[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 168 (Friday, August 29, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45867-45868]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-23052]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[HE-952-9911-00]


Information Collection Associated With Contracts for Sale of In-
Kind Crude Helium

agency: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

action: Notice and request for comments.

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summary: In accordance with the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces its 
intention to request approval for the collection of information from 
those persons who have entered into enforceable contracts to purchase 
an equivalent amount of crude helium from the Secretary. The BLM uses 
the information to balance crude helium sales with sales to Federal 
agencies.

dates: Comments in the proposed collection must be received by October 
28, 1997 to be considered.

addresses: Comments may be mailed or hand delivered to: Bureau of Land 
Management, Helium Operations, 801 S. Fillmore, Suite 500, Amarillo, TX 
79101-3545. Comments will be available for public review at the 
Fillmore address during regular business hours (7:30 a.m. to 4:00 
p.m.), Monday through Friday. You may also send comments electronically 
by way of the Internet to C[email protected]. Please submit comments as 
an ASCII file to avoid the use of special characters and any form of 
encryption.

for further information contact: Connie H. Neely, Helium Sales Officer, 
(806) 324-2635.

supplementary information: In accordance with 5 CFR 1320.12(a), BLM is 
required to provide a 60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning 
a collection of information contained in proposed rules or other 
documents to solicit comments on: (a) Whether the collection of 
information is necessary for proper performance of the functions of the 
agency, including whether the information has practical utility; (b) 
the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of collecting the 
information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the 
information on those who are to respond, including through the use of 
appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical or technological 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
    The Helium Privatization Act of 1996 requires the Department of 
Defense, the Atomic Energy Commission, the National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration and other Federal agencies to purchase their major 
requirements for helium from people who have entered into enforceable 
contracts to purchase an equivalent amount of crude helium from the 
Secretary. The Act requires BLM to change its current helium 
regulations at 30 CFR 601 and 602. In advance of the regulatory 
changes, however, BLM must prepare a new standard contract to meet the 
``enforceable contract'' provision of the Act. This information 
collection meets the requirements of that provision.
    The proposed contract will contain the following information and 
recordkeeping requirements: Information pertaining to definitions, 
effective date and term of contract, delivery, pricing, charges, 
billing and payment of crude helium, and reports of sales to Federal 
agencies.
    BLM will use the information to account for helium sold to Federal 
agencies and crude helium purchased from BLM. Upon request, BLM will 
furnish information as to which companies are in-kind crude helium 
customers and which Federal agencies might have a major helium 
requirement. If BLM did not collect this information, there could be no 
accurate accounting of BLM helium to Federal agencies from Federal 
helium suppliers. The information, which is required by law, is 
mandatory for reporting purposes.

[[Page 45868]]

There is no other source of the information, and failure to provide the 
information is grounds for terminating the contract.
    Based on past experience in administering previous helium 
distribution contracts, BLM estimates that there will be approximately 
10 respondents annually and that it will take each respondent an 
average of approximately 30 minutes to supply the requested 
information. This includes a range of from 15 minutes to 2 hours. The 
frequency of response is quarterly. The estimated total annual burden 
is 20 hours. These numbers may change as BLM gains experience in 
administering Act and the new contract.
    Any interested member of the public may obtain a copy of the 
proposed contract, without charge, by contacting the person identified 
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
    BLM will summarize and include all responses to this notice in the 
request for approval to the Office of Management and Budget. All 
comments will also become part of the public record.

    Dated: August 26, 1997.
Carole Smith,
Bureau of Land Management, Information Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 97-23052 Filed 8-28-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-M