[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 42 (Friday, March 2, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12879-12880]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-4946]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement


Notice of Proposed Information Collection

AGENCY: Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement.

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 collection 
of information associated with bond and insurance requirements for 
surface coal mining and reclamation operations under regulatory 
programs.

DATES: Comments on the proposed information collection activity must be 
received by May 1, 2012, to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to John Trelease, Office of Surface 
Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 1951 Constitution Ave, NW., Room 
203-SIB, Washington, DC 20240. Comments may also be submitted 
electronically to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To receive a copy of the information 
collection request, explanatory information and related forms contact 
John Trelease, at (202) 208-2783 or via email at [email protected].

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 an information collection that OSM 
will be submitting to OMB for approval. This collection is contained in 
30 CFR part 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

[[Page 12880]]

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, email 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.
    This notice provides the public with 60 days in which to comment on 
the following information collection activity:
    Title: 30 CFR part 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 people 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 
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 of Collection: On Occasion.
    Description of Respondents: Surface coal mining and reclamation 
permittees and State regulatory authorities.
    Total Annual Responses: 12,215.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 112,626 hours.
    Total Annual Non-wage Costs: $1,510,214.

     Dated: February 24, 2012.
Andrew F. DeVito,
Chief, Division of Regulatory Support.
[FR Doc. 2012-4946 Filed 3-1-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-M