[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 58 (Thursday, March 25, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 15290]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-6686]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Request for Comments; FS-2800-9-Contract 
for the Sale of Mineral Materials

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Forest Service announces its intention to extend the information 
collection, FS-2800-9-Contract for the Sale of Mineral Materials. The 
collected information enables the Forest Service to ensure that 
individuals, organizations, companies, or corporations, conducting 
mining operations on National Forest System lands, conduct the 
operations in a manner consistent with all applicable land management 
laws and regulations in an environmentally responsible manner and are 
financially accountable.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before May 24, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Comments concerning this notice should be addressed to 
Director, Minerals and Geology Management Staff, Mail Stop 1126, 1601 
N. Kent Street--5th Floor, Forest Service, USDA, Arlington, VA 22209.
    Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to (703) 605-1575 or 
by e-mail to [email protected].
    The public may inspect comments in the Office of the Director, 
Minerals and Geology Management Staff, 1601 N. Kent Street--5th Floor, 
Forest Service, USDA, Arlington, Virginia, during normal business 
hours. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to (703) 605-4797 to 
facilitate entry into the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Mike Greeley, Minerals and Geology 
Management, at (703) 605-4797.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Mineral Materials Act of 1947, as amended, and the Multiple Use 
Mining Act of 1955, as amended, authorize the Secretary of Agriculture 
to dispose of petrified wood and common varieties of sand, stone, 
gravel, pumice, pumicite, cinders, clay, and other similar materials on 
lands administered by the Forest Service. Individuals, organizations, 
companies, or corporations may apply for a permit to mine these mineral 
materials using the form, FS-2800-9-Contract for the Sale of Mineral 
Materials. The agency is requesting an authorization extension for form 
FS-2800-9-Contract for the Sale of Mineral Materials.

Description of Information Collection

    The following describes the information collection to be extended:
    Title: FS-2800-9--Contract for the Sale of Mineral Materials.
    OMB Number: 0596-0081.
    Expiration Date of Approval: May 31, 2004.
    Type of Request: Extension.
    Abstract: The collected information enables the Forest Service to 
document planned operations, to prescribe the terms and conditions the 
agency deems necessary to protect surface resources, and to effect a 
binding contract agreement.
    Forest Service employees will evaluate the collected information to 
ensure that entities, applying to mine petrified wood and common 
varieties of sand, stone, gravel, pumice, pumicite, cinders, clay, and 
other similar materials on lands administered by the Forest Service, 
are financially accountable and conduct their activities in accordance 
with the mineral regulations at Part 228, subpart C, of Title 36 of the 
Code of Federal Regulations.
    Individuals, organizations, companies, or corporations, interested 
in mining mineral materials on National Forest System lands, may 
contact their local Forest Service office to inquire about 
opportunities and to learn about areas on which such activities are 
permitted. Interested parties also may request the form, FS-2800-9, at 
this time.
    Individuals, organizations, companies, or corporations are asked to 
provide information that includes the purchaser's name and address, the 
location and dimensions of the area to be mined, the kind of material 
that will be mined, the quantity of material that will be mined, the 
sales price of the mined material, the payment schedule, the amount of 
the bond, and the period of the contract.
    Data collected in this information collection are not available 
from other sources.
    Estimate of Burden: 2.5 hours.
    Type of Respondents: Mineral materials operators.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 6,000.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 15,000 hours.
    Comment is invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information will have practical or 
scientific utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance 
the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; 
and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
respondents, including the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or 
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.

Use of Comments

    All comments, including name and address when provided, will become 
a matter of public record. Comments will be summarized and included in 
the submission for Office of Management and Budget approval.

    Dated: March 19, 2004.
Gloria Manning,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 04-6686 Filed 3-24-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P