[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 235 (Monday, December 8, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68422-68423]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-30345]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement


Notice of Proposed Information Collection for 1029-0115, 1029-
0116 and 1029-0117

AGENCY: Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Interior.

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 30 CFR part 773 
(Requirements for permits and permit processing), part 774 (Revision; 
Renewal; and Transfer, Assignment, or Sale of Permit Rights), and part 
778 (Permit Applications--Minimum Requirements for Legal, Financial, 
Compliance, and Related Information) have been forwarded to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and reauthorization. The 
information collection packages were previously approved and assigned 
clearance numbers 1029--0115 for 30 CFR part 773, 1029-0116 for 30 CFR 
part 774, and 1029-0117 for 30 CFR part 778. This notice describes the 
nature of the information collection activities and the expected 
burdens.

DATES: OMB has up to 60 days to approve or disapprove the information 
collection but may respond after 30 days. Therefore, public comments 
should be submitted to OMB by January 7, 2003, in order to be assured 
of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request a copy of the information 
collection requests, explanatory information and related forms, contact 
John A. Trelease at (202) 208-2783, or electronically to 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
regulations at 5 CFR part 1320, which implement provisions of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13), 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 requests to OMB to 
renew its approval for the collections of information for 30 CFR part 
773 (Requirements for permits and permit processing), part 774 
(Revision; Renewal; and Transfer, Assignment, or Sale of Permit 
Rights), and part 778 (Permit Applications--Minimum Requirements for 
Legal, Financial, Compliance, and Related Information). 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 numbers for these 
collections of information are listed in 30 CFR 773.3, which is 1029-
0115; in 30 CFR 774.9, which is 1029-0116; and in 30 CFR 778.8, which 
is 1029-0117.
    As required under 5 CFR 1320.8(d), a Federal Register notice 
soliciting comments on these collections of information was published 
on August 1, 2003 (68 FR 45275). 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: Requirements for Permits and Permit Processing, 30 CFR part 
773.
    OMB Control Number: 1029-0115.
    Summary: The collection activities for this part ensure that the 
public has the opportunity to review permit applications prior to their 
approval, and that applicants for permanent program permits or their 
associates who are in violation of the Surface Mining Control

[[Page 68423]]

and Reclamation Act do not receive surface coal mining permits pending 
resolution of their violations.
    Bureau Form Number: None.
    Frequency of Collection: Once.
    Description of Respondents: Applicants for surface coal mining and 
reclamation permits and State governments and Indian tribes.
    Total Annual Responses: 324.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 11,058.
    Total Non-wage Costs: $12,040.

    Title: Revisions; Renewals; and Transfer, Assignment, or Sale of 
Permit Rights--30 CFR part 774.
    OMB Control Number: 1029-0116.
    Summary: Sections 506 and 511 of Pub. L. 95-87 provide that persons 
seeking permit revisions, renewals, transfer, assignment, or sale of 
their permit rights for coal mining activities submit relevant 
information to the regulatory authority to allow the regulatory 
authority to determine whether the applicant meets the requirements for 
the action anticipated.
    Bureau Form Number: None.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Description of Respondents: Surface coal mining permit applicants 
and State regulatory authorities.
    Total Annual Responses: 6,498.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 49,164.

    Title: Permit Applications--Minimum Requirements for Legal, 
Financial, Compliance, and Related Information--30 CFR part 778.
    OMB Control Number: 1029-0117.
    Summary: Section 507(b) of Pub. L. 95-87 provides that persons 
conducting coal mining activities submit to the regulatory authority 
all relevant information regarding ownership and control of the 
property affected, their compliance status and history. This 
information is used to insure all legal, financial and compliance 
requirements are satisfied prior to issuance or denial of a permit.
    Bureau Form Number: None.
    Frequency of Collection: Once.
    Description of Respondents: Surface coal mining permit applicants 
and State regulatory authorities.
    Total Annual Responses: 301.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 6,436.
    Send comments on the need for the collection of information for the 
performance 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, 1029--0115 for part 773, 1029-0116 for part 774, and 
1029-0117 for part 778.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to the Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Attention: Department of 
Interior Desk Officer, by telefax at (202) 395-6566 or via e-mail to 
[email protected]. Also, please send a copy of your comments to 
John A. Trelease, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 
1951 Constitution Ave, NW., Room 210--SIB, Washington, DC 20240, or 
electronically to [email protected].

    Dated: October 2, 2003.
Richard G. Bryson,
Chief, Division of Regulatory Support.
[FR Doc. 03-30345 Filed 12-5-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-M