[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 61 (Monday, March 31, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15482-15483]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-7562]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement


Notice of Proposed Information Collection for 1029-0035 and 1029-
0063

AGENCY: Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is 
announcing that the information collection requests for the titles 
described below have been forwarded to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The information collection 
requests describe the nature of the information collections and their 
expected burden and cost.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before April 30, 2003, to be 
assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request a copy of either 
information collection request, explanatory information and related 
form, contact John A. Trelease at (202) 208-2783. You may also contact 
Mr. Trelease at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
regulations at 5 CFR 1320, which implement provisions of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13),

[[Page 15483]]

require that interested members of the public and affected agencies 
have an opportunity to comment on information collection and 
recordkeeping activities [see 5 CFR 1320.8(d)]. OSM has submitted two 
requests to OMB to renew its approval for the collections of 
information found at 30 CFR part 779, Surface mining permit 
applications--minimum requirements for environmental resources; and for 
the Coal Production and Reclamation Fee Report--Form OSM-1. OSM is 
requesting a 3-year term of approval for these information collection 
activities.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a 
currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control number for these 
collections of information are 1029-0035 for Part 779 and 1029-0063 for 
the OSM-1 form.
    As required under 5 CFR 1320.8(d), a Federal Register notice 
soliciting comments on these collections of information was published 
on January 17, 2003 (68 FR 2574). No comments were received. This 
notice provides the public with an additional 30 days in which to 
comment on the following information collection activities:
    Title: Surface mining permit applications--minimum requirements for 
environmental resources, 30 CFR Part 779.
    OMB Control Number: 1029-0035.
    Summary: Applicants for surface coal mining permits are required to 
provide adequate descriptions of the environmental resources that may 
be affected by proposed surface mining activities. The information will 
be used by the regulatory authority to determine if the applicant can 
comply with environmental protection performance standards.
    Bureau Form Number: None.
    Frequency of Collection: Once upon submittal of mining application.
    Description of Respondents: Coal mining companies and state 
regulatory authorities.
    Total Annual Responses: 325.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 52,813 hours.

    Title: Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund--Fee Collection and Coal 
Production Reporting, 30 CFR Part 870.
    OMB Control Number: 1029-0063.
    Summary: The information is used to maintain a record of coal 
produced for sale, transfer, or use nationwide each calendar quarter, 
the method of coal removal and the type of coal, and the basis for coal 
tonnage reporting in compliance with 30 CFR 870 and sections 401 and 
402 of Public Law 95-87. Individual reclamation fee payment liability 
is based on this information. Without the collection of information OSM 
could not implement its regulatory responsibilities and collect the 
fee. This submission is mandatory. Estimated time to complete the OSM-1 
form is 16 minutes for paper copy and 5 minutes using electronic means.
    Bureau Form Number: OSM-1.
    Frequency of Collection: Quarterly.
    Description of Respondents: Coal mine permittees.
    Total Annual Responses: 12,364.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,605.

    Send comments on the need for the collection of information for the 
performances of the functions of the agency; the accuracy of the 
agency's burden estimates; ways to enhance the quality, utility and 
clarity of the information collection; and ways to minimize the 
information collection burden on respondents, such as use of automated 
means of collection of the information, to the following address. 
Please refer to the appropriate OMB control number in all 
correspondence.

ADDRESSES: Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of 
Management and Budget, Attention: Department of Interior Desk Officer, 
725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503, and to John A. Trelease, 
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 1951 Constitution 
Ave, NW., Room 210-SIB, Washington, DC 20240.

    Dated: March 20, 2003.
Richard G. Bryson,
Acting Assistant Director, Program Support.
[FR Doc. 03-7562 Filed 3-28-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-M