[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 247 (Friday, December 22, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80905-80906]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-32656]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[WO-310-1310-PB-01-241A]


Extension of Approved Information Collection, OMB Approval Number 
1004-0034

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) announces its intention to request 
extension of an existing approval to collect certain information from 
those persons who wish to transfer interest in oil and gas or 
geothermal leases by assignment of record title or transfer operating 
rights (sublease) in oil and gas or geothermal leases under the terms 
of the mineral leasing laws. The implementing regulations are found at 
(43 CFR 3106, 3135, and 3216).

DATES: You must submit your comments to BLM at the appropriate address 
below on or before February 20, 2001. BLM will not necessarily consider 
any comments received after the above date.

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: 1004-0034'' 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 Street, NW., Washington, DC.
    Comments will be available for public review at the L Street 
address during regular business hours (7:45 a.m. to 4:15), Monday 
through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: You may contact Barbara Gamble on 
(202) 452-0338 (Commercial or FTS). Persons who use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service at 1-800-877-8330, 24 hours a day, seven days 
a week, to contact Ms. Gamble.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 5 CFR 1320.12(a) requires BLM to provide 60-
day notice in the Federal Register concerning a collection of 
information contained in regulations in 43 CFR 3106, 3135, and 3216 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, 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 receive and analyze any comments sent in response 
to this notice and include them with its request for approval from the 
Office of Management and Budget under 44 U.S.C. U.S.C. 3510 et seq.

[[Page 80906]]

    The Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.) and the 
Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (30 U.S.C. 1001-1025) authorize the 
Secretary of the Interior to issue leases for development of Federal 
oil and gas and geothermal resources. The Act of August 7, 1947 
(Mineral Leasing Act of Acquired Lands) authorizes the Secretary to 
lease lands acquired by the United States (30 U.S.C. 341-359). The 
Department of the Interior Appropriations Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 6508) 
provides for the competitive leasing of lands for oil and gas in the 
National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPRA0. The Attorney General's 
Opinion of Apil 2, 1941 (40 Opinion of Attorney General 41) provides 
the basis under which the Secretary issues certain leases for lands 
drained of mineral resources. The Federal Property and Administrative 
Services Act of 1949 (40 U.S.C. 471 et seq.) provides the authority for 
leasing lands acquired from the General Services Administration.
    The regulations at 43 CFR 3106, 3135, and 3216 outline the 
procedures for assigned record title interest and transferring 
operating rights in a lease to explore for, develop, and produce oil 
and gas resources and geothermal resources.
    The assignor/transferor provides the needed information to comply 
with the regulations in order to process the assignments of record 
title interest or transfer of operating rights (sublease) in a lease 
for oil and gas or geothermal resources. The assignor/transfor submits 
the required information to BLM for approval in accordance with 30 
U.S.C. 187a and the regulations at 43 CFR 3106, 3135, and 3216.
    BLM uses the information submitted by the assignor/tranferor to 
identify the interest ownership that is assigned or transferred and the 
qualifications of the assignee/transferee. BLM determines if the 
assignee/transferee is qualified to obtain the interest sought and 
ensures the assignee/transferee does not exceed statutory acreage 
limitations.
    Based on BLM's experience administering the activities described 
above, we estimate the public reporting burden for the information 
collected to average 30 minutes per response. The respondents include 
individuals, small businesses, and large corporations. The frequency of 
response is annual. The estimated number of response per year is 
60,000. The estimated total annual burden is 30,000 hours. BLM 
specifically requests your comments on its estimate of the amount of 
time that it takes to prepare a response.
    BLM will summarize all responses to this notice and include them in 
the request for Office of Management and Budget approval. All comments 
will also become a matter of public record.

    Dated: December 18, 2000.
Michael Schwartz,
BLM Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-32656 Filed 12-21-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-M