[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 66 (Wednesday, April 5, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17896-17897]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-8303]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[WO-320-1990-PB-02 24 1A]


OMB Approval Number 1004-0176; Information Collection Submitted 
to the Office of Management and Budget for Review Under the Paperwork 
Reduction Act

    The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has submitted the proposed 
collection of information listed below to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for approval under the Provisions of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3510 et seq. On October 19, 1999, BLM 
published a notice in the Federal Register at 64 FR 56360 requesting 
comments on this collection. The comment period ended on December 20, 
1999. One comment was received in response to that notice. The comment 
contained information supporting an increase in BLM's burden estimate 
for certain notices and plans required by the information collection. 
You may obtain copies of the proposed collection of information and 
related forms and explanatory material by contacting the BLM Clearance 
Officer at the telephone number listed below.
    OMB is required to respond within 60 days but may respond after 30 
days. For maximum consideration your comments and suggestions on the 
requirements should be made within 30 days directly to the Office of 
Management and Budget, Interior Department Desk Officer (1004-0176), 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Washington, DC 20503. 
Please provide a

[[Page 17897]]

copy of your comments to the BLM Information Clearance Officer (WO-
630), 1849 C St., NW, Mail Stop 401 LS, Washington, DC 20240.

Nature of Comments

    We specifically request your comments on the following:
    1. Whether the collection of information is necessary for the 
proper functioning of BLM, including whether the information will have 
practical utility;
    2. The accuracy of BLM's estimate of the burden associated with 
collecting the information, including the validity of the methodology 
and assumptions used;
    3. The quality, utility and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and
    4. How to minimize the burden of collecting the information on 
those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated 
electronic, mechanical, and other forms of information technology.
    Title: Surface Management Activities Under the General Mining Law, 
Regulations at 43 CFR 3802 and 3809.
    OMB Approval Number: 1004-0176.
    Abstract: BLM requests an extension of OMB approval to collect 
certain information from mining claimants and operators who want to 
prospect, explore, mine and reclaim lands subject to the General Mining 
Law. This information is contained in the surface management 
regulations at 43 CFR 3802 and 3809 and three bond forms, Surface 
Management Surety Bond Form (BLM 3809-1), Surface Management Personal 
Bond Form (BLM 3809-2), and Generalized Bond Rider Form (BLM 3809-4).
    The information requested is associated with filing notices of 
intent to conduct mining operations, where 5 acres or less of land will 
be disturbed in any calendar year, and plans of operation, in which 
exploration and mining activities will disturb more than 5 acres of 
land in any given year. Information associated with notices includes 
names and mailing addresses of operators and owners; the serial numbers 
of all mining claims, mill sites, and tunnel sites; maps showing the 
location of surface disturbances; and a description of the proposed 
operation, showing how the operator would conduct the activities. 
Generally, the greater the surface disturbance, the more detail is 
required. A full-blown plan of operations would contain descriptions of 
all proposed and existing access routes, aircraft landing areas, and 
other means of access; of how the operator will prevent unnecessary and 
undue degradation of the land; of how the operator will reclaim the 
areas disturbed by mining activities; and of measures to be taken to 
maintain the area in a safe and clean manner and to reclaim the land to 
avoid erosion and other adverse impacts.
    BLM has re-examined its hour burden estimates in response to the 
public comment received on this collection and in response to six 
comments on a related information collection for the proposed surface 
management regulations at 43 CFR 3809 (64 FR 6422, February 9, 1999) 
and changed the burden estimates accordingly.
    Bureau Form Numbers: Surface Management Surety Bond Form (BLM Form 
3809-1) Surface Management Personal Bond Form (BLM Form 3809-2), and 
Surface Management Generalized Bond Rider Form (BLM Form 3809-4).
    Frequency: On occasion, as applied for or reported.
    Description of Respondents: Respondents are claimants and operators 
who want to prospect, explore, mine or reclaim locatable mineral on 
public lands.
    Estimated Completion Times:
    (1) Notices of intent--600 per year, as follows: 390 at 24 hours 
each for exploration activities; 120 at 40 hours each for placer 
operations; 90 at 40 hours each for all others;
    Total annual burden--17,700 hours.
    (2) Plans of operation--150 per year, as follows: 52 for 
exploration activities 24 hours each for exploration activities; 49 for 
placer/strip mining at 80 hours each; and 49 for open pit mining at 240 
hours each.
    Total annual burden--53,100 hours.
    (3) Compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 
Plans of operations--EA's for 52 mines conducting exploration 
activities at 320 hours each; EA's for 93 mines conducting mining 
activities at 64 hours each; EIS's for 5 mines conducting mining 
activities at 2480 hours each.
    Total annual burden--88,560 hours.
    (4) Complying with Requirements of the National Historic 
Preservation Act Plans of operations--150 plans at 30 hours each per 
cultural survey.
    Total annual burden--450 hours.
    (5) Forms: 8 minutes per form for all forms.
    Total annual burden--22 hours.
    Annual responses: 750 (1 per respondent per year).
    Annual burden hours: 125,808 hours.
    Collection Clearance Officer: Carole Smith, (202) 452-0367.

    Dated: March 28, 2000.
Carole Smith,
BLM Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-8303 Filed 4-4-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-M