[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 165 (Friday, August 24, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44641-44642]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-21473]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[WO-310-1310-PB-24 1A]


Extension of Approved Information Collection, OMB Approval Number 
1004-0145

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) is requesting the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) to extend an existing approval to collect information 
from lessees, record title holders, operating rights owners, and 
operators on oil and gas leasing and exploration activities. BLM 
collects this information to determine compliance with the terms and 
conditions of the oil and gas lease and to monitor oil and gas leasing 
and exploration activities BLM approves. The nonform information under 
43 CFR 3000-3120 authorizes BLM to manage oil and gas leasing and 
exploration activities.

DATES: You must submit your comments to BLM at the address below on or 
before October 23, 2001. BLM will not necessarily consider any comments 
received after the above date.

ADDRESSES: You may mail comments to: Regulatory Affairs Group (630), 
Bureau of Land Management, Mailstop 401LS, 1849 C Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20240.
    You may send comments via Internet to: [email protected]. Please 
include ``ATTN: 1004-0145'' and your name and return address in your 
Internet message.
    You may deliver comments 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 Barbara Gamble on 
(202) 452-0338 (Commercial or FTS). Persons who use a telecommunication 
device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay 
Service (FIRS) on 1-800-877-8330, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to 
contact Ms. Gamble.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 5 CFR 1320.12(a) requires that we provide a 
60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning a collection of 
information to solicit comments on:
    (a) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the 
proper functioning of the agency, including whether the information 
will have practical utility;
    (b) the accuracy of our estimates of the information collection 
burden, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions we 
use;
    (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information collected; and
    ways to minimize the information collection burden on those who are 
to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological

[[Page 44642]]

collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
    The Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 (MLA), 30 U.S.C. 191 et seq., gives 
the Secretary of the Interior responsibility for oil and gas leasing on 
approximately 570 million acres of public lands and national forests, 
and private lands where the mineral rights are reserved by the Federal 
Government. The Act of May 21, 1930 (30 U.S.C. 301-306), authorizes the 
leasing of oil and gas deposits under railroads and other rights-of-
way. 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 regulations under 43 CFR 3000-3120 authorize 
BLM to manage the oil and gas leasing and exploration activities. 
Without the information, BLM would not be able to analyze and approve 
oil and gas leasing and exploration activities.
    BLM collects nonform information on oil and gas leasing and 
exploration activities when the lessee, record title holder, operating 
rights owner, or operator files any of the following information for 
BLM to adjudicate:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Information collection on oil and gas leasing and        Estimated
                 exploration activities                    burden hours
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1. Notice of option holdings for acreage chargeability               1
 option statement......................................
2. Petition requesting additional time to divest excess              1
 acreage...............................................
3. Statement showing date, acreage, State in which                   1
 leases are held.......................................
4. Statement showing unit agreement entered into if                  1.5
 lease is for lands within an approved unit............
5. Application for waiver, suspension, or reduction of               1
 rental or royalty.....................................
6. Copy of communitization or drilling agreement                     2
 interest held in operating, drilling, or development
 contracts.............................................
7. Application to combine operations or transport oil..              2
8. Application for subsurface storage of oil and gas...              2
9. Statement that heirs and devisees are qualified to                1
 hold lease............................................
10. Reporting a change of name.........................              1
11. Notification of corporate merger...................              2
12. Application for renewing lease.....................              1
13. Application to relinquish lease....................              0.5
14. Application to reinstate lease.....................              0.5
15. Application for lease located within a right-of-way              1
16. Application for oil and gas exploration permit in                1
 Alaska................................................
17. Reporting date of exploration activities...........              1
18. Reporting completion of operations.................              1
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    Based upon BLM experience with managing the oil and gas leasing and 
exploration activities, we estimate the above public reporting 
information collection burden. The estimated number of responses per 
year is 1,400 and the total annual burden is 1,400 hours.
    BLM will summarize all responses to this notice and include them in 
the request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of 
public record.

    Dated: July 30, 2001.
Michael H. Schwartz,
BLM Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 01-21473 Filed 8-23-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-M