[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 8 (Wednesday, January 12, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1782-1783]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-00417]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-NRSS-GRD-NPS0032952; MO# 4311H2; 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.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
March 14, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on this information collection request 
(ICR) to Phadrea Ponds, NPS Information Collection Clearance Officer, 
National Park Service, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, (MS-242) Reston, VA 
20192; or by email to [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; by 
email at [email protected] or by telephone at (303) 969-2015. 
Individuals who are hearing or speech impaired may call theFederalRelay 
Service at 1-800-877-8339 for TTY assistance.

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 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.
    (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: 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.
    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: Extension 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: None.


[[Page 1783]]



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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
Non-Federal Oil and Gas Rights..................................              20             176           3,520
Previously Exempt Operations (Sec.  Sec.   9.50-9.53)...........             106              10           1,060
Application for Temporary Access Permit (Sec.  Sec.   9.60-9.63)               5              15              75
Extension of Temporary Access Permit............................               1               1               1
Accessing Oil and Gas Rights from a Surface Location Outside the               3              80             240
 Park Boundary--Application for Exemption (Sec.  Sec.   9.70-
 9.73)..........................................................
Accessing Oil and Gas Rights from a Surface Location Outside the               1               2               2
 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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           Operating Standards-Simulation Operations (Sec.   9.118(b))
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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
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                             General Terms and Conditions (Sec.  Sec.   9.120-9.122)
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Affidavit that proposed operations are in compliance with all                111               1             111
 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 and                2              16              32
 Fires/Spills...................................................
Notification--Discovery of any cultural or scientific resources.               1               1               1
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.......................................................           1,451  ..............          10,752
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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,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-00417 Filed 1-11-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P