[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 210 (Thursday, October 30, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61822-61823]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-27366]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs


Information Collection for Leases and Permits, 25 CFR 162

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of proposed renewal of an information collection.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is seeking comments on the 
proposed renewal of the information collection, Leases and Permits, 
1076-0155. This action is required by the Paperwork Reduction Act.

DATE: Submit comments on or before December 29, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Ben Burshia, Chief, Division of Real Estate 
Services, Office of the Deputy Bureau Director--Trust Services, Bureau 
of Indian Affairs, 1849 C Street, NW., Mail Stop 4513 MIB, Washington, 
DC 20240. Submissions by facsimile should be sent to (202) 219-1255. 
Electronic submission of comments is not available at this time.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: You may request further information or 
obtain copies of the proposed information collection request from Ben 
Burshia at (202) 219-1195.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This collection of information is being 
renewed with substantially no change. However, as previously planned 3 
years ago, the collection has been placed in two new subparts, Subpart 
C for Residential Leases, and Subpart D for Business Leases. 
Previously, both kinds of leases were in subpart F. There is 
substantially no change in the information requested. However, after 
careful review with field personnel, the number of annual responses and 
annual hours has increased by about 50 percent. We are also adding the 
filing fee which was omitted during the last clearance.
    Request for Comments: The Bureau of Indian Affairs requests your 
comments on this collection concerning: (a) The necessity of this 
information collection 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 (hours 
and cost) of the collection of information, including the validity of 
the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways we could enhance the 
quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and 
(d) ways we could minimize the burden of the collection of the 
information on the respondents,

[[Page 61823]]

such as through the use of automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology.
    Please note that an agency may not sponsor or request, and an 
individual need not respond to, a collection of information unless it 
has a valid OMB Control Number.
    It is our policy to make all comments available to the public for 
review at the location listed in the ADDRESSES section, room 4526, 
during the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., e.s.t., Monday through 
Friday except for legal holidays. If you wish to have your name and/or 
address withheld, you must state this prominently at the beginning of 
your comments. We will honor your request according to the requirements 
of the law. All comments from organizations or representatives will be 
available for review. We may withhold comments from review for other 
reasons.
    OMB Control Number: 1076-0155.
    Type of Review: Renewal.
    Title: Leases and Permits, 25 CFR 162.
    Brief Description of Collection: Generally trust and restricted 
land may be leased by Indian land owners, with the approval of the 
Secretary of the Interior, except when specified by a specific statute. 
The Secretary requests information on the documentation collection 
initiated when processing a lease on land held in trust or restricted 
status by an individual Indian or tribe. The Secretary requires the 
information necessary to satisfy 25 CFR part 162, the information used 
to determine whether the Secretary should approve a lease, amendment, 
assignment, sublease, mortgage or related documents. No specific form 
is used, however in order to satisfy the Federal law, regulation and 
policy the respondents supply information and data, in accordance with 
25 CFR part 162.
    Respondents: Possible respondents include: Land owners of trust or 
restricted Indian land, both tribal and individual, wanting to lease 
their land or someone wanting to lease trust or restricted Indian land.
    Number of Respondents: 14,500.
    Estimated Time Per Response: The time per response varies from 15 
minutes to 4 hours.
    Frequency of Response: This is a one-time collection per lease 
approval.
    Total Annual Responses: 121,140.
    Total Annual Burden to Respondents: 106,065.
    Total Annual Fees from Respondents: BIA collects fees for 
processing submitted documents, as set forth in section 162.241 or 
162.616. The minimum administrative fee is $10.00 and the maximum 
administrative fee is $500.00. The average total administrative fee 
collected is $250.00, which is collected approximately 7,500 times, 
totaling $1,812,500.

    Dated: October 24, 2003.
Aurene M. Martin,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 03-27366 Filed 10-29-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-W7-P