoned Mine Reclamation 
Fund by coal operators on the basis of coal tonnage produced. This 
information collection requirement is needed to support verification of 
the moisture deduction allowance. The information will be used by the 
regulatory authority during audits to verify that the amount of excess 
moisture taken by the operator is appropriate.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion (recordkeeping)
    Description of Respondents: Coal mine operators.
    Total Annual Responses: 1,050.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,100.

    Dated; April 4, 1996.
Andrew F. DeVito,
Acting Chief, Office of Technology Development and Transfer.
[FR Doc. 96-8821 Filed 4-8-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-M