[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 121 (Wednesday, June 24, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34475-34476]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-16810]


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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 that the information collection requests for the titles 
described below have been forwarded to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The information collection 
requests describe the nature of the information collections and the 
expected burden and cost for 30 CFR Parts 764 and 822.

DATES: OMB has up to 60 days to approve or disapprove the information 
collections but may respond after 30 days. Therefore, public comments 
should be submitted to OMB by July 24, 1998, in order to be assured of 
consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
To request a copy of either information collection request, explanatory 
information and related forms, contact John A. Trelease at (202) 208-
2783, or electronically to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
regulations at 5 CFR 1320, which implement 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)). OSM has submitted two requests to OMB to renew its approval 
of the collections of information contained in: State processes for 
designating areas unsuitable for surface coal mining operations, 30 CFR 
Part 764; and Special permanent program performance standards--
operations in alluvial valley floors, 30 CFR Part 822. OSM is 
requesting a 3-year term of approval for each information collection 
activity.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a 
currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control numbers for these 
collections of information are 1029-0030 for Part 764, and 1029-0049 
for Part 822.
    As required under 5 CFR 1320.8(d), Federal Register notices 
soliciting comments on these collections of information was published 
on April 6, 1998 (63 FR 16825). No comments were received. This notice 
provides the public with an additional 30 days in which to comment on 
the following information collection activities:
    Title: State processes for designating areas unsuitable for surface 
coal mining operations, 30 CFR Part 764.
    OMB Control Number: 1029-0030.
    Summary: This part implements the requirement of section 522 of the 
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA), P.L. 95-87, 
which provides authority for citizens to petition States to designate 
lands unsuitable for surface coal mining operations, or to terminate 
such designation. The regulatory authority uses the information to 
identify, locate, compare and evaluate the area requested to be 
designated as unsuitable, or terminate the designation, for surface 
coal mining operations.
    Bureau Form Number: None.
    Frequency of Collection: Once.
    Description of Respondents: The 5 individuals, groups or businesses 
who petition the States, and the 4 State regulatory authorities who 
must process the petitions.
    Total Annual Responses: 5.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 7,324.

    Title: Special permanent program performance standards--operations 
in alluvial valley floors, 30 CFR Part 822.
    OMB Control Number: 1029-0049.
    Summary: Sections 510(b)(5) and 515(b)(10)(F) of the Surface Coal 
Mining and Reclamation Act of 1977 (the Act) protect alluvial valley 
floors from the adverse effects of surface coal mining operations west 
of the 100th meridian. Part 822 requires the permittee to install, 
maintain, and operate a monitoring system in order to provide specific 
protection for alluvial valley floors. This information is necessary to 
determine whether the unique

[[Page 34476]]

hydrologic conditions of alluvial valley floors are protected according 
to the Act.
    Bureau Form Number: None.
    Frequency of Collection: Annually.
    Description of Respondents: 10 surface coal mining operators who 
operate on alluvial valley floors.
    Total Annual Responses: 10.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,000.
    Send comments on the need for the collections of information for 
the performance of the functions of the agency; the accuracy of the 
agency's burden estimates; ways to enhance the quality, utility and 
clarity of the information collections; and ways to minimize the 
information collection burdens on respondents, such as use of automated 
means of collections of the information, to the following addresses. 
Please refer to the appropriate OMB control numbers in all 
correspondence.

Addresses: Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of 
Management and Budget, Attention: Department of Interior Desk 
Officer,725 17th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20503. Also, please send a 
copy of your comments to John A. Trelease, Office of Surface Mining 
Reclamation and Enforcement, 1951 Constitution Ave, NW, Room 210-SIB, 
Washington, DC 20240, or electronically to [email protected].

    Dated June 19, 1998.
Richard G. Bryson,
Chief, Division of Regulatory Support.
[FR Doc. 98-16810 Filed 6-23-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-M