[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 214 (Tuesday, November 7, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76846-76847]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-24553]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLHQ310000.L13100000.PP0000; OMB Control No. 1004-0034]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Oil and Gas, or 
Geothermal Resources: Transfers and Assignments

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes to renew an information 
collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
January 8, 2024.

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 1004-0034 in the subject 
line of your comments. Please note that the electronic submission of 
comments is recommended.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact Peter Cowan by email at [email protected], or by 
telephone at 720-838-1641. Individuals in the United States who are 
deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 
711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay 
services. Individuals outside the United States should use the relay 
services offered within their country to make international calls to 
the point-of-contact in the United States. The ICR may also be viewed 
at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (PRA, 44 U.S.C.

[[Page 76847]]

3501 et seq.) and 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), all information collections 
require approval under the PRA. The BLM may not conduct or sponsor a 
collection of information and a response to a request for information 
is not required unless it displays a current 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 the BLM assess impacts of its information collection requirements 
and minimize the public's reporting burden. It also helps the public 
understand BLM information collection requirements and ensure requested 
data are provided in the desired format.
    The BLM is especially interested in public comment addressing the 
following:
    (1) whether collection of information is necessary for the proper 
performance of the functions of the agency, including if the 
information will have practical utility;
    (2) determination of the accuracy of the BLM's estimate of the 
burden for collection of information, including validity of methodology 
and assumptions used;
    (3) methods to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
information to be collected; and
    (4) how the agency can minimize the burden of information 
collection on those who respond, including use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. The BLM will include or summarize each comment in its 
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 collection of information enables the BLM to process 
assignments of record title interest and transfers of operating rights 
in a lease for oil and gas or geothermal resources. Each assignment or 
transfer is a contract between private parties but, by law, must be 
approved by the Secretary. The BLM uses information about assignments 
and transfers to prevent unlawful extraction of mineral resources, to 
ensure prompt payment of rentals and royalties for the rights obtained 
under a Federal lease, and to ensure that leases are not encumbered 
with agreements that cause the minerals to be uneconomical to produce, 
resulting in lost revenues to the Federal Government. The information 
also enables the BLM to ensure the assignee or transferee is in 
compliance with the bonding requirements, when necessary, before 
approval of the transfer or assignment. OMB control number 1004-0034 is 
currently scheduled to expire on September 30, 2024. The BLM plans to 
request that OMB renew this OMB control number for an additional thee 
(3) years.
    Title of Collection: Oil and Gas, or Geothermal Resources: 
Transfers and Assignments (43 CFR Subparts 3106, 3135, and 3216).
    OMB Control Number: 1004-0034.
    Form Number: 3000-003; 3000-003a.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Assignors and assignees of record 
title interest in a lease for oil and gas or geothermal resources; and 
transferors and transferees of operating rights (sublease) in a lease 
for oil and gas or geothermal resources.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 8,818.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 8,818.
    Estimated Completion Time per Response: 30 minutes.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 4,410.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: $881,800.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor and, notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, 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. 2023-24553 Filed 11-6-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-P