[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 99 (Tuesday, May 22, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23720-23721]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-10852]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

[S1D1S SS08011000 SX064A000 189S180110; S2D2S SS08011000 SX064A000 
18XS501520; OMB Control Number 1029-0043]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Bond and Insurance 
Requirements for Surface Coal Mining and Reclamation Operations Under 
Regulatory Programs

AGENCY: Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 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 Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are 
announcing our intention to request renewed approval for the collection 
of information for bond and insurance requirements for surface coal 
mining and reclamation operations under regulatory programs. This 
information collection activity was previously approved by the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB), and assigned control number 1029-0043.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
July 23, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments on this information collection request 
(ICR) by mail to: The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and 
Enforcement, Information Collection Clearance Officer, Attn: John 
Trelease, 1849 C Street NW, Mail Stop 4559, Washington, DC 20240. 
Comments may also be submitted electronically to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact John Trelease by email at [email protected], 
or by telephone at (202) 208-2783.

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 OSMRE; (2) is the estimate of burden accurate; (3) how 
might the OSMRE enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (4) how might the OSMRE minimize the 
burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use 
of information technology.
    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.
    This notice provides the public with 60 days in which to comment on 
the following information collection activity:
    Title of Collection: 30 CFR part 800--Bond and Insurance 
Requirements for Surface Coal Mining and Reclamation Operations under 
Regulatory Programs.
    OMB Control Number: 1029-0043.
    Abstract: 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.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Applicants for surface coal mine 
permits and State regulatory authorities.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 219 coal mining 
applicants and 24 state regulatory authorities.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 5,285 responses from 
the private sector and 7,874 responses from State regulatory 
authorities.
    Estimated Completion Time per Response: Varies from .5 hours to 40 
hours, depending upon activity and type of respondent.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 147,817 hours.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit.
    Frequency of Collection: Once.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: $1,499,614.
    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.

    Authority:  The authorities for this action are the Surface 
Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, as amended (30 U.S.C. 
1201 et seq.), and the Paperwork

[[Page 23721]]

Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

John A. Trelease,
Acting Chief, Division of Regulatory Support.
[FR Doc. 2018-10852 Filed 5-21-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-05-P