[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 209 (Monday, October 30, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63353-63354]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-8955]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement


Notice of Proposed Information Collection for 1029-0047 and 1029-
0080

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 renewed authority for two 
collections of information: 30 CFR parts 816 and 817 relating to the 
permanent program performance standards--surface mining activities and 
underground mining activities, and 30 CFR part 850 authorizing State 
regulatory authorities to develop blaster certification programs. These 
information collection activities were previously approved by the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and assigned clearance numbers 
1029-0047 and 1029-0080, respectively.

DATES: Comments on the proposed information collection must be received 
by December 29, 2006, 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 202--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 requests, explanatory information and related forms, contact 
John A. Trelease, at (202) 208-2783.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
regulations at 5 CFR part 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 that OSM will be submitting to OMB for approval. These 
collections are contained in 30 CFR parts 816 and 817--Permanent 
Program Performance Standards--Surface and Underground Mining 
Activities, and 30 CFR part 850, Permanent Regulatory Program 
Requirements--Standards for Certification of Blasters. OSM will request 
a 3-year term of approval for each information collection activity.
    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.
    The following information is provided for each information 
collection: (1) Title of the information collection; (2) OMB control 
number; (3) summary of the information collection activity; and (4) 
frequency of collection, description of the respondents, estimated 
total annual responses, and the total annual reporting and 
recordkeeping burden for the collection of information.
    Title: Permanent Program Performance Standards--Surface and 
Underground Mining Activities, 30 CFR Parts 816 and 817.
    OMB Control Number: 1029-0047.
    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 
monitoring and inspecting surface 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: 326,027.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,432,142.
    Total Annual Burden Cost: $323,096.
    Title: Permanent Regulatory Program Requirements--Standards for 
Certification of Blasters, 30 CFR Part 850.
    OMB Control Number: 1029-0080.
    Summary: This part establishes the requirements and procedures 
applicable to the development of regulatory programs for the training, 
examination, and certification of persons engaging in

[[Page 63354]]

or directly responsible for the use of explosives in surface coal 
mining operations.
    Bureau Form Number: None.
    Frequency of Collection: Once.
    Description of Respondents: State regulatory authorities.
    Total Annual Responses: 1.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 173.

    Dated: October 23, 2006.
John R. Craynon,
Chief, Division of Regulatory Support.
[FR Doc. 06-8955 Filed 10-27-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-M