[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 66 (Tuesday, April 7, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17013-17014]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-9089]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[WO-310-1310-01-24-1A]


Extension of Currently Approved Information Collection; OMB 
Approval Number 1004-0160

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is announcing its intention to request 
extension of approval for the collection of information from those 
persons who submit a Geothermal Leasing Report. BLM will use the 
information collected to determine if a lessee qualifies for a lease 
extension.

DATES: Comments on the proposed information collection must be received 
by June 8, 1998, to be considered.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to: Regulatory Management Team (420), 
Bureau of Land Management, 1849 C Street NW, Room 401 LS Bldg., 
Washington, D.C. 20240.

    Comments may be sent via Internet to: !WO[email protected]. Please 
include ``Attn: 1004-0160'' and your name and return address in your 
Internet message.
    Comments may be hand delivered to the Bureau of Land Management 
Administrative Record, Room 401 L Street, NW, Washington, D.C.
    Comments will be 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: Barbara Gamble, Fluids Minerals Group, 
(202) 452-0340.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with 5 CFR 1320.12(a), the BLM 
is required to provide 60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning 
a collection of information contained in published current rules 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, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the

[[Page 17014]]

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.
    The Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (30 U.S.C. 1001-1025) authorized 
the Secretary of the Interior to issue leases for geothermal 
development. The Geothermal Steam Act Amendments of 1988 (PL 100-443) 
supplemented and amended the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 by requiring 
that the BLM receive additional information from Federal geothermal 
lessees. The legislation allowed for lease extensions when the 
Secretary of the Interior determines that a lessee has made a 
substantial investment. It also allowed leases to continue beyond their 
primary terms if there are wells capable of producing but not actually 
producing geothermal resources. The BLM issues geothermal leases both 
competitively and noncompetitively. The regulations in Group 3200 of 
Title 43 of the Code of Federal Regulations contain procedures for 
obtaining a lease to explore for, develop, produce, and utilize 
geothermal resources located on Federal lands. The regulations at 43 
CFR part 3203 specifically address extended terms of a lease.
    Respondents for this information collection supply information in a 
diligent efforts report, bona fide efforts report, and/or a significant 
expenditures report for the authorized officer to determine if a lessee 
qualifies for a lease extension.
    Respectively, some of the information required will be used by the 
authorized officer to determine if lessees are making ``diligent 
efforts'' toward commencing utilization of producible geothermal wells. 
By submitting this information, a lessee could have a lease continue 
beyond its primary term. Other information will be used by the 
authorized officer to determine if a different group of lessees (those 
not having producible wells) have made ``bona fide efforts'' to produce 
or utilize geothermal resources. By submitting the required information 
(by report), those lessees may be granted a 5-year lease extension. A 
second extension can be obtained at the end of the first, but another 
bona fide effort is required. If lease extensions are granted, the 
lessee would be required to submit additional information on an annual 
basis that would indicate that ``significant expenditures'' were being 
made on the leases. In all cases, the information is submitted in 
person or by mail to the proper BLM office.
    It is estimated that approximately 75 reports will be filed 
annually with an estimated completion time of 2 hours each, for a total 
annual burden of 150 hours. Respondents are individuals, small 
businesses, and large corporations.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for Office of Management and Budget approval. All comments will 
also become part of the public record.

    Dated: March 27, 1998.
Carole Smith,
Bureau Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 98-9089 Filed 4-6-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-M