[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 146 (Tuesday, July 30, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49370-49371]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-19190]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[WO-250-1220-PC-24 1A]


Extension of Approved Information Collection, OMB Approval Number 
1004-0165

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) requests the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) to extend an existing approval to collect information from 
individuals submitting nominations for significant caves under the 
Federal Cave Resources Protection Act of 1988 and requesting 
confidential cave information. BLM needs the information to determine 
which caves we will list as significant and decide whether to grant 
access to confidential cave information.

DATES: You must submit your comments to BLM at the address below on or 
before September 30, 2002. BLM will not necessarily consider any 
comments received after the above date.

ADDRESSES: You may mail comments to: Regulatory Affairs Group (WO-630), 
Eastern States Office, 7450 Boston Blvd., Springfield, Virginia 22153.
    You may send comments via Internet to: [email protected]. Please 
include ``Attn: 1004-0165'' and your name and address with your 
comments.
    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 James Goodbar, BLM 
Field Office, Carlsbad, New Mexico, on (505) 234-5929 (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 Mr. Goodbar.

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;

[[Page 49371]]

    (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
    (d) Ways to minimize the information collection burden on those who 
are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology.
    The Federal Cave Resources Protection Act of 1988, 102 Stat. 4546, 
16 U.S.C. 4301, requires identifying, protecting, and maintaining 
significant caves on public lands the Department of the Interior, BLM 
manages. The implementing regulations are found at 43 CFR 37-Cave 
Management. Federal agencies must consult with ``cavers'' and other 
interested parties and develop a list of significant caves. The 
regulations establish criteria for identifying significant caves and 
integrate cave management into existing planning and management 
processes to protect cave resource information. We protect this 
information to prevent vandalism and disturbance of significant caves. 
Other Federal or state agencies, bona fide educational or research 
institutes, or individuals or organizations who assist land management 
agencies with cave management activities may request access to 
confidential cave information. BLM uses the Significant Cave Nomination 
Worksheet to collect some of the requested information on cave 
management activities.
    Based on BLM's experience administering this program, we estimate 
the public reporting burden is 3 hours for each nomination and 30 
minutes for each request for confidential cave information. In FY 2000, 
BLM estimated 50 cave nominations and 10 requests for confidential cave 
information are filed annually, with a total annual burden of 155 
hours. Respondents are cavers and other interested parties.
    BLM will summarize all responses to this notice and include them in 
the request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of a 
public record.

    Dated: July 19, 2002.
Michael H. Schwartz,
Bureau of Land Management, Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 02-19190 Filed 7-29-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-M