[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 76 (Tuesday, April 20, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21158-21159]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-8902]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement


Notice of Proposed Information Collection for 1029-0124

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 its intention to request approval for the collection of 
information for Revegetation: Standards for Success required for 
surface mining activities and underground mining activities at 30 CFR 
816.116 and 817.116. OSM submitted an emergency request to the Office 
of Management and Budget to seek approval for OSM to continue 
collecting the information required by these sections. OMB approved the 
request and assigned them clearance number 1029-0124.

DATES: Comments on the proposed information collection must be received

[[Page 21159]]

by June 21, 2004, to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to John A. Trelease, Office of 
Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 1951 Constitution Ave., 
NW., Room 210--SIB, Washington, DC. 20240. Comments may also be 
submitted electronically to [email protected].

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.

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), 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)).
    This notice identifies information collections at 30 CFR 816.116 
and 817.116 that OSM will be submitting to OMB.
    OSM previously received approval for collection activities for 30 
CFR part 816 and part 817. They were assigned clearance number 1029-
0047. However, OSM inadvertently failed to include in the clearance 
request existing collection requirements for Sec. Sec.  816.116 and 
817.116. These sections require State regulatory authorities to develop 
statistically valid sampling techniques, and for operators to document 
revegetation information during Phase 3 bond release. OSM requested and 
received an emergency clearance from OMB for the collection activities 
in Sec. Sec.  816.116 and 817.116. They were assigned clearance number 
1029-0124. Now, OSM is seeking a 3-year term of approval for these 
collections.
    Comments are invited on: (1) The need for the collection of 
information for the performance of the functions of the agency; (2) the 
accuracy of the agency's burden estimates; (3) ways to enhance the 
quality, utility and clarity of the information collection; and (4) 
ways to minimize the information collection burden on respondents, such 
as use of automated means of collection of the information. A summary 
of the public comments will accompany OSM's submission of the 
information collection request to OMB.
    This notice provides the public with 60 days in which to comment on 
the following information collection activity:
    Title: Revegetation: Standards for Success, 30 CFR 816.116 and 
817.116.
    OMB Control Number: 1029-0124.
    Summary: Section 515 and 516 of the Surface Mining Control and 
Reclamation Act of 1977 provides that permittees conducting coal mining 
operations shall meet all applicable performance standards of the Act. 
The information collected is used by the regulatory authority in 
inspecting surface and underground coal mining reclamation activities 
to ensure that they are revegetated in accordance with applicable State 
requirements.
    Bureau Form Number: None.
    Frequency of Collection: Once.
    Description of Respondents: Coal mining operators and State 
regulatory authorities.
    Total Annual Responses: 882.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 70,600.
    Total Annual Non-Wage Costs: $44,000.

    Dated: April 14, 2004.
Sarah E. Donnelly,
Acting Chief, Division of Regulatory Support.
[FR Doc. 04-8902 Filed 4-19-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-M