[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 25 (Monday, February 9, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6418-6419]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-2639]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation


Agency Information Collection; Activities Under OMB Review; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of renewal of a currently approved collection (OMB No. 
1006-0003).

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation, we) has forwarded the following 
Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and approval: Use Authorization Application 
(Form 7-2540), OMB Control Number: 1006-0003. Title 43 CFR part 429 
requires that applicants for certain uses of Reclamation land, 
facilities, and waterbodies apply using Form 7-2540. We request your 
comments on specific aspects of the revised Use Authorization 
Application Form.

DATES: OMB has up to 60 days to approve or disapprove this information 
collection, but may respond after 30 days; therefore, public comments 
must be received on or before March 11, 2009 to assure maximum 
consideration.

ADDRESSES: You may send written comments to the Desk Officer for the 
Department of the Interior at the Office of Management and Budget, 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, via facsimile to (202) 
395-6566 or e-mail to [email protected]. A copy of your comments 
should also be directed to the Bureau of Reclamation, Attention: 84-
53000, PO Box 25007, Denver, CO 80225.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Greek Taylor at: (303) 445-2895.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Bureau of Reclamation Use Authorization Application, 43 CFR 
part 429.
    Abstract: Reclamation is responsible for approximately 6.5 million 
acres of land which directly support Reclamation's Federal water 
projects in the 17 western states. Individuals or entities wanting to 
use Reclamation's lands, facilities, or waterbodies must submit an 
application to gain permission for such uses. Examples of such uses 
are:

--Agricultural uses such as grazing and farming;
--Commercial or organized recreation and sporting activities;
--Other commercial activities such as ``guiding and outfitting'' and 
``filming and photography;'' and
--Resource exploration and extraction, including sand and gravel 
removal and timber harvesting.

    Reclamation reviews applications to determine whether granting 
individual use authorizations is compatible with Reclamation's present 
or future uses of the lands, facilities, or waterbodies. When we find a 
proposed use compatible, we advise the applicant of the estimated 
administrative costs and estimated application processing time. In 
addition to the administrative costs, we require the applicant to pay a 
use fee for the use authorization based on a valuation or competitive 
bidding. If the application is for construction of a bridge, building, 
or other significant construction project, Reclamation may require that 
all plans and specifications be signed and sealed by a licensed 
professional engineer.
    We changed the form and its instructions to comply with revisions 
to 43 CFR part 429. The name of the form is now ``Bureau of Reclamation 
Use Authorization Application'' and ``right-of-use'' is replaced with 
``use authorization'' in the form and instructions. We expanded the 
examples in the instructions of proposed uses for which you must seek 
permission. The instructions reflect an application fee of $100. 
However, some applications may incur a higher cost due to additional 
required analyses such as the need to perform a valuation or to ensure 
compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act. The average cost 
for preparing an application is estimated to be $200. We made other 
changes to the form and the instructions to improve the readability and

[[Page 6419]]

information-gathering. For instance, the form now requests day and 
evening phone numbers, instead of work and home numbers.
    Frequency: Each time a use authorization is requested.
    Respondents: Individuals, corporations, companies, and State and 
local entities who want to use Reclamation lands, facilities, or 
waterbodies.
    Estimated Annual Total Number of Respondents: 175.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Number of Annual Responses: 175.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 350 hours.
    Estimated Completion Time per Respondent: 2 hours.

Comments

    We invite your comments on:
    (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of our functions, including whether the 
information will have practical use;
    (b) The accuracy of our burden estimate for the proposed collection 
of information;
    (c) Ways to enhance the quality, usefulness, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    (d) Ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on 
respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a 
currently valid OMB control number. Reclamation will display a valid 
OMB control number on the Use Authorization Application Form 7-2540. A 
Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting 
comments on this collection of information was published in the Federal 
Register (73 FR 56865, Sep. 30, 2008). No public comments were 
received.
    OMB has up to 60 days to approve or disapprove this information 
collection, but may respond after 30 days; therefore, public comment 
should be submitted to OMB within 30 days in order to assure maximum 
consideration.
    Before including your address, telephone 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.

Roseann Gonzales,
Director, Policy and Program Services, Denver Office.
[FR Doc. E9-2639 Filed 2-6-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MN-P