[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 185 (Monday, September 23, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49792-49793]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-24293]


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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, Interior.

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 October 23, 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 800, Bond and 
insurance requirements for surface coal mining and reclamation 
operations under regulatory programs; (2) 30 CFR Part 886, State and 
tribal reclamation grants; (3) 30 CFR Part 887, Subsidence insurance 
program grants.
    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 June 24, 1996 (61 FR 
32460) for 30 CFR Part 800, and on June 19, 1996 (61 FR 31147) for 30 
CFR Parts 886 and 887. 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: Bond and insurance requirements for surface coal mining and 
reclamation operations under regulatory programs--30 CFR 800.
    OMB Control Number: 1029-0043.
    Summary: The regulations at 30 CFR Part 800 primarily implement 
Sec. 509 of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 
(SMCRA or the Act), which requires that persons planning to conduct 
surface coal mining operations first post a performance bond to 
guarantee fulfillment of all reclamation obligations under the approved 
permit. The regulations also establish bond release requirements and 
procedures consistent with Sec. 519 of the Act, liability insurance 
requirements pursuant to Sec. 507(f) of the Act, and procedures for 
bond forfeiture should the permittee default on reclamation 
obligations.
    Bureau Form Number: None.
    Frequency of Collection: On Occasion.
    Description of Respondents: Surface coal mining and reclamation 
permittees and State regulatory authorities.
    Total Annual Responses: 19,398.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 174,692 hours.
    Title: State and Tribal Reclamation Grants--30 CFR 886.
    OMB Control Number: 1029-0059.
    Summary: States and Indian tribes participating in the Abandoned 
Mined Land Reclamation Fund (AMLR) Program are requested to cooperate 
with OSM in developing budget information for use by the Director, OSM, 
in the preparation of his request to Congress for appropriation of 
monies from the AMLR as authorized by section 405(f) of the Surface 
Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977.

    Bureau Form Number: OSM-49.
    Frequency of Collection: Annually.
    Description of Respondents: State and Tribal reclamation 
authorities.
    Total Annual Responses: 26.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 130 hours.
    Title: Subsidence Insurance Program Grants--30 CFR 887.
    OMB Control Number: 1029-0107.
    Summary: States having an approved reclamation plan may establish, 
administer and operate self-sustaining state-administered programs to 
insure private property against damages caused by land subsidence 
resulting from underground mining. States interested in requesting 
monies for their insurance programs would apply to the Director of OSM.


[[Page 49793]]


    Bureau Form Number: None.
    Frequency of Collection: Once.
    Description of Respondents: States with approved coal reclamation 
plans.
    Total Annual Responses: 0.
    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: September 17, 1996.
Arthur W. Abbs,
Chief, Division of Regulatory Support.
[FR Doc. 96-24293 Filed 9-20-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-M