[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 54 (Monday, March 20, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15003-15005]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-6815]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[WO-350-1430-PF-01-24 1A]


Extension of Currently Approved Information Collection; OMB 
Approval Number 1004-0012

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) is announcing its intention to request 
extension of approval for the collection of information from States and 
local government agencies, and from qualified nonprofit corporations 
and associations who submit an Application for Land for Recreation or 
Public Purposes (Form 2740-1) to obtain public lands and benefits for 
recreational and public purposes. The BLM uses the information to 
determine if an applicant meets the requirements of the Recreation and 
Public Purpose Act (R&PP) of June 14, 1926.

DATES: Comments on the proposed information collection must be received 
by May 19, 2000, to be considered.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to: Regulatory Management Team (420), 
Bureau of Land Management, 1849 C Street NW., Room 401LS, Washington, 
D.C. 20240.
    Comments may be sent via Internet to: WOC[email protected]. Please 
include ``Attn: 1004-0012'' and your name and address in your Internet 
message.
    Comments may be hand delivered to the Bureau of Land Management 
Administrative Record, Room 401 L Street NW., Washington, D.C.
    Comments will be available for public review at the L Street 
address during regular business hours (7:45 am to 4:15 pm, Monday 
through Friday).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alzata L. Ransom, Realty Use Group, at 
(202) 452-7772.

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 published current rules to 
solicit comments on (a) whether the proposed

[[Page 15004]]

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 burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.
    The Recreation and Public Purpose Act (R&PP) of June 14, 1926, as 
amended (43 U.S.C. 869 et seq.), authorizes the Secretary of the 
Interior to lease or convey certain public lands to States and local 
government agencies, and to qualified nonprofit corporations and 
associations, for recreational and public purposes under specified 
conditions. The regulations in 43 CFR 2740 provide guidelines and 
procedures for the lease or conveyance of public lands under the Act. 
The regulations were last revised on July 23, 1992, (57 FR 32732).
    The term ``public purpose'' means for the purpose of providing 
facilities or services for the benefit of the public in connection 
with, but not limited to, public health, safety, or welfare. Use of 
lands or facilities for habitation, cultivation, trade, or 
manufacturing is permissible only when necessary for and integral to, 
i.e., essential part of, the public purpose.
    The Act applies to all public lands, except lands within national 
forest, national parks and monuments, national wildlife refuges, Indian 
lands, and acquired lands. Revested Oregon and California Railroad 
grant lands, and reconveyed Coos Bay Wagon Road grant lands in western 
Oregon may only be leased to State and Federal instrumentalities and 
political subdivisions and to municipal corporations.
    Lease periods may be for any length, but shall not exceed 20 years 
for nonprofit entities, and 25 years for Federal, States and local 
governmental entities. Leases are issued subject to appropriate 
environmental and legal stipulations, and contain provisions for 
compliance with: (a) Nondiscrimination based on race, color, sex, age, 
religion, or national origin; (b) an approved plan of management and 
development upon which lease was considered and issued (leases may be 
canceled for nonuse or a use other than that for which the lease was 
issued without prior consent of the BLM); (c) under certain conditions, 
the Federal Government may reserve the standing timber, use of water, 
or place other limitations on the use of natural resources; and (d) 
other reasonable stipulations as may be required as part of the 
consideration for the moderate charge being made for land.
    Patents issued under the Act convey a restricted title since they 
contain provisions or clauses which, if not complied with, may result 
in reversion of the title to the United States. These provisions are: 
(a) Nondiscrimination clauses providing that the patentee may not 
restrict or permit restriction of the use of the lands conveyed or 
facilities thereon because of race, color, sex, age, religion, or 
national origin; (b) a provision that, if the patentee or its successor 
in interest attempts to transfer title or control over the land to 
another, or the land is devoted to a use other than that for which it 
was conveyed without the consent of the BLM, title will revert to the 
United States; (c) the patent will stipulate that the land will be used 
in perpetuity for the purposes for which they are acquired (the lease 
or patent may stipulate that certain provisions of the development 
program, including the management plan, may be subject to review by the 
Secretary of the Interior or his delegate); and (d) all minerals will 
be reserved to the United States.
    The information collected on Form 2740-1 is required by the 
regulations in 43 CFR 2741 to process request for public lands under 
the provisions of the R&PP Act. Based on its reviews and evaluation, 
the BLM may approve or disapprove any application in whole or in part, 
or require its revision. The following information is collected on the 
form: (1) Applicant's name and address (home and address telephone 
number); (2) legal description of the lands applied for; (3) type of 
authorization and proposed use of the lands; (4) description of 
proposed use, plan and schedule for development, use of revenues, and 
known environmental and cultural concerns specific to the land; (5) 
statutory authority to hold the lands for the purpose requested (if 
applicant is State or Political subdivision); (6) copy of the 
applicant's authority to file the application and to take actions 
necessary to fulfill the requirements of the R&PP Act; (7) compliance 
with nondiscrimination as to access to the lands and facilities based 
on race, color, religion, sex, age or national origin in accordance 
with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (78 Stat. 241). In 
addition, the form instructs the applicant to submit: (a) A copy of 
their charter, a copy of their articles of incorporation, and a copy of 
their authority to operate in the State where the lands applied for are 
located; (c) a plan of development, use, and maintenance that includes 
a statement of proposed use of the lands, description of the proposed 
project, anticipated expenditure for development, source of funds to be 
used for development, and a statement describing administration of the 
tract; (d) maps showing the nature and location of facilities, land 
ownership of the entire project, and access routes; (e) timetable for 
development; and (f) explanation of proposed maintenance 
responsibilities and procedures.
    After receiving the form, the BLM will: (a) Determine if the 
applicants proposal is in conformance with land use planning, review 
land status to determine if the lands are subject to application, and 
determine if the application meets all requirements of the law and 
regulations; (b) review the development and management plans to 
determine their adequacy and effectiveness, and evaluate the 
construction schedule and estimated financing to ensure they are 
realistic and practicable; (c) secure the views of other agencies that 
may have an interest in the lands, including State and local planning 
and zoning departments; (d) check for the presence of unpatented mining 
claims (R&PP leases and conveyances cannot be issued where mining 
claims are present, and if it is necessary to determine the validity of 
a mining claim in order to allow the lease, the cost of the 
determination will be the responsibility of the applicant); (e) conduct 
a field examination and other investigations to gather information and 
data on the environmental considerations and proper classification of 
the lands; and (f) publish a notice to solicit views and comments from 
the public concerning the proposal. After reviewing and evaluating your 
application, the BLM may approve or disapprove your application in 
whole or in part, or require revisions to the application.
    Potential applicants should contact the appropriate District Office 
of the BLM well in advance of the anticipated submission of Form 2740-
1. Early consultation with the BLM is needed to familiarize a potential 
applicant with management responsibilities, and terms and conditions 
which may be required in a lease or conveyance.
    The BLM estimates that approximately 55 R&PP applications (Form 
2740-1) are received annually. Based on the BLM's experience in 
processing an application, it will take an

[[Page 15005]]

average time of 40 hours for an applicant to supply the requested 
information. Based on the estimated 55 applications the BLM receives 
annually and the average time of 40 hours it takes an applicant to 
supply the requested information, the total annual burden is 
collectively 2,200 hours.
    Any interested member of the public may request and obtain, without 
charge, a copy of the R&PP application (Form 2740-1) by contacting the 
person identified under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT All responses 
to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for 
Office of Management and Budget approval. All comments will also become 
part of the public record.

    Dated: March 15, 2000.
Carole Smith,
BLM Information Collection Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-6815 Filed 3-17-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-M