[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 129 (Wednesday, July 5, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 41488]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-16854]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement


Notice of Proposed Information Collection

AGENCY: Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement.

ACTION: Notice of request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is 
announcing its intention to request approval for the collection of 
information for the Abandoned Mine Land Contractor Information form.

DATES: Comments on the proposed information collection must be received 
by September 5, 2000, to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to John A. Trelease, Office of 
Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 1951 Constitution Ave, NW., 
Room 210--SIB, Washington, DC 20240. Comments may also be submitted 
electronically to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request a copy of the information 
collection request, explanatory information and related forms, contact 
John A. Trelease, at (202) 208-2783.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
regulations at 5 CFR 1320, which implement provisions of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13), require that interested members 
of the public and affected agencies have an opportunity to comment on 
information collection and recordkeeping activities (see 5 CFR 
1320.8(d)). This notice identifies information collections that OSM 
will be submitting to OMB for review and approval. This collection is 
found in the Applicant/Violator System (AVS) handbook and is prepared 
by AML contractors to ensure compliance with 30 CFR 874.16.
    OSM will request a 3-year term of approval for each information 
collection activity.
    Comments are invited on: (1) The need for the collection of 
information for the performance of the functions of the agency; (2) the 
accuracy of the agency's burden estimates; (3) ways to enhance the 
quality, utility and clarity of the information collection; and (4) 
ways to minimize the information collection burden on respondents, such 
as use of automated means of collection of the information. A summary 
of the public comments will accompany OSM's submission of the 
information collection request to OMB.
    This notice provides the public with 60 days in which to comment on 
the following information collection activity:
    Title: AML Contractor Information Form.
    OMB Control Number: 1029-xxxx.
    Summary: 30 CFR 874.16 requires that every successful bidder for an 
AML contract must be eligible under 30 CFR 773.15(b)(1) at the time of 
contract award to receive a permit or conditional permit to conduct 
surface coal mining operations. Further, the regulation requires the 
eligibility to be confirmed by OSM's automated Applicant/Violator 
System (AVS) and the contractor must be eligible under the regulations 
implementing Section 510(c) of the Surface Mining Act to receive 
permits to conduct mining operations. This form provides a tool for OSM 
and the States/Indian tribes to help them prevent persons with 
outstanding violations from conducting further mining or AML 
reclamation activities in the State.
    Bureau Form Number: None.
    Frequency of Collection: Once per contract.
    Description of Respondents: AML contract applicants and State and 
tribal regulatory authorities.
    Total Annual Responses: 519.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 465.

    Dated: June 29, 2000.
Richard G. Bryson,
Chief, Division of Regulatory Support.
[FR Doc. 00-16854 Filed 7-3-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-M