[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 197 (Friday, October 10, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61281-61282]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-24200]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Locatable Minerals

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice, request for comment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals and 
organizations on the extension of a currently approved information 
collection, 36 CFR part 228, subpart A--Locatable Minerals.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before December 9, 
2014 to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date 
will be considered to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: Comments concerning this notice should be addressed to: 
Forest Service, Director, Minerals and Geology Management Staff, Mail 
Stop 1140, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20250.
    Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to 703-605-1575 or by 
email to: [email protected].
    Comments submitted in response to this notice may be made available 
to the public through relevant Web sites and upon request. For this 
reason, please do not include in your comments information of a 
confidential nature, such as sensitive personal information or 
proprietary information. If you send an email comment, your email 
address will be automatically captured and included as part of the 
comment that is placed in the public docket and made available on the 
Internet. Please note that responses to this public comment request 
containing any routine notice about the confidentiality of the 
communication will be treated as public comments that may be made 
available to the public notwithstanding the inclusion of the routine 
notice.
    The public may inspect the draft supporting statement and/or 
comments received at 201 14th Street SW., Washington, DC during normal 
business hours. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to 703-605-4545 
to facilitate entry to the building. The public may request an 
electronic copy of the draft supporting statement and/or any comments 
received be sent via return email. Requests should be emailed to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim DeMaagd, Assistant Director, 
Minerals and Geology Management, at 303-275-5473. Individuals who use 
telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay 
Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 twenty-four hours a day, every day of 
the year, including holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: 36 CFR Part 228, Subpart A--Locatable 
Minerals.
    OMB Number: 0596-0022
    Expiration Date of Approval: January 31, 2015.
    Type of Request: Extension without change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Abstract: This collection of information is necessary to ensure 
that the environmental impacts associated with locatable mineral 
operations on National Forest System (NFS) lands are minimized to the 
extent practicable. The Forest Service regulations at 36 CFR 228.5 
require mining operators, with some exceptions, to notify the 
authorized Forest Service officer of their intent to conduct a 
locatable mineral operation on NFS lands by filing a Notice of Intent 
or Plan of Operations. 36 CFR 228.10 requires mining operators to 
submit a Cessation of Operation when mining operations are temporarily 
ceased, other than for seasonal closure.
    There is not a required format for the information collection, but 
all information identified in 36 CFR part 228 must be included. Form 
FS-2800-5, Plan of Operations for Mining Activities on National Forest 
System Lands, is available for use by mining operators to simplify this 
process. The information required in a Plan of Operations, detailed in 
36 CFR 228.4(c), (d), and (e), includes:
    1. The name and legal mailing address of operators (and claimants 
if they are not the same) and their lessees, assigns, or designees.
    2. A map or sketch showing information sufficient to locate:
    a. The proposed area of operations on the ground.
    b. Existing and/or proposed roads or access routes to be used in 
connection with the operation as set forth in 36 CFR 228.12 on access.
    c. The approximate location and size of areas where surface 
resources will be disturbed.
    3. Information sufficient to describe the:
    a. Type of operations proposed and how they would be conducted.
    b. Type and standard of existing and proposed roads or access 
routes.
    c. Means of transportation used or to be used as set forth in 36 
CFR 228.12.
    d. Period during which the proposed activity will take place.
    e. Measures to be taken to meet the requirements for environmental 
protection in 36 CFR 228.8.
    A Notice of Intent is required, as detailed in 36 CFR 228.4(a)(2), 
to include information sufficient to identify the area involved, the 
nature of the proposed operation, the route of access to the area of 
operations, and the method of transport. A Cessation of Operations is 
required, as detailed in 36 CFR 228.10, to include verification of 
intent to maintain structures, equipment, and other facilities; 
expected reopening date; and an estimate of extended durations of 
operations.
    These collections of information are crucial to protecting surface 
resources, including plants, animals, and their habitat, as well as 
public safety on NFS lands. The authorized Forest Service officer will 
use the collected information to ensure that the exploration, 
development, and production of mineral resources are conducted in an 
environmentally sensitive manner; that these mineral operations are 
integrated with the planning and management of other

[[Page 61282]]

resources using the principles of ecosystem management; and that lands 
disturbed by mineral operations are reclaimed using the best scientific 
knowledge and returned to other productive uses. If this information 
was not collected, the Forest Service would not be in compliance with 
the Federal Regulations and locatable mineral operations could result 
in undue damage to surface resources.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: 12 Hours (10 hours--Plan of Operations; 
1 hour--Notice of Intent; 1 hour--Cessation of Operations).
    Type of Respondents: Mining operators.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 283 (111--Plans of 
Operations; 169--Notices of Intent; 3--Cessation of Operations).
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 10,005 Hours (12 
hours x 111 Plans of Operation = 1,332; 2 hour x 169 Notices of Intent 
= 338; 1 hour x 3 Cessation of Operations = 3; 1,332 + 338 + 3 = 
1,673).
    Comment is invited on: (1) Whether this collection of information 
is necessary for the stated purposes and the proper performance of the 
functions of the Agency, including whether the information will have 
practical or scientific utility; (2) the accuracy of the Agency's 
estimate of the burden of the collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance 
the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; 
and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
respondents, including the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or 
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    All comments received in response to this notice, including names 
and addresses when provided, will be a matter of public record. 
Comments will be summarized and included in the request for Office of 
Management and Budget approval.

    Dated: October 2, 2014.
Gregory C. Smith,
Acting Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2014-24200 Filed 10-9-14; 8:45 am]
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