[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 63 (Thursday, April 2, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 16273]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-8646]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submitted for Office of 
Management and Budget Review; Comment Request

Title: Coal Washing and Transportation Allowance, OMB Control Number 
1010-0074.

Comments: This collection of information has been submitted to the 
Office of Management and Budget for approval. In compliance with the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Section 3506(c)(2)(A), we are 
notifying you, members of the public and affected agencies, of this 
collection of information, and are inviting your comments. Is this 
information collection necessary for us to properly do our job? Have we 
accurately estimated the public's burden for responding to this 
collection? Can we enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information we collect? Can we lessen the burden of this information 
collection on the respondents by using automated collection techniques 
or other forms of information technology?
    Comments should be made directly to the Attention: Desk Officer for 
the Interior Department, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20503; telephone (202) 
395-7340. Copies of these comments should also be sent to us. The U.S. 
Postal Service address is Minerals Management Service, Royalty 
Management Program, Rules and Publications Staff, P.O. Box 25165, MS 
3021, Denver, Colorado, 80225-0165; the courier address is Building 85, 
Room A-613, Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225; and the 
e:Mail address is RMP.[email protected]. OMB has up to 60 days to 
approve or disapprove the information collection but may respond after 
30 days; therefore, public comments should be submitted to OMB within 
30 days in order to assure their maximum consideration.
    Copies of the proposed information collection and related 
explanatory material may be obtained by contacting Dennis C. Jones, 
Rules and Publications Staff, telephone (303) 231-3046, FAX (303) 231-
3385, e-Mail Dennis__C__J[email protected].

DATES: Written comments should be received on or before May 4, 1998.

SUMMARY: The Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior 
(Secretary) is responsible for the collection of royalties from lessees 
who produce minerals from leased Indian lands. The Secretary is 
required by various laws to manage the production of mineral resources 
on Indian lands, to collect the royalties due, and to distribute the 
funds in accordance with those laws. The product valuation process is 
essential to assure that the public and/or the Indians receive payment 
on the full value of the minerals being removed.
    In some circumstances, lessees are authorized to deduct certain 
costs in the calculation of royalties due. An allowance may be granted 
from royalties to compensate lessees for the reasonable actual cost of 
washing the royalty portion of coal. Also, when the sales point is not 
in the immediate vicinity of a lease or mine area, an allowance may be 
granted to compensate lessees for the reasonable actual cost of 
transporting the royalty portion of coal to a sales point not on the 
lease or mine area.
    Before any deductions are taken, the lessee with an arm's-length 
contract must submit page one of the Coal Washing Allowance Report, 
Form MMS-4292, or the Coal Transportation Allowance Report, MMS-4293. 
The allowances will be based on reasonable actual costs reported by the 
lessees and are subject to later audit.
    Lessees with a non-arm's-length contract must also submit Form MMS-
4292 or Form MMS-4293. All applicable pages of the allowance 
application forms should be submitted. The allowances will be based on 
reasonable actual costs reported by the lessees and are subject to 
later audit.
    Description of Respondents: Lessees of Indian leases.
    Frequency of Response: Annually.
    Forms: Forms MMS-4292 and MMS-4293.
    Estimated Reporting Burden: 0.5 hour.
    Estimated Recordkeeping Burden: 9 hours.
    Annual Responses: 5 responses (including 1 response for Form MMS-
4293 and 4 responses for contract submission).
    Annual Burden Hours: 9.5 hours (rounded to 10 hours).
    Bureau Clearance Officer: Jo Ann Lauterbach, (202) 208-7744.

    Dated: March 5, 1998.
R. Dale Fazio,
Acting Associate Director for Royalty Management.
[FR Doc. 98-8646 Filed 4-1-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P