[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 132 (Wednesday, July 12, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 32167]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-14565]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Disposal of Mineral Materials

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, Disposal of Mineral Materials.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before September 11, 
2017 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 Sarah 
Shoemaker, Geologist, USDA Forest Service, Minerals and Geology 
Management, 709 West 9th Street, Room 561 C, Juneau, AK 99801.
    Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to (907) 586-7840 or 
by email to: [email protected].
    The public may inspect comments received at the USDA Forest Service 
Alaska Region, Minerals and Geology Management, Federal Building, 709 
West 9th Street, Juneau, AK 99801 during normal business hours.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sarah Shoemaker, Geologist, Minerals 
and Geology Management Staff, [email protected] or (907) 586-
7886.
    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: Disposal of Mineral Materials.
    OMB Number: 0596-0081.
    Expiration Date of Approval: October 31, 2017.
    Type of Request: Renewal of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: The Mineral Materials Act of 1947, as amended, and the 
Multiple Use Mining Act of 1955, as amended, authorize the Secretary of 
Agriculture to permit disposal of petrified wood and common varieties 
of sand, stone, gravel, pumice, pumicite, cinders, clay, and other 
similar materials on lands administered by the USDA Forest Service.
    Individuals, organizations, companies, or corporations interested 
in mining mineral materials on National Forest System lands may contact 
their local Forest Service office to inquire about mining mineral 
materials opportunities, to learn about areas on which such activities 
are permitted, and to request form FS-2800-9 (Contract of Sale for 
Minerals Materials). Interested parties are asked to provide 
information that includes the purchaser's name and address, the 
location and dimensions of the area to be mined, the kind of material 
that will be mined, the quantity of material to be mined, the sales 
price of the mined material, the payment schedule, the amount of the 
bond, and the period of the contract.
    The collected information enables the Forest Service to document 
planned operations, to prescribe the terms and conditions the agency 
deems necessary to protect surface resources, and to affect a binding 
contract agreement. Forest Service employees will evaluate the 
collected information to ensure that entities applying to mine mineral 
materials are financially accountable and will conduct their activities 
in accordance with the mineral regulations of Title 36, Code of Federal 
Regulations, Part 228, Subpart C (36 CFR part 228).
    If this information is not collected, the Forest Service would be 
unable to comply with Federal regulations to mine mineral materials, 
and operations could cause undue damage to surface resources.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: 2.5 hours.
    Type of Respondents: Mineral materials operators.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 2,626.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 6,565 hours.
    Estimated annual number of respondents is based on the average 
number of respondents in 2014 through 2016. This number is lower than 
previous renewal estimates, thus the estimated total annual burden on 
respondents is lower than the most recent renewal.
    Comment Is Invited: 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 submission request 
toward Office of Management and Budget approval.

Leslie A.C. Weldon,
Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2017-14565 Filed 7-11-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P