[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 4 (Friday, January 5, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 1152]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-373]



[[Page 1152]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[NM091-9941-EK-HE931]


Extension of Approved Information Collection, OMB Approval Number 
1004-0180

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 
owners and operators of helium-bearing natural gas wells and 
transmission lines pertaining to natural gas analyses. BLM uses this 
information to evaluate the helium resources of the United States (BLM 
Form 3100-12).

DATES: You must submit your comments to BLM at the appropriate address 
below on or before March 6, 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: 1004-0180'' 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 p.m.), Monday 
through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: You may contact Brent Gage on (806) 
324-2659 (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 Mr. Gage.

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 BLM Form 3100-12 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. 3501 et seq.
    The Gas Well Data-Survey of Helium-Bearing Natural Gas, BLM Form 
3100-12, provides for the gas sampling and analysis program used to 
locate helium occurrences in natural gases. BLM carries out this 
program under 74 Stat. 920, Public Law 104-273, Helium Privatization 
Act of 1996. The knowledge of helium occurrences is part of the 
Government's conservation program. BLM uses this information to 
evaluate the extent of any helium resources existing in the natural 
gas.
    Without this information, BLM would not possess knowledge of the 
nature, location, and extent of domestic helium resources. The location 
and development of helium reserves and helium conservation and 
production are necessary to assure a supply of helium is available to 
the Federal Government.
    Based on BLM's experience administering the activities described 
above, we estimate the public reporting burden for the information 
collected to average 15 minutes per response. The respondents include 
owners and operators of helium-bearing natural gas wells and 
transmission lines. The frequency of response is annual. The estimated 
number of responses per year is 200. The estimated total annual burden 
is 50 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: January 2, 2001.
Michael Schwartz,
BLM Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 01-373 Filed 1-4-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-M