[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 124 (Thursday, June 27, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30768-30770]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-13755]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-NRSS-GRD-NPS0027807; PPWONRADG0, PPMRSNR1Y.NG0000 (199); OMB 
Control Number 1024-0064]


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

AGENCY: National Park Service, 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 National Park Service (NPS) are proposing to renew an information 
collection with revisions.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
July 29, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on this information collection request 
(ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Desk Officer for 
the Department of the Interior by email at [email protected]; 
or by facsimile at 202-395-5806. Please provide a copy of your comments 
to Phadrea Ponds, Information Collection Clearance Officer, National 
Park Service, 1201 Oakridge Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80525; or by email 
at [email protected]. Please reference OMB Control Number 1024-0064 
in the subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact Stephen Simon, Policy and Regulatory 
Specialist, Energy and Minerals Branch, Geologic Resources Division, 
National Park Service, P.O. Box 25287, Lakewood, Colorado 80225; or by 
email at [email protected]. Please reference OMB Control Number 
1024-0064 in the subject line of your comments. You may also view the 
ICR at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.

[[Page 30769]]


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.
    On April 24, 2019, we published a Federal Register notice 
soliciting comments on this collection of information for 60 days, 
ending on June 23, 2019 (84 FR 17200-17201). We received one comment 
from the public in response to that notice. This comment did not 
necessitate any revisions to the information collection.
    We are again soliciting comments on the proposed ICR described 
below. We are especially interested in public comment addressing the 
following issues: (1) Is the collection necessary to the proper 
functions of the NPS; (2) will this information be processed and used 
in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) how 
might the NPS enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (5) how might the NPS 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.
    Abstract: The Organic Act of 1916 (NPS Organic Act) (54 U.S.C. 
100101) authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to develop regulations 
for units of the national park system (System units) under the 
Department's jurisdiction. The Mining in the Parks Act (54 U.S.C. 
100731 et seq.) directs the Secretary of the Interior to regulate all 
operations in System units in connection with the exercise of mineral 
rights on patented and unpatented mining claims.
    The regulations codified in 36 CFR part 9, subparts A and B, ensure 
that mining and non-Federal oil and gas activities in System units are 
conducted in a manner consistent with conserving each System unit for 
the benefit of present and future generations. The information required 
by Subpart A identifies the claim, claimant, and operator (the claimant 
and operator are often the same) and details how the operator intends 
to access and develop the minerals associated with the claim. It also 
identifies the steps the operator intends to take to minimize any 
adverse impacts of the mining operations on park resource and values. 
No information, except claim ownership information, is submitted unless 
the claimant wishes to conduct mining operations. The information 
required by Subpart B identifies the owner and operator (the owner and 
operator are often the same) and details how the operator intends to 
access and develop the oil and gas rights. It also identifies the steps 
the operator intends to take to minimize any adverse impacts on park 
resources and values. No information is submitted unless the owner 
wishes to conduct oil and gas operations. The information collected is 
used 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.
    With this submission, we are asking OMB to approve our request to 
consolidate the information collection requirements currently approved 
under OMB Control Number 1024-0274, ``Non-Federal Oil and Gas Rights, 
36 CFR Part 9, Subpart B'' into collection 1024-0064. Prior to March 
2016, 36 CFR part 9, subparts A and B were managed by a single NPS 
program office which used the same OMB Control Number (1024-0064). In 
November of 2016, the NPS promulgated an update to the 9B Regulations 
and as part of the rulemaking process, the information collection 
associated with the update was assigned a new control number (1024-
0274). In the FRN (81 FR 77991), for the final rule, NPS stated that 
``We plan to transfer the corresponding burden for the Subpart B 
requirements [from 1024-0274] to OMB Control Number 1024-0064 after the 
final rule goes into effect and will then discontinue the new control 
number [1024-0274].'' In this request, we are asking OMB to consolidate 
two information collections so that there will be only be one ICR with 
the regulation. We have identified the information collection 
requirements associated with 1024-0274 that will be consolidated into 
1024-0064 (see burden table below). Upon approval, we will discontinue 
OMB Control Number 1024-0274.
    Title of Collection: Mining and Mining Claims and Non-Federal Oil 
and Gas Rights, 36 CFR part 9, subparts A and B.
    OMB Control Number: 1024-0064.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Businesses.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: $158,500.

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                                                                     Estimated      Completion
                                                                     number of       time per        Estimated
                      Activity/requirement                            annual         response      total annual
                                                                     responses        (hours)      burden hours
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ICs Currently Approved Under 1024-0064:
    Mining and Mining Claims....................................               1             176             176
ICs Previously Approved Under 1024-0274 Proposed to be
 Consolidated into 1024-0064:
    Previously Exempt Operations (Sec.  Sec.   9.50-9.53).......             106              10           1,060
    Application for Temporary Access Permit (Sec.  Sec.   9.60-                5              15              75
     9.63)......................................................
    Extension of Temporary Access Permit........................               1               1               1
    Accessing Oil and Gas Rights From a Surface Location Outside               3              80             240
     the Park Boundary--Application for Exemption (Sec.  Sec.
     9.70-9.73).................................................
    Accessing Oil and Gas Rights From a Surface Location Outside               1               2               2
     the Park Boundary--Notice of change (Sec.  Sec.   9.70-
     9.73)......................................................
Operations Permit (New Operations):
    Application--(Sec.  Sec.   9.80-9.90).......................               5             140             700

[[Page 30770]]

 
Operating Standards--Simulation Operations (Sec.   9.118(b)):
    Demonstrate mechanical integrity............................               5               4              20
    Record treating pressures and all annular pressures.........               5               4              20
    Notify Superintendent if mechanical integrity is lost.......               1               1               1
    Report of accident..........................................               2               1               2
Operating Standards--Production (Sec.   9.118(c)):
    Document maintenance of mechanical integrity................             534               2           1,068
    Signage to identify wells...................................               5               4              20
General Terms and Conditions (Sec.  Sec.   9.120-9.122):
    Affidavit that proposed operations are in compliance with                111               1             111
     all laws and that information submitted to NPS is accurate.
    Third-Party Monitor Report..................................              60              17           1,020
    Notification--Accidents involving Serious Personal Injuries/               2               1               2
     Death and Fires/Spills.....................................
    Written Report--Accidents Involving Serious Injuries/Deaths                2              16              32
     and Fires/Spills...........................................
    Notification--Discovery of any cultural or scientific                      1               1               1
     resources..................................................
    Report--Verify Compliance with Permits......................             534               4           2,136
    Reporting for Hydraulic Fracturing..........................               1               2               2
Financial Assurance (Sec.  Sec.   9.140-9.144)..................               5               1               5
Modification to an Operation (Sec.   9.150).....................               1              16              16
Change of Operator (Sec.  Sec.   9.160-9.161)...................               5               8              40
Well Plugging (Sec.  Sec.   9.170-9.171)........................              33              14             462
Reconsideration and Appeals (Sec.  Sec.   9.190-9.194)..........               1              16              16
Public Participation (Sec.   9.200).............................               1               4               4
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................................           1,431  ..............           7,232
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    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.).

Phadrea Ponds,
Acting NPS Information Collection Clearance Officer, National Park 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-13755 Filed 6-26-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P