[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 8 (Tuesday, January 13, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2001-2002]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-692]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement


Notice of Proposed Information Collection for 30 CFR Parts 816 
and 817

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 request for the Permanent 
Program Performance Standards--Surface Mining Activities and 
Underground Mining Activities at 30 CFR Parts 816 and 817, has been 
forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and 
comment. The information collection request describes the nature of the 
information collection and the expected burden and cost.

DATES: OMB has up to 60 days to approve or disapprove the information 
collections but may respond after 30 days. Therefore, public comments 
should be submitted to OMB by February 12, 2004, in order to be assured 
of consideration.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The OMB regulations at 5 CFR 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 consolidated 
two information collections relating to coal mining performance 
standards, revised burden estimates, where appropriate, to reflect 
current reporting levels or adjustments based on reestimates of burden 
or respondents. OSM has submitted a request to OMB to renew its 
approval of the collection of information contained in: Permanent 
Program Performance Standards--Surface Mining Activities at 30 CFR 816, 
and Underground Mining Activities at 30 CFR 817. OSM is requesting a 3-
year term of approval for the information collection activity.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
to respond to, a collection of information

[[Page 2002]]

unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB 
control number for these collections of information are currently 1029-
0047 for Part 816, and 1029-0048 for Part 817. Due to the consolidation 
of these parts in this collection request, OSM will request approval 
for both parts under 1029-0047.
    As required under 5 CFR 1320.8(d), a Federal Register notice 
soliciting comments on this collection of information was published on 
October 7, 2003 (68 FR 57927). No comments were received. This notice 
provides the public with an additional 30 days in which to comment on 
the following information collection activity:
    Title: Permanent Program Performance Standards--Surface and 
Underground Mining Activities, 30 CFR Parts 816 and 817.
    OMB Control Number: 1029-0047.
    Summary: Sections 515 and 516 of the Surface Mining Control and 
Reclamation Act of 1977 provides that permitees conducting coal mining 
operations shall meet all applicable performance standards of the Act. 
The information collected is used by the regulatory authority in 
monitoring and inspecting coal mining activities to ensure that they 
are conducted in compliance with the requirements of the Act.
    Bureau Form Number: None.
    Frequency of Collection: Once, on occasion, quarterly and annually.
    Description of Respondents: Coal mining operators and State 
regulatory authorities.
    Total Annual Responses: 186,341.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 870,333.
    Total Nonwage Costs: $315,000.
    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 burdens on respondents, such as use of automated 
means of collections of the information, to the following addresses. 
Please refer to the appropriate OMB control number in all 
correspondence.
    ADDRESSES: Please submit your comments via e-mail to the Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 
attention: Department of Interior Desk Officer, at [email protected] or via fax to (202) 395-6566. Also, please send a 
copy of your comments to John Trelease via e-mail to 
[email protected], or through the mail to John Trelease, Office of 
Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 1951 Constitution Ave, NW., 
Room 210-SIB, Washington, DC 20240.

    Dated: December 9, 2003.
Sarah E. Donnelly,
Acting Chief, Division of Regulatory Support.
[FR Doc. 04-692 Filed 1-12-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-M