[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 108 (Tuesday, June 4, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28232-28233]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-13892]



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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 that the information collection requests for the titles 
described below have been forwarded to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The information collection 
requests describe the nature of the

[[Page 28233]]

information collection and the expected burden and cost.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before July 5, 1996, to be 
assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
To request a copy of the information collection request, explanatory 
information and related forms, 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 pubic 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 has 
submitted to OMB for extension. These collections are contained in (1) 
30 CFR 705, Restriction on financial interests of State employees; (2) 
30 CFR 750, Indian lands program; (3) 30 CFR 774, Revision; renewal; 
and transfer, assignment, or sale of permit rights; (4) 30 CFR 778, 
Permit applications--minimum requirements for legal, financial, 
compliance, and related information; and (5) 30 CFR 877, Rights of 
entry for abandoned mine land reclamation projects.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a 
currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control numbers for OSM's 
regulations are listed in 30 CFR Parts 700 through 955. As required 
under 5 CFR 1320.8(d), a Federal Register notice soliciting comments on 
these collections of information, was published on March 15, 1996 (61 
FR 10786). No comments were received.
    Where appropriate, OSM has revised burden estimates to reflect 
current reporting levels, adjustments based on reestimates of the 
burden or number of respondents, and programmatic changes. OSM will 
request a 3-year term of approval for each information collection 
activity.
    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 annul reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for the collection of information.
    Title: Restrictions on financial interests of State employees.
    OMB Control Number: 1029-0067.
    Summary: Respondents supply information on employment and financial 
interests. The purpose of the collection is to ensure compliance with 
section 517(g) of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 
1977 (SMCRA), which places an absolute prohibition on having a direct 
or indirect financial interest in underground or surface coal mining 
operations.
    Bureau Form Number: OSM-23.
    Frequency of Collection: Entrance on duty and annually.
    Description of Respondents: Any state regulatory authority employee 
or member of advisory boards or commissions established in accordance 
with state law or regulation to represent multiple interests who 
performs any function or duty under the Act.
    Total Annual Responses: 2,316.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 784.

    Title: Indian lands program.
    OMB Control Number: 1029-0091.
    Summary: Operators who conduct or propose to conduct surface coal 
mining and reclamation operations on Indian lands must comply with the 
requirements of 30 CFR 750 pursuant to section 710 of SMCRA.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Description of Respondents: Applicants for coal mining permits.
    Total Annual Responses: 34.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,688.

    Title: Revision; renewal; and transfer, assignment, or sale of 
permit rights.
    OMB Control Number: 1029-0088.
    Summary: These regulations and sections 506(d), 511(a)(1) and 
511(b) of SMCRA provide that persons seeking permit revisions, permit 
renewals, or the transfer, sale, or assignment of permit rights for 
surface coal mining operations must submit relevant information to the 
regulatory authority to allow the regulatory authority to determine 
whether the applicant and application meet the requirements for 
approval.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Description of Respondents: Coal mine operators and state 
regulatory authorities.
    Total Annual Responses: 6,545.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 59,560.

    Title: Permit applications--minimum requirements for legal, 
financial, compliance, and related information.
    OMB Control Number: 1029-0034.
    Summary: The regulatory and section 507(b) of SMCRA provide that 
persons seeking a permit to conduct surface coal mining operations must 
submit to the regulatory authority relevant information regarding 
ownership and control of the property to be affected, their compliance 
status and history. The regulatory authority uses this information to 
ensure that the applicant meets all legal, financial and compliance 
requirements prior to issuance of a permit.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Description of Respondents: Applicants for permits for surface coal 
mining operation permits and state regulatory authorities.
    Total Annual Resposes: 475.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 22,665.

    Title: Rights of Entry.
    OMB Control Number: 1029-0055.
    Summary: This regulation establishes procedures for non-consensual 
entry upon private lands for the purpose of abandoned mined land 
reclamation activities or exploratory studies when the landowner 
refuses consent or is not available.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Description of Respodents: State abandoned mine land reclamation 
agencies.
    Total Annual Responses: 38.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 38.

    Send comments on the need for the collection of information for the 
performance of the functions of the agency; the accuracy of the 
agency's burden estimates; ways to enhance the quality, utility and 
clarity of the information collection; and ways to minimize the 
information collection burden on respondents, such as use of automated 
means of collection of the information, to the following addresses. 
Please refer to the appropriate OMB control number in all 
correspondence.

ADDRESSES: John A. Trelease, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and 
Enforcement, 1951 Constitution Ave, NW, Room 120--SIB, Washington, DC 
20240.
    Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs; Office of Management 
and Budget, Attention: Department of Interior Desk Officer, 725 17th 
Street, NW, Washington, DC 20503.

    Dated: May 28, 1996.
Gene E. Krueger,
Acting Chief, Office of Technology Development and Transfer.
[FR Doc. 96-13892 Filed 6-3-96; 8:45 am]
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