[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 129 (Tuesday, July 7, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36708-36709]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-17931]


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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 1004-0034

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 wish to transfer interest in oil and gas or geothermal 
leases by assignment of record title, or transfer operating rights 
(sublease) in oil and gas or geothermal leases under the terms of the 
mineral leasing laws.

DATES: Comments on the proposed information collection must be received 
by September 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: !WO140attmail.com. Please 
include ``Attn: 1004-0034'' 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

[[Page 36709]]

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 
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 Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.) and the 
Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (30 U.S.C. 1001-1025) authorize the 
Secretary of the Interior to issue leases for development of Federal 
oil and gas and geothermal resources. The Act of August 7, 1947 
(Mineral Leasing Act of Acquired Lands), authorizes the Secretary to 
lease lands acquired by the United States (30 U.S.C. 341-359). The 
Department of the Interior Appropriations Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 6508) 
provides for the competitive leasing of lands for oil and gas in the 
National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A). The Attorney General's 
Opinion of April 2, 1941 (40 Op. Atty. Gen. 41) provides the basis 
under which the Secretary can issue certain leases for lands being 
drained of oil and gas. The Federal Property and Administrative 
Services Act of 1949 (40 U.S.C. 471 et seq.) provides the authority for 
leasing lands acquired from the General Services Administration.
    The regulations at 43 CFR 3106, 3135, and 3206 outline the 
procedures for assigning record title interest and transferring 
operating rights in a lease to explore for, develop, and produce oil 
and gas resources and geothermal resources respectively.
    The information provided by an applicant is needed to comply with 
the regulations in order to process assignments of record title 
interest or transfers of operating rights (sublease) in a lease for oil 
and gas or geothermal resources issued under the provisions of the laws 
cited above.
    The information collection requirements are submitted to the BLM by 
the assignor/transferor in accordance with 30 U.S.C. 187a, which 
specifies that leases may be assigned or subleased ``subject to final 
approval by the Secretary,'' and with the regulations at 43 CFR 3106, 
3135, and 3241. The forms are submitted to the appropriate BLM office 
only when the transferor/assignor initiates the action and are used to 
assign/transfer all or part of a record title interest, of operating 
rights, or overriding royalty or similar interest in a lease to another 
party under the terms of the mineral leasing laws.
    Since the filing of the assignment or transfer for final 
Secretarial approval is required by law, the forms are used to help the 
assignor/transferor provide the basic information needed by the BLM to 
identify ownership of the interest being assigned/transferred and 
qualifications of the transferee/assignee to take interest. The 
information is necessary to ensure that the assignee/transferee is 
qualified, in accordance with the statutory requirements, to obtain the 
interest sought in an oil and gas or geothermal lease and that 
excessive acreage is not acquired in violation of statutory limits.
    It is estimated that approximately 60,000 reports will be filed 
annually with an estimated completion time of \1/2\ hour each, for a 
total annual burden of 30,000 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: June 29, 1998.
Carole Smith,
Bureau Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 98-17931 Filed 7-6-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-M