[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 128 (Tuesday, July 2, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34446-34447]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-16810]


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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 information collection and the 
expected burden and cost.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before August 1, 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: 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 has submitted to OMB for extension. 
These collections are contained in (1) 30 CFR Part 710, Initial 
regulatory program; (2) 30 CFR Part 740, General requirements for 
surface coal mining and reclamation operations on Federal lands; (3) 30 
CFR Part 870, Abandoned mine reclamation fund--fee collection and coal 
production reporting; and (4) 30 CFR Part 872, Abandoned mine 
reclamation funds.
    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), Federal Register notices soliciting comments on 
these collections of information were published on April 9, 1996 (61 FR 
15830) for 30 CFR Parts 710, 740 and 870, and on April 11, 1996 (61 FR 
16113) for 30 CFR Part 872. No comments were received on any of the 
collections of information.
    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 annual reporting and 
recordkeeping burden for the collection of information.
    Title: 30 CFR Part 710--Initial regulatory program.
    OMB Control Number: 1029-0095.
    Summary: Information collected is used to determine whether surface 
coal mining operations are subject to 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.
    Bureau Form Number: None.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Description of Respondents: Coal mine operators.
    Total Annual Responses: 1.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 1.

    Title: 30 CFR Part 740--General requirements for surface coal 
mining and reclamation operations on Federal lands.
    OMB Control Number: 1029-0027.
    Summary: Section 523 of SMCRA 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 determine the eligibility of the applicant and 
compliance with the requirements of SMCRA.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Description of Respondents: Coal mine operators on Federal lands.
    Total Annual Responses: 30.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 643.

    Title: 30 CFR Part 870--Abandoned mine reclamation fund--fee 
collection and coal production reporting.
    OMB Control Number: 1029-0090.
    Summary: Section 402 of SMCRA requires fees to be paid to the 
Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund by coal operators on the basis of coal 
tonnage produced. This information collection request is needed to 
support verification of the moisture deduction allowance. The 
information will be OSM 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.

    Title: 30 CFR Part 872--Abandoned mine land reclamation funds.
    OMB Control Number: 1029-0054.
    Summary: Sections 401 and 402 of SMCRA provide for the creation of 
the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund and require the Secretary to make a 
determination regarding the use of

[[Page 34447]]

allocated State/Indian tribe funds which have been granted but not 
expended within a three-year period. Granted funds that have not been 
expended within three years may be withdrawn if the Director finds in 
writing that the amounts involved are not necessary to carry out 
approved reclamation activities. This information collection and 
subsequent determinations serve as a safeguard to protect States and 
Indian tribes from automatic or indiscriminate withdrawal of funds.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Description of Respondents: State and Tribal abandoned mine land 
reclamation agencies.
    Total Annual Responses: 1.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 1.
    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 collections; 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: June 26, 1996.
Ruth E. Stokes,
Acting Chief, Office of Technology Development and Transfer.
[FR Doc. 96-16810 Filed 7-1-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-M