[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 19 (Thursday, January 29, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 4472]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-2243]



[[Page 4472]]

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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 its intention to request approval for the collection of 
information for the permanent program performance standards--
underground mining activities at 30 CFR Part 817.

DATES: Comments on the proposed information collection must be received 
by March 30, 1998, to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to John A. Trelease, Office of 
Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 1951 Constitution Ave., NW, 
Room 210-SIB, Washington, DC 20240. Comments may also be submitted 
electronically to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
To request a copy of the information collection request, explanatory 
information and related form, contact John A. Trelease, at (202) 208-
2783.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
regulations at 5 CFR 1320, which implementing 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 will be submitting to OMB for extension. These 
collections are contained in 30 CFR 817.
    OSM has revised burden estimates, where appropriate, to reflect 
current reporting levels or adjustments based on reestimates of burden 
or respondents. OSM will request at 3-year term of approval for this 
information collection activity.
    Comments are invited on: (1) The need for the collection of 
information for the performance of the functions of the agency; (2) the 
accuracy of the agency's burden estimates; (3) ways to enhance the 
quality, utility and clarity of the information collection; and (4) 
ways to minimize the information collection burden on respondents, such 
as use of automated means of collection of the information. A summary 
of the public comments will accompany OSM's submission of the 
information collection request to OMB.
    This notice provides the public with 60 days in which to comment on 
the following information collection activity:
    Title: Permanent Program Performance Standards--Underground Mining 
Activities, 30 CFR Part 817.
    OMB Control Number: 1029-0048.
    Summary: Sections 515 and 516 of the Surface Mining Control and 
Reclamation Act of 1977 provide that permittees conducting surface coal 
mining operations with underground mining activities shall meet all 
applicable performance standards of the Act. The information collected 
is used by the regulatory authority in monitoring and inspecting 
surface coal mining activities to ensure that they are conducted in 
compliance with the requirements of the Act.
    Bureau Form Number: None.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion, quarterly and annually.
    Description of Respondents: Underground coal mining operators.
    Total Annual Responses: 52,690.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 183,284.

    Dated: January 26, 1998.
Richard G. Bryson,
Chief, Division of Regulatory Support.
[FR Doc. 98-2243 Filed 1-28-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-M