Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Underground Mining Permit Applications-Minimum Requirements for Reclamation and Operation Plan

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

[S1D1S SS08011000 SX066A0067F 178S180110; S2D2D SS08011000 SX066A00 33F 17XS501520; OMB Control Number 1029-0039]

Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Underground Mining Permit Applications—Minimum Requirements for Reclamation and Operation Plan

AGENCY:

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice of information collection; request for comment.

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 used by the regulatory authority to determine if underground coal mine applicants can comply with the applicable performance and environmental standards required by the law.

DATES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before February 28, 2018.

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

OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov;

or via facsimile to (202) 395-5806. Please provide a copy of your comments to John Trelease, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 1849 C. Street NW, Mail Stop 4559, Washington, DC 20240; or by email to

jtrelease@osmre.gov.

Please reference OMB Control Number 1029-0039 in the subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

To request additional information about this ICR, contact John Trelease by email at

jtrelease@osmre.gov,

or by telephone at (202) 208-2783. 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, 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 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 August 16, 2017 (82 FR 38932). No comments were received.

We are again soliciting comments on the proposed ICR that is described below. We are especially interested in public comment addressing the following issues: (1) Is the collection necessary to the proper functions of OSMRE; (2) is the estimate of burden accurate; (3) how might OSMRE enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) how might OSMRE minimize the burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use of information technology.

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.

Title:

30 CFR part 784—Underground Mining Permit Applications—Minimum Requirements for Reclamation and Operation Plan.

OMB Control Number:

1029-0039.

Abstract:

Sections 507(b), 508(a) and 516(b) of Public Law 95-87 require underground coal mine permit applicants to submit an operations and reclamation plan and establish performance standards for the mining operation. Information submitted is used by the regulatory authority to determine if the applicant can comply with the applicable performance and environmental standards required by the law.

Form Number:

None.

Type of Review:

Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents/Affected Public:

Businesses and State regulatory authorities.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents:

40 underground coal mining permit applicants and 39 State regulatory authorities.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses:

1,086.

Estimated Completion Time per Response:

Varies from 2 hours to 80 hours, depending on type of respondent and activity.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours:

21,612 hours.

Respondent's Obligation:

Required to Obtain or Retain a Benefit.

Frequency of Collection:

One time.

Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost:

$390,350.

Summary For 30 CFR Part 784

Section

Industry

responses

Industry

hours per

response

State

responses

State

hours per

response

Total hours

requested

Currently

approved

burden hours

Changes to

burden hours

784.11

40

16

39

4

796

312

484

.12

5

7

4

3

47

47

0

.13

40

55

39

20

2,980

2,583

397

.14

40

80

39

40

4,760

2,185

2,575

.15

40

8

39

2

398

314

84

.16

40

30

39

20

1,980

1,160

820

.17

1

6

1

5

11

11

0

.18

16

12

15

2

222

178

44

.19

30

10

29

14

706

702

4

.20

40

14

39

6

794

716

78

.21

40

10

39

8

712

532

180

.22

40

30

39

8

1,512

1,344

168

.23

40

70

39

10

3,190

2,130

1,060

.24

40

30

39

4

1,356

1,098

258

.25

19

15

18

4

357

206

151

.29

40

20

39

5

995

940

55

.30

40

16

39

4

796

448

348

Totals

21,612

14,906

6,706

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

).

Dated: January 24, 2018.

John A. Trelease,

Acting Chief, Division of Regulatory Support.

[FR Doc. 2018-01614 Filed 1-26-18; 8:45 am]

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