[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 140 (Thursday, July 22, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39518-39519]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-18660]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[WO-230-009-1030-241A]


Proposed Information Collection--Form 5450-5, Vegetative or 
Mineral Material, Negotiated Cash Sale Contract

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 information from applicants who apply to purchase 
limited values of vegetative and/or mineral materials from public lands 
under existing authority and forest products regulations. Respondents 
supply the information so that BLM can determine applicant 
qualifications, the product type and amount to be purchased, product 
location, and terms and conditions for the removal of material.

DATES: BLM must receive comments on the proposed information collection 
by September 20, 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 intent to: WoC[email protected]. Please include 
``ATTN: 1004-NEW'' 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 during regular 
business hours (7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.), Monday through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John C. Stewart--Fish, Wildlife and 
Forests Group, Washington Office (WO230), (202) 452-7759, or John S. 
Styduhar--Biological Sciences, Oregon State Office (OR931), (503) 952-
6454.

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 Form 5450-5, 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 assumption 
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 Act of August 28, 1937 (43 U.S.C. 1181a) authorizes the sale of 
timber and other forest products from the Revested Oregon and 
California Railroad and Reconveyed Coos Bay Wagon Road Grant Lands. The 
Act of July 31, 1947, as amended (30 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) provides for 
the disposal of vegetative and mineral materials from public lands of 
the United States by sale or free use. Authority for small sales of 
timber for use in Alaska is contained in the Act of May 14, 1898, as 
amended (16 U.S.C. 615a). The Secretary disposes of such materials at 
his discretion, consistent with the regulations at 43 CFR Part 5400 and 
43 CFR Part 3600. Federal regulations require that, other than for 
incidental use, the severance and/or removal of any vegetative or 
mineral resource for personal or commercial use requires a written 
contract or permit issued by the authorized officer or other person 
authorized by the United States. Form 5450-5 is the contract form 
approved by the BLM Director for the negotiated cash sale of vegetative 
or mineral material. Procedures for preparation of contracts for the 
sale of forest products are set forth in Timber Sale Procedures 
Handbook Manual Section 5420-1 and Special Forest Products Procedure 
Series Handbook 5400-2.
    Form 5450-5 is the contract form most commonly used by BLM for the 
sale of vegetative and mineral materials. It is designed for over-the-
counter use by field offices for the cash sale of vegetative and 
mineral materials with a value of $2,499 or less for vegetative 
material and $999 or less for mineral material. Typical products sold 
using Form 5450-5 include such items as grasses, seeds roots, bark, 
berries, mosses, ferns, edible mushrooms, tree seedling, transplants, 
poles, and firewood. Form 5450-5 is also used for the sale of small 
volumes of mineral materials including petrified wood and

[[Page 39519]]

common varieties of sand, stone, or gravel. Each contract form is 
prenumbered for accountability and cash payment, in full, is required 
before BLM signs the contract.
    Form 5450-5 requires the following information from the respondent: 
(1) The name of the purchaser or his/her authorized representative with 
complete mailing address; (2) the specific type of vegetative or 
mineral materials to be purchased and their respective quantities; (3) 
the specific location from which the materials are to be removed, and 
(4) the signature of the purchaser or authorized representative. BLM 
reviews the information collected from the respondent to: (1) Determine 
the qualifications of the purchaser, (2) determine fair market value 
for the materials sold, (3) identify potential environmental impacts, 
and (4) prevent trespass removal of the materials. BLM uses this 
information to establish the parties to the contract, the total 
purchase price including road maintenance and site reclamation fees, 
the period for which the contract is valid, and terms and conditions 
and other stipulations which are required by BLM for removal of the 
materials. Without this information, the federal government would not 
be able to enter into a biding contract with the purchaser or property 
account for and report sales of mineral and vegetative materials from 
the public lands.
    The information collection on Form 5450-5 is required by the 
respondent in order to obtain a benefit. The majority of respondents 
are individuals purchasing small quantities of vegetative and mineral 
materials for personal use. According to the 1998 summary report of 
special forest and range products, BLM entered into 15,627 contracts 
for the negotiated cash sale of vegetative and mineral materials using 
Form 5450-5. Based on BLM's experience in administering these 
activities, the public reporting burden for the information described 
is estimated to average 15 minutes per response. Actual time varies 
from 5 minutes to 30 minutes depending on the type and variety of 
materials being purchased. The frequency of response by the respondent 
is once per contract. Using an average of 15,000 requests per year, the 
total annual burden is 3,750 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: July 14, 1999.
Carole Smith,
Information Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 99-18660 Filed 7-21-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-M