[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 15 (Tuesday, January 24, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3496-3497]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-1297]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LL WO31000.L13100000.PB0000.24 1E]


Renewal and Revision of Approved Information Collection

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: 60-Day Notice and Request for Comments.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) invites public comments on, and plans 
to request approval to continue, the collection of information from 
individuals, small businesses, and large corporations who wish to 
assign record title or transfer operating rights in a lease for oil and 
gas or geothermal resources. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
has assigned control number 1004-0034 to this information collection.

DATES: Submit comments on the proposed information collection by March 
26, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by mail, fax, or electronic mail.
    Mail: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, 
1849 C Street NW., Room 2134LM, Attention: Jean Sonneman, Washington, 
DC 20240.
    Fax: to Jean Sonneman at (202) 245-0050.
    Electronic mail: [email protected].
    Please indicate ``Attn: 1004-0034'' regardless of the form of your 
comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Gamble, Division of Fluid 
Minerals, at (202) 912-7148. Persons who use a telecommunication device 
for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service 
(FIRS) at 1 (800) 877-8339, to leave a message for Ms. Gamble.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OMB regulations at 5 CFR part 1320, which 
implement provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501-
3521, require that interested members of the public and affected 
agencies be given an opportunity to comment on information collection 
and recordkeeping activities (see 5 CFR 1320.8(d) and 1320.12(a)). This 
notice identifies an information collection that the BLM plans to 
submit to OMB for approval. The Paperwork Reduction Act provides that 
an agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless 
it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Until OMB approves a 
collection of information, you are not obligated to respond.
    The BLM will request a 3-year term of approval for this 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 our 
submission of the information collection requests to OMB.
    The following information is provided for the information 
collection:
     Title: Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources: Transfers and 
Assignments (43 CFR Subparts 3106, 3135, and 3216).
    Forms:
     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.
    OMB Control Number: 1004-0034.
    Abstract: The information collected in Form 3000-3 enables the BLM 
to process applications to transfer interests in oil and gas or 
geothermal leases by assignment of record title. The information 
collected in Form 300-3a enables the BLM to process applications to 
transfer operating rights in (i.e., sublease) oil and gas or geothermal 
leases. The information in both forms enables the BLM to identify the 
interest that is proposed to be assigned or transferred; determine 
whether the proposed assignee or transferee is qualified to obtain the 
interest sought; and ensure that the proposed assignee or transferee 
does not exceed statutory acreage limitations.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion. Responses are required to 
obtain or retain a benefit.
    Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: Approximately 
4,000 individuals, small businesses, and large corporations apply to 
assign record title or transfer operating rights (sublease) in a lease 
for oil and gas or geothermal resources. The estimated number of 
responses exceeds the estimated number of respondents because some 
respondents file multiple transfers or assignments annually, while 
others may file just one.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' Burden: For oil and 
gas: 5,427 hours; for geothermal resources: 39\1/2\ hours. The combined 
total is 5,466\1/2\ hours.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Non-Hour Cost'' Burden: For 
oil and gas: $271,350; for

[[Page 3497]]

geothermal: $3,950. The combined total is $275,300.
    The following table details the individual components and 
respective hour burdens of this information collection request:

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                                                                             C. Time per        D. Total hours
                A. Type of response                     B. Number of          response       (Column B x  Column
                                                          responses           (minutes)               C)
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Assignment of Record Title Interest/Oil and Gas
 Leases:
    43 CFR 3106.4-1 Form 3000-3....................               6,428                  30              3,214
Assignment of Record Title Interest/Geothermal
 Resources:
    43 CFR 3216.14 Form 3000-3.....................                  70                  30                 35
Transfer of Operating Rights/Oil and Gas Leases:
    43 CFR 3106.4-1 Form 3000-3a...................               4,426                  30              2,213
Transfer of Operating Rights/Geothermal Resources:
    43 CFR 3216.14 Form 3000-3a....................                   9                  30                  4.5
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        Totals.....................................              10,933  ..................              5,466.5
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    Before including your address, telephone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comments, 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.

Jean Sonneman,
Bureau of Land Management, Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2012-1297 Filed 1-23-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-P