[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 34 (Thursday, February 20, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9801-9802]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-03378]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[WO310/L13400000/LXSIGEOT0000/20X/; OMB Control Number 1004-0132]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Geothermal Resource 
Leasing and Permitting, and Geothermal Resources Unit Agreements; 
Control Number 1004-0132

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, the 
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing to renew an information 
collection with revisions.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
March 23, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on this information collection request 
(ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget's Desk Officer for the 
Department of the Interior by email at [email protected]; or 
via facsimile to (202) 395-5806. Please provide a copy of your comments 
to the BLM at U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land 
Management, 1849 C Street NW, Room 2134LM, Washington,

[[Page 9802]]

DC 20240, Attention: Faith Bremner; or by email to [email protected]. 
Please reference OMB Control Number 1004-0132 in the subject line of 
your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact Rebecca Good by email at [email protected], or by 
telephone at 307-251-3487.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, the BLM provides the general public and other Federal 
agencies with an opportunity to comment on new, proposed, revised, and 
continuing collections of information. This helps to assess the impact 
of the BLM's information collection requirements and minimize the 
public's reporting burden. It also helps the public understand the 
BLM's information collection requirements and provides the requested 
data in the desired format.
    A Federal Register notice with a 60-day public comment period 
soliciting comments on this collection of information was published on 
November 18, 2019 (84 FR 63673). No comments were received.
    We are again soliciting comments on the ICR that is described 
below. The BLM is 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. This ICR seeks authorization for the use of 
Form 3200-9 (Notice of Intent to Conduct Geothermal Resource 
Exploration Operations) by both the BLM and the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Forest Service (USFS).
    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 in your comment to the BLM to withhold your personal 
identifying information from public review, the BLM cannot guarantee 
that it will be able to do so.
    Abstract: The BLM uses the required information to collect 
information from those who wish to participate in the exploration, 
development, production, and utilization of geothermal resources. The 
BLM has authority to issue geothermal leases in BLM-managed lands, and 
in national forests and other lands administered by the USFS. In this 
ICR, the BLM is proposing to revise Form 3200-9, Notice of Intent to 
Conduct Geothermal Resource Exploration Operations. A respondent 
submits this form either to the BLM or to the USFS, depending upon 
which agency has surface-management jurisdiction. Upon receiving such a 
form, the relevant agency determines whether to grant a permit to 
conduct geophysical exploration activities for geothermal resources. 
Approval by the authorizing agency is required before any ground-
disturbing activities beyond casual use may commence. At present, Form 
3200-9 refers directly only to the BLM. The proposed revisions of the 
form would simplify its use by both agencies. The BLM is proposing that 
the remaining forms in this ICR be renewed without revision.
    Title of Collection: Geothermal Resource Leasing and Permitting, 
and Geothermal Resources Unit Agreements.
    OMB Control Number: 1004-0132.
    Forms: 3200-9, 3203-1, 3260-2, 3260-3, 3260-4, and 3260-5.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Description of Respondents: Businesses that wish to participate in 
the exploration, development, production, and utilization of geothermal 
resources on BLM-managed public lands, and lands managed by other 
Federal surface-management agencies.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 913.
    Estimated Completion Time per Response: Varies from 1 to 40 hours, 
depending on activity.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 5,409.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion, except for Form 3260-5, 
Monthly Report of Geothermal Operations, which is filed once a month.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: $84,985.
    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.)

Faith Bremner,
Bureau of Land Management, Senior Regulatory Analyst.
[FR Doc. 2020-03378 Filed 2-19-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-84-P