[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 225 (Thursday, November 20, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70362-70363]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-27624]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLWO31000.L13100000.PB0000.24-1A]


Extension of Approval of Information Collection, OMB Control 
Number 1004-0034

AGENCY: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, 
Interior.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is requesting the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) to extend an existing approval to collect information 
from those person who wish to transfer interest in oil and gas or 
geothermal leases by assignment or record title or transfer operating 
rights (sublease) in oil and gas or geothermal leases under the terms 
of mineral leasing laws. The BLM uses Form 3000-3, Assignment of Record 
Title Interest in a Lease for Oil and Gas or Geothermal Resources, and 
Form 3000-3a, Transfer of Operating Rights (sublease) in a Lease for 
Oil and Gas or Geothermal Resources, to collect this information. This 
information allows the BLM to transfer interest in oil or gas or 
geothermal leases by assignment of record title or transfer operating 
rights (sublease) in oil or gas or geothermal leases under the 
regulations at 43 CFR subparts 3106, 3135, and 3216.

DATES: You must submit your comments to the address below no later than 
January 20, 2009. Comments received or postmarked after this date may 
not be considered.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
    Mail: U.S. Department of the Interior, Director (630), Bureau of 
Land Management, Mail Stop 401 LS, 1849 C St., NW., (Attention: 1004-
0034), Washington, DC 20240.
    Personal or messenger delivery: 1620 L Street, NW., Room 401, 
Washington, DC 20036.
    E-mail: [email protected] (Attn.: 1004-0034)
    All comments will be available for public review at the L Street 
address during regular business hours (7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.), Monday 
through Friday, except on Federal holidays.
    Before including your address, telephone number, e-mail address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, be advised that 
your entire comment--including your personal identifying information--
may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask in your 
comment to withhold from public review your personal identifying 
information, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: You may contact Barbara Gamble, 
Division of Fluid Minerals, at 202-452-0338 (Commercial or FTS). 
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 week, to leave a message for Ms. Gamble.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 5 CFR 1320.12(a) requires that we provide a 
60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning a collection of 
information to solicit comments on:
    (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.
    The Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 (MLA) (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.) and 
the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (30 U.S.C. 1001-1025) authorize the 
Secretary of the Interior to issue leases for development of Federal 
oil and gas and geothermal resources. The Act of August 7, 1947 
(Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands) authorizes the Secretary to 
lease lands acquired by the United States (30 U.S.C. 341-359). The 
Department of the Interior Appropriations Act of 1981 (42 U.S.C. 6508) 
provides for the competitive leasing of lands for oil and gas in the 
National Petroleum Reserve--Alaska (NPRA). The Attorney General's 
Opinion of April 2, 1941 (40 Opinion of the Attorney General 41) 
provides the basis under which the Secretary issues certain leases for 
lands being drained of mineral resources. The Federal Property and 
Administrative Services Act of 1949 (40 U.S.C. 471 et seq.) provides 
the authority for leasing lands acquired from the General Services 
Administration.

[[Page 70363]]

    Assignor/transferor submits Form 3000-3, Assignment of Record Title 
Interest in a Lease for Oil and Gas or Geothermal Resources, and Form 
3000-3a, Transfer of Operating Rights (Sublease) in a Lease for Oil and 
Gas or Geothermal Resources, to transfer interest in oil and gas or 
geothermal leases by assignment of record title or transfer operating 
rights (sublease) in oil and gas or geothermal leases under the 
regulations in 43 CFR subparts 3106, 3135, and 3216. These regulations 
outline the procedures for assigning record title interest and 
transferring operating rights in a lease to explore for, develop, and 
produce oil and gas resources and geothermal resources.
    The assignor/transferor provides the required information to comply 
with the regulations in order to process the assignments of record 
title interest or transfer of operating rights (sublease) in a lease 
for oil and gas or geothermal resources. The assignor/transferor 
submits the required information to BLM for approval under 30 U.S.C. 
187a and the regulations at 43 CFR subparts 3106, 3135, and 3216.
    BLM uses the information submitted by the assignor/transferor to 
identify the interest ownership that is assigned or transferred and the 
qualifications of the assignee-transferee. BLM determines whether the 
assignee-transferee is qualified to obtain the interest sought and 
ensures that the assignee/transferee does not exceed statutory acreage 
limitations.
    Based on BLM's experience administering the activities described 
above, we estimate it takes 30 minutes per response to gather and 
provide the required information. The respondents include individuals, 
small businesses, and large corporations. The frequency of response is 
occasional. We estimate 60,000 responses per year and a total annual 
burden of 30,000 hours.
    BLM will summarize all responses to this notice and include them in 
the request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of 
public record.

    Dated: November 14, 2008.
Ted R. Hudson,
Acting Information Collection Clearance Officer, Bureau of Land 
Management.
[FR Doc. E8-27624 Filed 11-19-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-P