[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 235 (Thursday, December 8, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73024-73025]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-23785]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement


Notice of Proposed Information Collection for 1029-0043

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 that the information collection request for the title 
described below 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 for 30 CFR part 800, Bonding and insurance requirements 
for surface coal mining and reclamation operations under regulatory 
programs.

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 January 9, 2006, in order to be assured 
of consideration.

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 202-SIB, Washington, DC 20240, or 
electronically to [email protected].

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: 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 submitted a 
request to OMB to renew its approval for the collection of information 
contained in 30 CFR part 800, Bonding and insurance requirements for 
surface coal mining

[[Page 73025]]

and reclamation operations under regulatory programs. OSM is requesting 
a 3-year term of approval for each information collection activity.
    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 number for this 
collection of information is 1029-0043 for 30 CFR part 800.
    As required under 5 CFR 1320.8(d), a Federal Register notice 
soliciting comments for this collection of information was published on 
July 27, 2005 (70 FR 43451). 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: Bond and insurance requirements for surface coal mining and 
reclamation operations under regulatory programs, 30 CFR part 800.
    OMB Control Number: 1029-0043.
    Summary: The regulations at 30 CFR part 800 primarily implemented 
Sec.  509 of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, 
which requires that persons planning to conduct surface coal mining 
operations first post a performance bond to guarantee fulfillment of 
all reclamation obligations under the approved permit. The regulations 
also establish bond release requirements and procedures consistent with 
Sec.  519 of the Act, liability insurance requirements pursuant to 
Sec.  507(f) of the Act, and procedures for bond forfeiture should the 
permittee default on reclamation obligations.
    Bureau Form Number: None.
    Frequency of Collection: On Occasion.
    Description of Respondents: Surface coal mining and reclamation 
applicants and State regulatory authorities.
    Total Annual Responses: 13,880.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 131,384 hours.
    Total Annual Cost Burden: $2,073,000.
    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 collections; 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 numbers in all 
correspondence.

    Dated: September 27, 2005.
John R. Craynon,
Chief, Division of Regulatory Support.
[FR Doc. 05-23785 Filed 12-7-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-M