[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 3 (Wednesday, January 5, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 777-778]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-180]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 3 / Wednesday, January 5, 2005 / 
Notices  

[[Page 777]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Request for Comments; Locatable Minerals

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals and 
organizations on the extension of an information collection associated 
with Locatable Minerals operations on National Forest System lands.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before March 7, 2005 
to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date will 
be considered to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: Comments concerning this notice should be addressed to 
Director, Minerals and Geology Management, Mail Stop 1126, USDA Forest 
Service, USDA, P.O. Box 96090, Washington, DC 20090-6090.
    Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to (703) 605-1575 or 
by e-mail to [email protected].
    The public may inspect comments received at the Office of Director, 
Minerals and Geology Management, Forest Service, USDA, 5th Floor, 
Rosslyn Plaza ``C'' Building, 1601 North Kent Street, Arlington, VA 
22209 during normal business hours. Visitors are encouraged to call 
(703) 605-4852 to facilitate entry into the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sam Hotchkiss, Minerals and Geology 
Management, at (703) 605-4852. Individuals who use telecommunication 
devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay 
Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 twenty-four hours a day, every day of 
the year, including holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Locatable Minerals.
    OMB Number: 0596-0022.
    Expiration Date of Approval: July 31, 2005.
    Type of Request: Extension with no revision.
    Abstract: This collection of information is necessary to ensure 
that the environmental impacts associated with locatable mineral 
operations on National Forest System lands are minimized to the extent 
practicable. The Forest Service regulations at 36 CFR 228.5 require 
operators, with some exceptions, to submit a Notice of Intent or a Plan 
of Operations for conducting locatable minerals operations on National 
Forest System lands. The information that an operator must provide in a 
Plan of Operations is set out in 36 CFR 228.4(c), (d), and (e). The 
content of a Notice of Intent is described in 36 CFR 228.4(a)(2), and 
the content regarding Cessation of Operations is described in 36 CFR 
228.10. Paragraph (g) of 36 CFR 228.4 displays the OMB number assigned 
to the information collection associated with locatable mineral 
operations.
    Mineral operators notify the authorized Forest Service officer of 
their intention to conduct a locatable mineral operation on National 
Forest System lands by filing either a Notice of Intent or a Plan of 
Operations. No specific format is required for the information 
collection, but the form, FS-2800-5, Plan of Operations for Mining 
Activities on National Forest System lands, is available for use by the 
operators.
    A Plan of Operations includes the following information: (1) The 
name and legal mailing address of operators (and claimants if they are 
not the operators) and their lessees, assigns, or designees; (2) a map 
or sketch showing information sufficient to locate the proposed area of 
operations on the ground, existing and/or proposed roads or access 
routes to be used in connection with the operations as set forth in 
228.12 on access and the approximate location and size of areas where 
surface resources will be disturbed; and (3) information sufficient to 
describe the type of operations proposed and how they would be 
conducted, the type and standard of existing and proposed roads or 
access routes, the means of transportation used or to be used as set 
forth in 228.12, the period during which the proposed activity will 
take place, and measures to be taken to meet the requirements for 
environmental protection in 36 CFR 228.8.
    A Notice of Intent includes the following information: (1) 
Information sufficient to identify the area involved; (2) the nature of 
the proposed operation; (3) the route of access to the area of 
operations; and (4) the method of transport. A Cessation of Operations 
statement includes verification of intent to maintain structures, 
equipment, and other facilities; expected reopening date; and an 
estimate of extended durations of operations.
    These collections of information are crucial for protecting surface 
resources, plants, animals and their habitat, as well as the public 
safety on National Forest System lands. The collected information will 
help ensure that the exploration, development, and production of 
mineral resources are conducted in an environmentally sensitive manner; 
that these mineral operations are integrated with the planning and 
management of other resources using the principles of ecosystem 
management; and, that lands disturbed by minerals operations are 
reclaimed using the best scientific knowledge and principles and 
returned to other productive uses.
    The following table shows the estimated time it takes an operator 
for an average Plan of Operations, Notice of Intent, and a Cessation of 
Operations to gather the appropriate information and put it into a 
logical order before submitting it to the Forest Service. The table 
also shows the number of the various types of locatable mineral 
operations received:

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                                          Plan of operations        Notice of intent     Cessation of operations
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Estimate of Annual Burden............  8 hours................  2 hours................  1 hour.
Type of Respondents..................  Mineral Operators......  Mineral Operators......  Mineral Operators.
Estimated Annual Number of             736....................  1,396..................  19
 Respondents.
Estimated Annual Number of Responses   1......................  1......................  1
 per Respondent.

[[Page 778]]

 
Estimated Total Annual Burden on       5,888..................  2,792..................  19
 Respondents.
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    Comment is invited on: (1) Whether this collection of information 
is necessary for the stated purposes and the proper performance of the 
functions of the agency, including whether the information will have 
practical or scientific utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's 
estimate of the burden of the collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance 
the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; 
and (4) 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.
    All comments received in response to this notice, including names 
and addresses when provided, will be a matter of public record. 
Comments will be summarized and included in the submission for Office 
of Management and Budget approval.

    Dated: December 28, 2004.
Dave Holland,
Acting Deputy Chief for National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 05-180 Filed 1-4-05; 8:45 am]
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