[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 171 (Wednesday, September 3, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51513-51514]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-20379]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement


Notice of Proposed Information Collection for 1029-0043 and 1029-
0112

AGENCY: Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Interior.

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 approval for the 
collections of information for 30 CFR 772, Requirements for coal 
exploration; and 30 CFR 800, Bond and insurance requirements for 
surface coal mining and reclamation operations under regulatory 
programs.

DATES: Comments on the proposed information collection activities must 
be received by November 3, 2008, 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 request, explanatory information and related forms, contact 
John Trelease, at (202) 208-2783 or via e-mail at the address listed 
above.

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 that OSM will be 
submitting to OMB for approval. These collections are contained in (1) 
30 CFR 772, Requirements for coal exploration; and (2) 30 CFR 800, Bond 
and insurance requirements for surface coal mining and reclamation 
operations under regulatory programs. 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.
    Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment, including your personal identifying 
information, may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.
    The following information is provided for the 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: 30 CFR 772--Requirements for coal exploration.
    OMB Control Number: 1029-0112.
    Summary: OSM and State regulatory authorities use the information 
collected under 30 CFR Part 772 to maintain knowledge of coal 
exploration activities, evaluate the need for an exploration permit, 
and ensure that exploration activities comply with the environmental 
protection and reclamation requirements of 30 CFR Parts 772 and 815 and 
section 512 of SMCRA (30 U.S.C. 1262)
    Bureau Form Number: None.
    Frequency of Collection: Once.
    Description of Respondents: Persons planning to conduct coal 
exploration and State regulatory authorities.
    Total Annual Responses: 905.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 8,218.

    Title: 30 CFR 800--Bond and insurance requirements for surface coal 
mining and reclamation operations under regulatory programs.
    OMB Control Number: 1029-0043.
    Summary: The regulations at 30 CFR Part 800 primarily implement 
Sec.  509 of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 
(SMCRA or the Act), 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

[[Page 51514]]

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 Collection: On Occasion.
    Description of Respondents: Surface coal mining and reclamation 
permittees and State regulatory authorities.
    Total Annual Responses: 14,175.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 133,364 hours.
    Total Annual Non-wage costs: $2,123,454.

    Dated: August 27, 2008.
John R. Craynon,
Chief, Division of Regulatory Support.
[FR Doc. E8-20379 Filed 9-2-08; 8:45 am]
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