[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 71 (Monday, April 14, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18142-18143]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-9448]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[WO-4710-02-24 1A]


Extension of Approved Information Collection, OMB Number 1004-
0073

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction act of 1995, the 
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces its intention to request 
renewal of existing approval of certain information from any person, 
association, or corporation, or any subsidiary, affiliate, or persons 
controlled by or under common control with such person, association or 
corporation, interested in elasing for or developing Federal coal. This 
information allows BLM's authorized officer to determine if the 
applicant to lease for or develop Federal coal is qualified to hold 
such lease.

DATES: BLM must receive comments on the proposed information collection 
by June 13, 1997 to assure its consideration of them.

ADDRESSES: Mail comments to: Director (630), Bureau of Land Management, 
1849 C Street NW, Room 401LS, Washington, D.C. 20240.
    Send comments via Internet to: WoC[email protected]. Please include 
``Attn: 1004-0073'' and your name and return address in your Internet 
message.
    You may hand-deliver comments to the Bureau of Land Management 
Administrative Record, Room 401, 1620 L Street, NW, Washington, D.C.
    BLM will make comments 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:
Patrick Sheehy, WO-320, 202-452-0350.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with 5 CFR 1320.12(a), BLM is 
required to provide 60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning a 
collection of information contained in BLM (Form--1004-0073), 43 CFR 
Group 3400, Coal Management, 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 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. BLM will receive and analyze any comments sent in response 
to this notice and include them with its request for approval from the 
OMB under 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.
    BLM plans to seek from the Office of Management and Budget 
extension of approval for the information collection requirements in 43 
CFR Parts 3400 through 3485, which cover the leasing and development of 
Federal coal. These regulations implement the statutory authority 
governing leasing activities on Federal land which is found in the 
Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.), the Mineral 
Leasing act for Acquired Lands of 1947 (30 U.S.C. 351-359), the Federal 
Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), the 
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 1201 et 
seq.), the Multiple Mineral Development Act of 1954 (30 U.S.C. 521-
531), the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et 
seq.), the Federal Coal Leasing Amendments Act of 1976 (90 Stat. 1083-
1092), and the Act of October 30, 1978 (92 Stat. 2073-2075).
    BLM uses the information provided by the applicant(s) to allow the 
authorized officer to determine if the applicant to lease for or 
develop Federal coal is qualified to hold such lease. If BLM did not 
collect this information, it would not be able to gather relevant data 
to manage the leasing and development of coal in the public interest.
    Based on BLM's experience in administering the activities described 
above, the public reporting burden for the information collected is 
estimated to average 19 hours per response. The respondents are 
applicants to lease for or develop Federal coal, and vary from 
individuals to small businesses and major corporations. The frequency 
of response is occasionally, usually upon application. The number of 
responses per year is estimated to total 1,299. The estimated total 
annual burden on new respondents is about 19 hours. BLM is specifically 
requesting your comments on its estimate of the amount of time that it 
takes to prepare a response. BLM's estimate is 19 hours per response is 
an average of the following estimated completion time:

[[Page 18143]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   Number of      Hours/                
       Type of application         responses     responses   Total hours
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exploration License.............           10         30             300
Coal for Coal & Resource                                                
 Information....................            5          3              15
Surface Owner Consultation......           50          1              50
Exp. of Leasing Interest........           15          6.6           100
Notice of Sale..................           20          3              60
Leasing on Application..........            2        150             300
Surface Owner Consent...........           10         10             100
PRLA............................           10        150           1,500
Lease Modification..............           10         35             250
License to Mine.................            2          5              10
Lease Transfer (incl.                                                   
 assignments)...................           30         10             300
Sp.Leasing Qual.................           10          4              40
Bonding Requirements............           10         40             400
Lease Form......................            5          1               5
Exploration Plans...............           50         59           2,950
Res. Rec. and Protection Plans..           30        174.8         5,245
Mining Plans....................           10        457.5         4,575
Changes in Plans................          100         29.5         2,950
Mining Operations Maps..........          650         11.30        7,350
Pref, Standards for Exploration.           90          1.75          158
Unexpected Wells................           10          1              10
Exploration Reports.............           50          7.5           375
Royalty of Rental Reductions....           10        150           1,500
Suspensions.....................           10         14.4           144
Corr. Repts. for Noncompliances.           90          3.75          338
LMU Applications/Requirements...           10         32             320
                                 ---------------------------------------
      Totals....................        1,299  ............       24,737
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    BLM will summarize all responses to this notice and include them in 
the request for Office of Management and Budget approval. All comments 
will also become a matter of public record.

    Dated: April 7, 1997.
Carole Smith,
Information Collection Officer.
[FR Doc. 97-9448 Filed 4-11-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-M