[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 176 (Wednesday, September 15, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51376-51377]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-19830]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

[S1D1S SS08011000 SX064A000 211S180110; S2D2S SS08011000 SX064A000 
21XS501520; 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 
proposing to renew an information collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
October 15, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular 
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function. Please 
provide a copy of your comments to Mark Gehlhar, Office of Surface 
Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 1849 C Street NW, Room 4556-MIB, 
Washington, DC 20240, or by email to [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 1029-0043 in the subject line of your 
comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact Mark Gehlhar by email at [email protected], or 
by telephone at (202) 208-2716. 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), 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.
    A Federal Register notice with a 60-day public comment period 
soliciting comments on this collection of information was published on 
May 3, 2021 (86 FR 23427). No comments were received.
    As part of our continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent 
burdens, we are again soliciting comments from the public and other 
Federal agencies on the proposed ICR that is described below. 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. 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 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.
    Title of Collection: Bond and Insurance Requirements for Surface 
Coal Mining and Reclamation Operations under Regulatory Programs.
    OMB Control Number: 1029-0043.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Businesses and state governments.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 3,375.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 8,158.
    Estimated Completion Time per Response: Varies from 2 hours to 35 
hours, depending on activity.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 66,440.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit.
    Frequency of Collection: One time.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: $521,735.
    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.

[[Page 51377]]

    The authority for this action is the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

Mark J. Gehlhar,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, Division of Regulatory 
Support.
[FR Doc. 2021-19830 Filed 9-14-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-P