[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 163 (Tuesday, August 22, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51017-51018]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-21318]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[WO-220-1020-JH-01-24 1A]


Extension of Approved Information Collection, OMB Number 1004-
0019

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) intends to request renewal of an 
existing approval to collect certain information from individuals, 
households, farms or businesses interested in cooperating with the BLM 
in constructing or maintaining projects on rangelands to aid handling 
and caring for domestic livestock that are authorized to graze on 
public land. Form 4120-7 (Range Improvement Permit) is used under 
authority of Sections 4 and 15 of the Taylor Grazing Act and associated 
regulations found under 43 CFR 4120.3. It requests information 
necessary to consider an application and make a decision concerning the 
proposed rangeland improvement project.

DATES: Comments on the proposed information collection must be received 
by October 23, 2000, to assure consideration of them.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to: Regulatory Affairs Group (630), 
Bureau of Land Management, 1849 C Street NW., Room 401LS, Washington, 
DC 20240.
    Comments may be sent via Internet to: [email protected]. Please 
include ``Attn: 1004-0019'' and your name and address in your Internet 
message.
    You may hand deliver comments to the Bureau of Land Management, 
Administrative Record, Room 401, 1620 L Street, NW., Washington, DC.
    BLM will make comments available for public review at the L Street 
address during regular business hours (7:45 a.m. through 4:15 p.m.), 
Monday through Friday.

[[Page 51018]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Roberts, WO-220, 202-452-7769.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with 5 CFR 1320.12(a), the BLM 
is required to provide a 60 day notice in the Federal Register 
concerning a collection of information contained in BLM Form 4120-7 (43 
CFR 4120.3) to solicit comments on (a) whether the proposed 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 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 the collection of 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 analyze any comments 
received in response to this notice and include them with its request 
for approval from the OMB under 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.
    The Taylor Grazing Act (TGA) of 1934 (43 U.S.C. 315 et seq.), the 
Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 
et seq.) provide the authority for the BLM to administer the livestock 
grazing program consistent with land use plans, multiple use 
objectives, sustained yield, environmental values, economic 
considerations, and other factors. Sections 4 and 15 of the TGA and 
Regulations in 43 CFR 4120.3-3 allow permittees the opportunity to 
construct and maintain rangeland improvements on the public lands. The 
regulations were on February 21, 1964 (49 FR 6452) and last amended on 
February 22, 1995 (60 FR 9964). Form 4120-7, Range Improvement Permit 
is an approved form used to request and approve a rangeland improvement 
project.
    The BLM authorizes rangeland improvement projects to facilitate 
handling livestock while they are using the public lands as an 
important and integral part of grazing use administration. The 
information provided by the permittees and lessees is used by BLM to 
review requests for privately funded rangeland improvement projects for 
compatibility with multiple use objectives and land use plans, develop 
appropriate conditions and specifications, and to approve or reject the 
applications. The name and address is used to determine if the 
applicant is a grazing permittee in compliance with 43 CFR 4120.3-3(a). 
Applicants also specify if they will construct a new improvement or 
obtain a permit to maintain an existing improvement. A brief purpose or 
justification is stated to determine the compatibility with multiple 
use plans. The applicant identifies the specific location to determine 
land ownership and if needed, a plat is provided on the reverse to 
delineate linear improvements such as fences or pipelines. An estimate 
of cost or value is recorded in the event of land ownership changes 
that require appraisal of private assets for reimbursement of 
permittees for the present worth of improvements in accordance with 43 
CFR 4120.3-6(c). The BLM completes administrative codes for its records 
systems, prepares special terms and conditions as appropriate, assigns 
a completion date for construction, signs approval and makes inspection 
of the completed rangeland improvement. A copy of the approved permit 
is retained to document in BLM files.
    Because of the variations in size and complexity of rangeland 
improvement projects, BLM estimates the public reporting burden for 
this information collection at some 60 applications filed once that may 
take as little as 10 minutes to complete, while others may take as long 
as 30 minutes with an average of 20 minutes burden for each with an 
annual burden of 20 hours.
    Any interested member of the public may request and obtain a copy 
of the BLM Form 4120-7 without charge 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 be a matter of public record.

    Dated: August 16, 2000.
Shirlean Beshir,
BLM Information Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-21318 Filed 8-21-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-M