[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 73 (Friday, April 16, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18931-18932]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-9555]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[WO-350-1430-01]


Extension of Approved Information Collection, OMB Number 1004-
0153

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 existing approval to collection of information from those 
persons who seek to acquire the federally owned (reserved) mineral 
interests underlying their surface estate. BLM collects information to 
assure that the applicant is the owner of the surface that overlies the 
federally owned minerals and that statutory requirements for their 
conveyance have been met. The authorization for such collection is 
provided by the 43 CFR part 2720 regulations.

DATES: Comments on the proposed information collection must be received 
by June 15, 1999, to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to: Director (420), Bureau of Land 
Management, 1849 C Street NW, Room 401 LS, Washington, D.C. 20240.
    Comments may be sent via Internet to: WoC[email protected]. Please 
include ``ATTN: 1004-0153'' 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 1320.8(d), BLM is 
required to provide 60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning a 
proposed collection of information 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, 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.
    Section 209 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 
(FLPMA), 43 U.S.C. 1719, states that the Secretary of the Interior may 
convey mineral interests owned by the United States where the surface 
is or will be in non-federal ownership if he finds that there are no 
known mineral values in the land or that the reservation of the mineral 
rights in the United States is interfering with or precluding 
appropriate non-mineral development is a more beneficial use of the 
land than mineral development. BLM adopted implementing regulations at 
43 CFR Part 2720 in 1979 (44 FR 1342, January 4, 1979) and amended them 
in 1986 (51 FR 9657, March 20, 1986). The regulations establish a 
procedure whereby any individual seeking to acquire the federally owned 
(reserved) mineral interest underlying their surface must make 
application and provide information essential to compliance with the 
law, regulations, and procedures. The regulations at 43 CFR 2720.1-2 
specify what information must be included in the application in 
narrative form:
    Name, address, and phone number. The name, mailing address, and 
telephone number of the existing or prospective record title owner of 
the land is necessary to identify and locate the individual for 
transacting business and communication. The phone number is necessary 
for direct communication with the applicant.
    Proof of ownership. Proof of ownership of land included in the 
application is necessary to assure the applicant is the record title 
owner of the surface. In the case of a prospective owner, the 
application must include a copy of the contract or a statement 
describing the method by which ownership will be obtained.
    Supporting survey evidence. The applicant must include a copy of 
any patent or other instrument conveying the land included in the 
application, with supporting survey information. This information is 
necessary to legally describe the land in the application.
    Statement. The applicant must include a statement concerning: (1) 
The nature of the federally owned or reserved mineral values in the 
land, (2) the existing and proposed uses of the land, (3) why the 
mineral reservation is interfering with or precluding appropriate non-
mineral development of the land, (4) how and why such development would 
be a more beneficial use than mineral development, and (5) a showing 
that the proposed use complies or will comply with state and local 
zoning or planning requirements. This information is necessary to 
assure that the application meets statutory requirements for receiving 
benefits.
    BLM uses the information collected to analyze and approve 
applications for purchase of federally owned mineral interests. If the 
information required by 43 CFR 2720.1-2 was not collected, BLM would be 
unable to carry out the mandate of Section 209 of FLPMA, and beneficial 
development of the surface would be precluded.
    Based on its experience administering the regulations at 43 CFR 
Part 2720, BLM estimates that the public reporting burden for the 
information collection is 8 hours per application. The respondents are 
non-federal owners of the surface of the land in which the mineral 
interests are reserved or otherwise owned by the United States who seek 
to acquire those mineral interests. The frequency of response is one 
per application. BLM estimates that 29 applications for conveyance of 
federally owned mineral interests will be filed annually. The estimated 
total annual burden on respondents is collectively 232 hours.
    We will summarize all responses to this notice and include them in 
the

[[Page 18932]]

request for Office of Management and Budget approval. All comments will 
also become a matter of public record.

    Dated: April 5, 1999.
Carole J. Smith,
Bureau of Land Management Information Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 99-9555 Filed 4-15-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-M