[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 225 (Friday, November 20, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74378-74379]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-25672]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLHQ320000.L13300000.EN0000; OMB Control No. 1004-0201]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Oil Shale Management

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.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
January 19, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Send your written comments on this information collection 
request (ICR) by mail to Darrin King, Information Collection Clearance 
Officer, U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, 
Attention PRA Office, 440 W 200 S #500, Salt Lake City, UT 84101; or by 
email to [email protected]. Please reference Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) Control Number 1004-0201 in the subject 
line of your comments. Please note that due to COVID-19, the electronic 
submission of comments is recommended.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact Kyle Free by email at [email protected], or by 
telephone at (208) 240-5702. Individuals who are hearing or speech 
impaired may call the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 for TTY 
assistance. You may also view the ICR at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) and 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), all 
information collections require approval under the PRA. We may not 
conduct or sponsor and you are not required to respond to a collection 
of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.
    As part of our continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent 
burdens, we invite the public and other Federal agencies 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

[[Page 74379]]

information collection requirements and provide the requested data in 
the desired format.
    We are especially interested in public comment addressing the 
following:
    (1) Whether or not the collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including 
whether or not the information will have practical utility;
    (2) The accuracy of our estimate of the burden for this 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) How might the agency minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on those who are to respond, including through the use of 
appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., 
permitting electronic submission of response.
    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 control number applies to the exploration, 
development, and utilization of oil shale resources on the BLM-managed 
public lands. Currently, the only oil shale leases issued by the BLM 
are research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) leases. However, 
the BLM regulations provide a framework for commercial oil shale 
leasing and additionally include provisions for conversion of RD&D 
leases to commercial leases. Section 369 of the Energy Policy Act (42 
U.S.C. 15927) addresses oil shale development and authorizes the 
Secretary of the Interior to establish regulations for a commercial 
leasing program for oil shale. The Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 (30 
U.S.C. 241(a)) provides the authority for the BLM to allow for the 
exploration, development, and utilization of oil shale resources on the 
BLM-managed public lands. Additional statutory authorities for the oil 
shale program are: (1) The Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands of 
1947 (30 U.S.C. 351-359); and (2) The Federal Land Policy and 
Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq., including 43 
U.S.C. 1732). The information collections discussed in the supporting 
statement are called for in the regulations implementing these 
statutory authorities.
    Title of Collection: Oil Shale Management (43 CFR parts 3900, 3910, 
3920, and 3930).
    OMB Control Number: 1004-0201.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Applicants for oil shale leases, oil 
shale lessees and oil shale operators.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 2.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 24.
    Estimated Completion Time per Response: Varies from the number of 
minutes/hours per response.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 1,795.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: $526,632.
    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.).

Darrin A. King,
Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020-25672 Filed 11-19-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-P