[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 11 (Thursday, January 18, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2302-2303]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-164]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[WO-320-1990-PB-24 1A]


Submission to Office of Management and Budget--Information 
Collection, OMB Control Number 1004-0194

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interor.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has submitted a request for an 
extension of an approved information collection to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for approval.

DATES: The OMB is required to respond to this request within 60 days 
but may respond after 30 days. Submit your comments to OMB at the 
address below by February 20, 2007 to receive maximum consideration.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to the OMB, Interior Department Desk Office 
(1004-0194), at OMB-OIRA via e-mail [email protected] or via 
facsimile at (202) 395-6566. Also please send a copy of your comments 
to BLM via Internet and include your name, address, and ATTN: 1004-0194 
in your Internet message to [email protected] or via mail 
to: U.S. Department of the Interior,

[[Page 2303]]

Bureau of Land Management, Mail Stop 401LS, 1849 C Street, NW., ATTN: 
Bureau Information Collection Clearance Officer (WO-630), Washington, 
DC 20240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: You may contact Shirlean Beshir to 
obtain copies and explanatory material on this information collection 
at (202) 452-5033. Persons who use a telecommunication device for the 
deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) on 1-
800-877-8330, 24 hours a day, seven days a wek, to contact Ms. Beshir.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 6, 2006, the BLM published a notice 
in the Federal Register (71 FR 11224) requesting comments on the 
information collection. The comment period closed on May 5, 2006. The 
BLM did not receive any comments. We are soliciting comments on the 
following:
    (a) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the 
proper functioning of the agency, including whether the information 
will have practical utility;
    (b) The accuracy of our estimates of the information collection 
burden, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions we 
use;
    (c) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information collected; and
    (d) Ways to minimize the information collection burden on those who 
are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology.
    Title: Surface Management (43 CFR subpart 3809).
    OMB Control Number: 1004-0194.
    Abstract: Under the General Mining Law, a citizen may enter onto 
public domain lands that are subject to the law to prospect and explore 
for valuable mineral deposits. They may do so without seeking the 
government's permission beforehand. The rights to a deposit of a 
valuable mineral are granted through the act of discovering the mineral 
deposit. After making a discovery, a prospector may choose to locate 
and record a mining claim to protect investments in exploration and to 
have a secure tenure to discovered valuable mineral deposits. Locating 
a mining claim is not a prerequesite for conducting operations on the 
public lands, nor is it even a requirement for carrying out mining 
operations. The BLM uses the regulations at 43 CFR subpart 3809 to 
govern hardrock mineral exploration and development on the public lands 
and Federal interests in the lands. The hardrock minerals are subject 
to the provisions of the 1872 General Mining Law (30 U.S.C. 22, et 
seq., as amended).
    BLM collects form and nonform information on surface management 
activities from mining claimants and operators.
    Burden Estimate Per Form: The following chart lists form and non-
form information collection requirements that are submitted quarterly, 
monthly, on occasion, and annually to the BLM by the private sector.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Number of
           43 CFR Citation                      Subpart               Forms         responses            Hours/$           Burden hours     Burden/($)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-Forms:
    3809.21/.301.....................  Notice Level............  ..............             386  32 hr @ 75.............          12,352         926,400
    3809.330.........................  Notice Level              ..............             108  32 hr @ 75.............           3,456         259,200
                                        Modification.
    3809.333.........................  Notice Extension........  ..............             169  30 minutes @ 75........              85           6,253
    3809.11/.401.....................  Plan of Operations......  ..............              54  245 hr @ 90............          13,230       1,190,700
                                       EIS.....................  ..............               6  4960 hr @ 205..........          29,760       6,100,800
                                       EA-Standard.............  ..............              16  890 hr @ 90............          14,240       1,281,600
                                       EA-Exploration/Simple...  ..............              35  320 hr @ 70............          11,200         784,000
    3809.430.........................  Plan Modificaton........  ..............              96  245 hr @ 90............          23,520       2,116,900
                                       EIS.....................  ..............               2  4960 hr @ 205..........           9,920       2,033,600
                                       EA-Standard.............  ..............              29  890 hr @ 90............          25,810       2,322,900
                                       EA-Exploration/Simple...  ..............              62  320 hr @ 70............          19,840       1,388,800
Forms:
    3809.500.........................  Financial Guarantee.....          3809-1              67  8 hours @ 40...........             536          21,440
                                                                         3809-2             270  8 hours @ 40...........           2,160          86,400
                                                                         3809-4              13  8 hours @ 40...........             104           4,160
                                                                        3809-4a              10  8 hours @ 40...........              80           3,200
    3809.116.........................  Operator Change.........          3809-5              46  8 hours @ 40...........             368          14,720
                                      ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total........................  ........................  ..............           1,369  .......................         166,661      18,537,273
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Annual Responses: 1,369.
    Application Fee Per Response: 0.
    Annual Burden Hours: 166,661.

    Dated: January 11, 2007.
Ted R. Hudson,
Bureau of Land Management, Acting Division Chief Regulatory Affairs.
[FR Doc. 07-164 Filed 1-17-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-M