[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 247 (Monday, December 27, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72358-72359]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-33446]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently 
Approved Information Collection

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments on information collection 
regarding National Park Service mining regulations.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the National Park Service's (NPS) intention to request 
that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) extend and revise the 
currently approved information collection budget for the NPS's minerals 
management regulatory program inside park boundaries. Under 36 CFR part 
9, the NPS regulates mineral development activities in parks associated 
with mining claims located under the 1872 Mining Law and with non-
Federal oil and gas rights.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by February 25, 2000.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Contact Carol McCoy, Chief, Policy 
and Regulations Branch, Geologic Resources Division, National Park 
Service, P.O.Box 25287, Lakewood, Colorado 80225, (303) 969-2096.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: NPS/Minerals Management Program/Mining Claims and Non-
federal Oil and Gas Rights.
    OMB Number: 1024-0064.
    Expiration Date of Approval: January 31, 2000.
    Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: While surprising, outstanding mineral rights exist in 
many units of the National Park System. In most cases, these rights 
predate the establishment of the units. Currently, approximately 2,100 
mining claims, which were located under the 1872 Mining Law, exist in a 
total of 20 park units. The majority of these claims are located in 
Mojave National Preserve that was added to the National Park System 
through the California Desert Protection Act of 1994 (16 U.S.C. 
410aaa). With respect to non-Federal oil and gas rights in park units, 
597 non-Federal oil and gas operations exist in 11 park units. The 
potential for additional non-Federal oil and gas operations in 
additional units is tied to market forces and the quality and quantity 
of oil and gas reserves in park boundaries that coincide with the 
presence of private rights.
    The NPS regulates mineral development activities inside park 
boundaries on mining claims and on non-Federal oil and gas rights under 
regulations codified at 36 CFR part 9: Subpart A for mining claims and 
Subpart B for non-Federal oil and gas rights. The NPS promulgated both 
sets of regulations in the late 1970's. In the case of mining claims, 
the NPS did so under Congressional authority granted under the Mining 
in the Parks Act of 1976 (16 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.) and individual park 
enabling statutes. For non-Federal oil and gas rights, the NPS 
regulates development activities pursuant to authority under the NPS 
Organic Act of 1916 as amended (16 U.S.C. 1 et seq.) and individual 
enabling statutes. As directed by Congress, the NPS developed the 
regulations in order to protect park resources and visitor values from 
the adverse impacts associated with mineral development in park 
boundaries.
    The heart of the regulations is the approved ``plan of operations'' 
requirement. Essentially, a plan of operations is a prospective 
operator's blueprint setting forth all intended activities from access 
to extraction to reclamation related to developing a particular mineral 
right in a given park unit. The information required in a plan of 
operations is set forth in NPS regulations. Before an operator can 
commence development activities in a park unit, the NPS must approve 
the plan of operations and the operator must secure a bond in an amount 
sufficient to cover the cost of reclamation to the Federal Government 
in the event the operator defaults on his/her obligations.
    Usually, an approved plan of operations covers the life of the mine 
or well, from development and production to reclamation. Under NPS 
regulations, such plans may be revised. No set form is required for a 
plan of operations. Each plan is tailored to the intended activities of 
an operator and the particulars of the environment, e.g., hardwood 
forest or desert, presence of endangered species or cultural resources, 
location and extent of water resources including wetlands.
    Because of the variability among plans of operations and the 
duration of such plans, assessing the annual paperwork burden of 
complying with the NPS's mining regulations is difficult. Below is the 
NPS's best estimate, pro-rated on an annual basis, as to the number of 
respondents and number of hours involved in complying with the 
Service's regulations governing mining claims and non-Federal oil and 
gas rights.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 80 hours per response.
    Respondents: Publicly held companies, private companies and 
individuals.
    Estimate of Number of Respondents: On an annual basis, the NPS 
estimates that it receives a range of between 15 to 30 plans of 
operations under its regulations: 5 to 10 plans of operations for 
mining claims, and 10 to 20 plans of operations for non-Federal oil and 
gas rights.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: One. To conduct 
mineral development operations in park units, a prospective operator 
must submit a proposed plan of operations to the NPS for review and 
approval. Once approved, such a plan covers the life of the operation. 
If the plan is for geophysical work associated with private oil and gas 
rights it may only cover a period of a few months. In contrast, a plan 
for a production oil and gas well or a hardrock mine may cover a period 
of 10 or more years.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 1200 to 2400 hours. The NPS 
estimates that on an annual basis, it will take operators a range of 
400 to 800 hours to prepare complete plans of operations for review and 
approval under the Service's mining claim regulations at 36 CFR part 9, 
Subpart A. In the case of non-Federal oil and gas rights, the NPS 
estimates it will take all operators a range of 800 to 1600 hours to 
prepare complete plans of operations for review and approval under the 
Service's non-Federal oil and gas regulations at 36 CFR part 9, Subpart 
B.
    Please send comments regarding the accuracy of the burden 
estimates, ways to improve them and any other related comments on the 
collection of information under the NPS's mining regulations at 36 CFR 
part 9 to the noted addressee above. All responses to this notice will 
be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All 
comments will also become a matter of public record.


[[Page 72359]]


    Dated: December 3, 1999.
David B. Shaver,
Chief, Geologic Resources Division, Natural Resource Program Center.
[FR Doc. 99-33446 Filed 12-23-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P