[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 93 (Thursday, May 14, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26820-26821]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-12787]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[WO-350-1540-01]


Extension of Approved Information Collection, OMB Number 1004-
0009

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 
an extension of existing approval to collect certain information from 
applicants who wish to acquire a Land Use Authorization (form 2920-1) 
on public lands under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
(FLPMA) of 1976. The regulations at 43 CFR 2920 provide for non-Federal 
use of Bureau-administered land by means of lease or

[[Page 26821]]

permit. Uses include agriculture, trade, or manufacturing concerns and 
business uses such as outdoor recreation concession. The BLM will 
determine the validity of uses proposed by private individuals and 
other qualified proponents from information provided by the proponent 
on the Land Use Application and Permit form.

DATES: Comments on the proposed information collection must be received 
by July 13, 1998 to be considered.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to: Director (420), Bureau of Land 
Management, 1849 C Street NW, Room 401LS, Washington, DC 20240.
    Comments may be sent via Internet to: Wo C[email protected] Please 
include ``ATTN: 1004-0009'' 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, 1620 L Street, NW, Washington, DC.
    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:
Carl C. Gammon, (202) 452-7777.

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 a published current rule 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 the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology. The BLM will receive and analyze any 
comments sent in response to this notice and include them with its 
request for approval from the Office of Management and Budget under 44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.
    The FLPMA of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1732, 1740), provides for issuance of 
land use authorizations which may include leases or permits, to 
eligible proponents. The BLM has implemented the provisions of this 
requirement through the issuance of 43 CFR 2922.2-1, which provides for 
the submission of the ``Land Use Application and Permit,'' or 
application, Form 2920-1. The information collected on the application 
is used by the BLM to identify the proposed land use and activities, 
describe all facilities for which authorization is sought, to identify 
the location, to determine a schedule for construction and to identify 
access requirements. Since the information collected is unique to each 
application, no other suitable means of information collection has been 
identified which could gather the information at a lesser burden. If 
the BLM fails to properly collect the required information, the BLM 
will reject the application.
    Based on BLM's experience administering the activities described 
above, approximately 620 applications (577 Permits, 43 Leases) are 
received annually. It will take an average of 30 minutes for over 94 
percent of the applicants to supply the needed information. For the 
other 6 percent of the applicants who are applying for leases, the 
average burden is 121 hours to supply the necessary information. The 
range in burden hours is due to the fact that a lease application, 
because of its nature, requires more time on the part of an applicant 
to supply the needed information. For example, a lease application to 
construct a multi-million dollar ski facility could involve 
construction drawings, site and facility plans, other Federal and State 
licenses and permits, and other preauthorizing requirements involving 
many days to process. Conversely, a relatively routine application 
(permit) to use public lands for agricultural purposes could be 
processed in \1/2\ an hour.
    The estimated total annual burden on new respondents is about 5,955 
hours.
    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 a matter of public record.

    Dated: April 30, 1998.
Carole J. Smith,
Bureau of Land Management, Information Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 98-12787 Filed 5-13-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-M