[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 62 (Thursday, March 30, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16953-16954]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-7837]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[WO-340-1220-PC-02-24 1A]


Extension of Currently Approved Information Collection, OMB 
Approval Number 1004-0165

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), acting for the Department of the 
Interior, announces its intention to request approval to collect 
certain information from those people submitting nominations for 
significant caves under the Federal Cave Resources Protection Act of 
1988 and those people requesting confidential cave information on 
federal lands administered by the Secretary of the Interior. This 
information is needed to: (1) Determine which caves will be listed as 
significant and (2) decide whether to grant access to confidential cave 
information.

DATES: Comments on the proposed information collection must be received 
by May 30, 2000 to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to: Regulatory Affairs Group (WO-
630), Bureau of Land Management, 1849 C St., NW, Mail Stop 401 LS, 
Washington, DC 20240.
    Comments may be sent via the Internet to: [email protected]. Please 
include ``ATTN: 1004-0165'' 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 St., NW, Washington, DC.
    Comments will be available for inspection at the L Street address 
during regular business hours (7:45 am to 4:15 pm), Monday through 
Friday, except holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Goodbar, BLM, Carlsbad, New Mexico 
Field Office, (505) 234-5929.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with 5 CFR 1320.12(a), the 
BLM, on behalf of the Department, is required to provide a 60-day 
notice in the Federal Register concerning a collection of information 
contained in published current rules to solicit comments on: (a) 
Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper 
performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the 
information has practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's 
estimate of the burden of collecting the 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 collecting the 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 receive 
and

[[Page 16954]]

analyze comments sent in response to this notice and include them in 
the request for approval from the Office of Management and Budget under 
44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.

Nominations of Significant Caves

    The Federal Cave Resources Protection Act of 1988, 102 Stat. 4546, 
16 U.S.C. 4301, requires identifying, protecting and maintaining, to 
the extent possible, significant caves on lands managed by the 
Department of the Interior. The implementing regulations are found at 
43 CFR 37--Cave Management. The regulations were issued on October 1, 
1993. Federal agencies must consult with ``cavers'' and other 
interested parties and develop a listing of significant caves. The 
regulations establish criteria for identifying significant caves and 
integrate cave management into existing planning and management 
processes to protect cave resource information. Protecting the 
information will prevent vandalism and disturbance of significant 
caves.
    The public and other government agencies provide (a) names and 
addresses, (b) name and phone number of a key contact, (c) cave name, 
(d) cave location, (e) topographic and/or cave maps, (f) name of the 
administering federal agency and agency filed office name and address 
where the cave is located, (g) description of the cave, and (h) 
description of the applicable criteria significant caves, such as 
biota, cultural, geologic/mineralogic/paleontologic, hydrologic, 
recreational, and/or educational or scientific. If the Department did 
not collect the information, it could not identify, manage, and protect 
significant caves in accordance with the law.
    This collection of information is short, simple, and limited to the 
information necessary for efficient operation of the program. The 
information collected is a voluntary, non-recurring submission 
necessary to receive a benefit. There is no other source for the 
information, and failure to submit the necessary information could 
result in a significant cave not receiving appropriate protection. 
Respondents already maintain this information for their own 
recordkeeping purposes and need only compile it for submission.
    Based on the Department's experience in administering cave 
resources as described above, the public reporting burden for this 
collection is estimated to average 3 hours per response. The estimate 
includes the time for research, time to transcribe and audit the data, 
and time to prepare the nomination. The number of responses is 
estimated to be about 200 per year. The frequency of response is once 
per nomination. The estimated total annual burden on new respondents is 
600 hours.

Access to Confidential Cave Information

    Other federal or state agencies, bona fide educational or research 
institutes, or individuals or organizations assisting the land 
management agencies with cave management activities may request access 
to confidential cave information. The written request should include: 
(a) name, address and telephone number of the person responsible for 
the security of the information, (b) a legal description of the cave 
location, (c) a statement of the purpose of the request, and (d) 
written assurance that the requesting party will maintain the 
confidentiality of the information and protect the cave and its 
resources. The Department uses the information provided to determine 
whether disclosure will create a substantial risk to cave resources. If 
the Department did not collect the information, it could not identify, 
manage or protect significant caves in accordance with the laws.
    The collection of information is short, simple and convenient to 
the applicant. The information collected is a voluntary, non-recurring 
submission necessary to receive a benefit. The respondents already 
maintain this information for their own recordkeeping purposes and need 
only compile it.
    Based on the Department's experience administering cave resources 
as described above, the information collection burden for confidential 
cave information requests is about 1 hour per request. The number of 
requests per year is ten. The frequency of response is once per 
request. The estimated total annual burden on new respondents is 10 
hours.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for Office of Management and Budget approval. All comments will 
also be a matter of public record.

    Dated: March 27, 2000.
Carole Smith,
BLM Information Collection Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-7837 Filed 3-29-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-M