[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 225 (Thursday, November 20, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70364-70365]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-27653]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLWO320.LL120000.PC0000.24-1A]


Extension of Approved Information Collection, OMB Control Number 
1004-0165

AGENCY: 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) requests the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) to extend an existing approval to collect information from 
individuals submitting nominations for significant caves under the 
Federal Cave Resources Protection Act of 1988 and to request 
confidential cave information. BLM needs the information to determine 
which caves we will list as significant and decide whether to grant 
access to confidential cave information.

DATES: You must submit your comments to BLM at the address below on or 
before January 20, 2009. BLM will not necessarily consider any comments 
postmarked or received after the above date.

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-
0165) Washington, DC 20240.
    Personal or messenger delivery: 1620 L Street, NW., Room 401, 
Washington, DC 20036.
    E-mail: [email protected] (Attn.: 1004-0165)
    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 Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: You may contact James Goodbar, BLM 
Field Office, Carlsbad, New Mexico, on (505) 234-5929 (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 contact Mr. Goodbar.

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 Federal Cave Resources Protection Act of 1988, 102 Stat. 4546, 
16 U.S.C. 4301, requires the identification, protection, and 
maintenance of significant caves on public lands the Department of the 
Interior, BLM manages. The implementing regulations are found at 43 CFR 
part 37--Cave Management. Federal agencies must consult with ``cavers'' 
and other interested parties and develop a list of significant caves. 
The regulations establish criteria for identifying significant caves 
and integrate cave management into existing planning and management 
processes to protect cave resource information. We use this information 
to prevent

[[Page 70365]]

vandalism and disturbance of significant caves. Other Federal or state 
agencies, bona fide education or research institutes, or individuals or 
organizations that assist land management agencies with cave management 
activities may request access to confidential cave information. BLM 
uses the Significant Cave Nomination Worksheet to collect some of the 
requested information on cave management activities.
    Based on BLM's experience administering this program, we estimate 
the public reporting burden is 3 hours for each nomination and 30 
minutes for each request for confidential cave information. BLM 
estimates that 50 cave nominations and 10 requests for confidential 
cave information will be filed annually, with a total annual burden of 
155 hours. Respondents are cavers and other interested parties.
    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 13, 2008.
Ted Hudson,
Acting Information Collection Clearance Officer, Bureau of Land 
Management.
[FR Doc. E8-27653 Filed 11-19-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-P