[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 66 (Wednesday, April 7, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16994-16995]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-8601]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[WO-320-1330-01-24 1A]


Notice of Proposed Information Collection, OMB Approval No. 1004-
0103

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 
renewal of the existing approval to collect information from applicants 
who apply to purchase mineral materials from public lands under the 
mineral materials regulations. Respondents supply the information so 
that BLM can evaluate the environmental impacts of their proposals and 
determine their qualifications to receive a mineral materials contract.

DATES: BLM must receive comments on the proposed information collection 
by June 7, 1999, to assure its consideration of them.

ADDRESSES: Mail comments to: Director (630), Bureau of Land Management, 
1849 C St., N.W., Mail Stop 401 LS, Washington, D.C. 20240. Send 
comments by means of the internet to: WoC[email protected]. Please 
include ``ATTN: 1004-0103'' and your name and return address in your 
internet message.
    You may hand deliver comments to the BLM Administrative Record, 
Room 401 L Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. BLM will make comments 
available for public review and comment at the L Street address during 
regular business hours (7:45 am to 4:15 pm), Monday through Friday.


[[Page 16995]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Durga N. Rimal, Solid Minerals Group, 
(202) 452-0350.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The regulations at 5 CFR 1320.8(d) require 
BLM to provide a 60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning the 
collection of information contained in Forms 3600-4 and 3600-5, to seek 
comments on: (1) 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; (2) 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; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and 
clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) 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. BLM will review and analyze any 
comments sent in response to this notice and include them with its 
request for approval from the OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act.
    The Mineral Materials Act of 1947, as amended (Act), 30 U.S.C. 601 
and 602, provides for the disposal of mineral materials, such as sand, 
gravel, and petrified wood, from the public lands by sale or free use. 
The Secretary disposes of such materials at his discretion, consistent 
with the regulations at 43 CFR Part 3600.
    BLM uses the information that an applicant or permittee submits to: 
(1) determine if the sale of mineral materials is in the public 
interest, (2) mitigate the environmental impacts of mineral materials 
development, (3) get fair market value for the materials sold, and (4) 
prevent trespass removal of the materials.
    Applicants must submit a written request to BLM to purchase mineral 
materials. Specific information requirements are not stated in the 
regulations, but all sales agreements are made on contract forms 
approved by the BLM Director. BLM uses two forms. Form 3600-4 is used 
when the sale value is less than $2,000, and the applicant fully pays 
the amount due when executing the contract. Form 3600-5 is used for 
sales of $2,000 or more and provides for installment payments. Both 
forms require the following information: (1) The applicant's name and 
address, (2) an authorized signature, and (3) the location and amount 
of the material to be purchased. BLM uses the information to enter into 
the binding contract and to identify and communicate with the 
applicant. Without binding contractual agreements, the federal 
government would not be able to require appropriate reclamation of 
disturbed sites, protect natural resources, or ensure regular payments 
for the public mineral materials sold.
    Based on BLM's experience in administering the activities 
described, the public reporting burden for the information described is 
estimated to average 30 minutes per response. The respondents operators 
desiring sand, gravel, stone, and other mineral materials from lands 
under BLM jurisdiction. The frequency of response is once or twice per 
year.
    The majority of respondents consist of permittees with sales 
contracts amounting to less than $2,000. Depending upon the site and 
the amount of materials, BLM, before processing the applications, may 
require applicants to provide an outline of a mining or reclamation 
plan at the time of applications. A majority of sales occur from 
community pits for which BLM has already developed a mining and 
reclamation plan, and there is no additional burden to applicants. The 
estimated average preparation time for completing Forms 3600-4 and 
3600-5 and preparing any supporting documents is 30 minutes. Actual 
time varies from 15 minutes (most common) to several days for larger 
projects. The number of requests for sales averages 2,600 per year, 
with a total annual burden of 1,125 hours.
    For sales contracts with terms exceeding 1 year, respondent must 
submit annual production reports for the duration of the contract. The 
average reporting burden for such respondents is about 30 minutes. The 
estimated number of production reports is 600 per year, with an 
estimated annual burden of 300 hours.
    Applicants for sales contracts may test and sample deposits, with 
letters of use authorization from BLM. In an average year BLM issues 
about 100 letters of use authorization. The collective annual burden 
for this activity is estimated to be 75 hours. The total annual burden 
for all respondents is 1,500 hours.
    BLM will summarize all responses to this notice and include them in 
the request for Office of Management and Budget approval. All comments 
will become part of the public record.

    Dated: March 30, 1999.
Carole Smith,
BLM Information Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 99-8601 Filed 4-6-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-M