[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 75 (Wednesday, April 17, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16805-16806]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-9392]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[WO-350-1430-00]


Extension of Currently Approved Information Collection; OMB 
Approval Number 1004-0029

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 June 17, 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, 
D.C. 20240.
    Comments may be sent via Internet to: !WO[email protected]. Please 
include ``Attn: 1004-0029'' 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, D.C. 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), the 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 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

[[Page 16806]]

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 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 Color-of-Title Application Form 2540-1, is required by 
Departmental regulations at 43 CFR 2541.2 (35 FR 9592, June 13, 1970), 
and is used by the agency to identify information concerning 
improvements, cultivation, title ownership 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 2540-1 is used to certify the applicant's 
claim for land property title rights from the Federal government. 
Without this information, BLM cannot finalize the claim.
    Form 2540-1 may be submitted in person or by mail to the proper BLM 
office. The following specific items of information are requested on 
Color of Title Application Form 2540-1, pursuant to 43 CFR 2541.2(b) 
and (c): (1) the name of applicant; (2) applicant's address; (3) 
applicant's phone number; (4) the legal description of the lands 
claimed; (5) type of claim (class 1 or class 2); (6) record title 
holder declaration and explanation; (7) description and copy of written 
instrument asserting ownership (deed, will, court order, etc.); (8) 
date applicant learned about title problem; (9) source of information 
from which applicant learned of title problem; (10) title search 
information; (11) purchase price of property, value of improvements, 
revenue from forest products; (12) cultivation information; (13) 
property improvement information; (14) mineral estate information; and 
(15) filing fee ($10), applicant's signature and date of application. 
Response is mandatory if the color-of-title claimant wishes to obtain 
the benefits of the statute and gain clear title to his claimed 
property. Failure to provide the necessary information results in the 
rejection of the color-of-title application.
    If BLM did not collect the information on Color of Title 
Application Form 2540-1, the agency 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 2450-1 requires only the 
minimal information necessary to determine claim validity.
    Based on its experience processing Color-of-Title applications, BLM 
estimates the public reporting burden for completing Color of Title 
Application Form 2540-1 is 15 minutes. BLM estimates that approximately 
37 Color-of-Title applications are filed annually for a total annual 
burden of 9 hours.
    Any interested member of the public may request and obtain, without 
charge, a copy of Color of Title Application Form 2540-1 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: April 9, 1996.
Annetta L. Cheek,
Chief, Regulatory Management Team.
[FR Doc. 96-9392 Filed 4-16-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-P