[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 18 (Friday, January 26, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3765-3766]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-01436]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLWO310000.L13100000.PP0000.18X; OMB Control Number 1004-0034]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Oil and Gas, or 
Geothermal Resources: Transfers and Assignments

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, 
the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), are proposing to renew an 
information collection with revisions.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
March 27, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments on this information collection request 
(ICR) by mail to the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land 
Management, 1849 C Street NW, Room 2134LM, Washington, DC 20240, 
Attention: Jean Sonneman; by email to [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 1004-0034 in the subject line of your 
comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact Jennifer Spencer by email at [email protected], 
or by telephone at 202-912-7146.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, we provide the general public and other Federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on new, proposed, revised, and 
continuing collections of information. This helps us assess the impact 
of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's 
reporting burden. It also helps the public understand our information 
collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired 
format.
    We are soliciting comments on the proposed ICR that is described 
below. We are especially interested in public comment addressing the 
following issues: (1) Is the collection necessary to the proper 
functions of the BLM; (2) will this information be processed and used 
in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) how 
might the BLM enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (5) how might the BLM minimize the 
burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use 
of information technology.

[[Page 3766]]

    Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request 
to OMB to approve this ICR. 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.
    Abstract: This collection of information enables the BLM to process 
assignments of record title interest and transfers of operating rights 
in a lease for oil and gas or geothermal resources. Each assignment or 
transfer is a contract between private parties but, by law, must be 
approved by the Secretary. The BLM uses information about assignments 
and transfers to prevent unlawful extraction of mineral resources, to 
ensure prompt payment of rentals and royalties for the rights obtained 
under a Federal lease, and to ensure that leases are not encumbered 
with agreements that cause the minerals to be uneconomical to produce, 
resulting in lost revenues to the Federal Government. The information 
also enables the BLM to ensure the assignee or transferee is in 
compliance with the bonding requirements, when necessary, before 
approval of the transfer or assignment.
    Title of Collection: Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources: Transfers 
and Assignments.
    OMB Control Number: 1004-0034.
    Form Numbers: 3000-3 and 3000-3a.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Assignors and assignees of record 
title interest in a lease for oil and gas or geothermal resources; and 
transferors and transferees of operating rights (sublease) in a lease 
for oil and gas or geothermal resources.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 17,626.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 17,626.
    Estimated Completion Time per Response: 30 minutes.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 8,813.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: $1,674,470.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required 
to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a 
currently valid OMB control number.
    The authority for this action is the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq).

Jean Sonneman,
Senior Regulatory Analyst, Bureau of Land Management.
[FR Doc. 2018-01436 Filed 1-25-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-01-P