[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 241 (Wednesday, December 16, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 78250]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-31613]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-NRSS-GRD-19921, PPWONRADG0, PPMRSNR1N.NG0000 (166)]


Proposed Information Collection; Mining Claims and Non-Federal 
Oil and Gas Rights

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We (National Park Service, NPS) will ask the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) to approve the information collection (IC) 
described below. To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and 
as a part of our continuing efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent 
burden, we invite the general public and other Federal agencies to 
comment on this IC. This IC is scheduled to expire on March 31, 2016. 
We may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required to respond 
to a collection unless it displays a currently valid OMB control 
number.

DATES: You must submit comments on or before February 16, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Please send a copy of your comments to Madonna L. Baucum, 
Information Collection Clearance Officer, National Park Service, 12201 
Sunrise Valley Drive (Mail Stop 242, Room 2C114), Reston, VA 20192 
(mail); or [email protected] (email). Please include ``1024-0064'' 
in the subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this IC, contact Edward O. Kassman, Jr., Regulatory Specialist, 
Energy and Minerals Branch, Geologic Resources Division, National Park 
Service, at (303) 969-2146 or via email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    We regulate mineral development activities inside park boundaries 
pursuant to rights associated with mining claims and non-Federal oil 
and gas rights under regulations codified at 36 CFR part 9, subpart A 
(``9A Regulations''), and 36 CFR part 9, subpart B (``9B 
Regulations''), respectively. We promulgated both sets of regulations 
in the late 1970's. In the case of mining claims, we promulgated the 9A 
Regulations pursuant to congressional authority granted under the 
Mining in the Parks Act of 1976, 54 U.S.C Sec.  100731 et seq., and 
individual park enabling statutes. For non-Federal oil and gas rights, 
we regulate development activities pursuant to authority under the NPS 
Organic Act of 1916, 16 U.S.C. 1 et seq., and individual park enabling 
statutes. As directed by Congress, we developed the regulations to 
protect park resources and visitor values from the adverse impacts 
associated with mineral development in park boundaries. The regulations 
require operators to submit specific technical information describing 
their future development plans, including steps to mitigate the impacts 
of operations. We use the information to evaluate proposed operations, 
ensure that all necessary mitigation measures are employed to protect 
park resources and values, and ensure compliance with all applicable 
laws and regulations.

II. Data

    OMB Control Number: 1024-0064.
    Title: Mining Claims and Non-Federal Oil and Gas Rights, 36 CFR 9, 
subparts A and B.
    Service Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection of 
information.
    Description of Respondents: Businesses (one-fourth medium to large 
publicly owned companies and three-fourths private entities).
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None

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                                                                     Estimated
                                                                     number of       Estimated       Estimated
                            Activity                                  annual       response time  annual  burden
                                                                     responses       (minutes)        (hours)
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36 CFR Part 9, Subpart A--Mining and Mining Claims..............               1             176             176
36 CFR Part 9, Subpart B--Non-Federal Oil and Gas Operations in               20             176           3,520
 the National Park System.......................................
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................................              21  ..............           3,696
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III. Comments

    We invite comments concerning this information collection on:
     Whether or not the collection of information is necessary, 
including whether or not the information will have practical utility;
     The accuracy of our estimate of the burden for this 
collection of information;
     Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
     Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on respondents.
    Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. 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.

    Dated: December 9, 2015.
Madonna L. Baucum,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-31613 Filed 12-15-15; 8:45 am]
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