[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 40 (Tuesday, March 2, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10157-10158]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-5122]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[AK-960-1410-00 24 1A]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request

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) announces its intention to request 
approval to collect certain information from Alaskan Native Vietnam Era 
Veterans interested in applying for up to 160 acres of Federal land in 
Alaska. This information will allow BLM to adjudicate the applications 
submitted by Alaskan Native Vietnam Era Veterans according to Public 
Law 105-276.

DATES: BLM must receive comments on the proposed information collection 
by May 3, 1999, to assure consideration of them.

ADDRESSES: Mail comments to: Director (630), Bureau of Land Management, 
1849 C Street NW, Room 401 L Street, Washington, D.C. 20240.
    Send comments via Internet to: WoC[email protected]. Please include 
``ATTN: 1004-NEW.''
    You may hand deliver comments to the Bureau of Land Management, 
Administrative Record, Room 401, 1620 L Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 
20240.
    BLM will make comments 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: Dennis Benson, Bureau of Land 
Management, Alaska State Office, (907) 271-3248.

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 BLM Form 2561-10 (March 1999) 
and 43 CFR Part 2561, 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

[[Page 10158]]

burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, 
including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanic, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology, BLM will receive and analyze any comments 
sent in response to this notice and include them with its request for 
approval from the OMB under 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.
    On October 21, 1998, Section 432 of the Veterans Administration and 
Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act (Public Law 105-276) 
amended the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act by adding a new section 
which allows certain Alaska Native Vietnam Era Veterans to apply for 
Native allotments. After final regulations are promulgated on April 21, 
2000, applicants will have 18 months to file their applications on the 
application form covered by this information collection. Copies of the 
draft application form are available from the individual identified in 
the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice.
    The information collected on the application form will include the 
applicant's name, mailing address, telephone number, location of the 
land applied for, and how the land was used. BLM will use the 
information provided by the applicant(s) to adjudicate the applications 
in order to determine if they meet all the requirements of Public Law 
105-276. If BLM did not collect this information, it could not convey 
up to 160 acres of Federal land to the applicants, and the agency would 
be unable to discharge its statutory responsibility according to Public 
Law 105-276.
    Based on BLM's experience administering the activities described 
above, the public reporting burden for the information collected is 
estimated to average 30 (thirty) minutes per response. The respondents 
are Alaskan Native Vietnam Era Veterans. The frequency of response is 
one time for each applicant. The number of responses expected within 
the 18 month filing period is 1,100 applicants. The estimated total 
burden on new respondents is approximately 550 hours. BLM is 
specifically requesting your comments on its estimate of the amount of 
time that it takes to prepare a response. BLM's estimate is 30 (thirty) 
minutes per response.
    BLM will summarize all responses to this notice and include them in 
the request for Office of Management and Budget approval. All comments 
will also become a matter of public record.

    Dated: February 23, 1999.
Carole Smith,
Bureau of Land Management, Information Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 99-5122 Filed 3-1-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-JA-M