Notice of Proposed Information Collection

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

Notice of Proposed Information Collection

AGENCY: Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is

announcing that the information collection requests for the titles

described below have been forwarded to the Office of Management and

Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The information collection

requests describe the nature of the information collection and the

expected burden and cost.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before August 1, 1996, to be

assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

To request a copy of the information collection request, explanatory

information and related forms, contact John A. Trelease at (202) 208-

2783.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OMB regulations at 5 CFR 1320, which

implement provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L.

104-13), require that interested members of the public and affected

agencies have an opportunity to comment on information collection and

recordkeeping activities (see 5 CFR 1320.8(d)). This notice identifies

information collections that OSM has submitted to OMB for extension.

These collections are contained in (1) 30 CFR Part 710, Initial

regulatory program; (2) 30 CFR Part 740, General requirements for

surface coal mining and reclamation operations on Federal lands; (3) 30

CFR Part 870, Abandoned mine reclamation fund--fee collection and coal

production reporting; and (4) 30 CFR Part 872, Abandoned mine

reclamation funds.

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 OMB control numbers for OSM's

regulations are listed in 30 CFR Parts 700 through 955. As required

under 5 CFR 1320.8(d), Federal Register notices soliciting comments on

these collections of information were published on April 9, 1996 (61 FR

15830) for 30 CFR Parts 710, 740 and 870, and on April 11, 1996 (61 FR

16113) for 30 CFR Part 872. No comments were received on any of the

collections of information.

Where appropriate, OSM has revised burden estimates to reflect

current reporting levels, adjustments based on reestimates of the

burden or number of respondents, and programmatic changes. OSM will

request a 3-year term of approval for each information collection

activity.

The following information is provided for each information

collection: (1) title of the information collection; (2) OMB control

number; (3) summary of the information collection activity; and (4)

frequency of collection, description of the respondents, estimated

total annual responses, and the total annual reporting and

recordkeeping burden for the collection of information.

Title: 30 CFR Part 710--Initial regulatory program.

OMB Control Number: 1029-0095.

Summary: Information collected is used to determine whether surface

coal mining operations are subject to the initial regulatory program

established by the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977

(SMCRA). Information collected is also used to grant small operators

exemptions from some of the initial regulatory program requirements.

Bureau Form Number: None.

Frequency of Collection: On occasion.

Description of Respondents: Coal mine operators.

Total Annual Responses: 1.

Total Annual Burden Hours: 1.

Title: 30 CFR Part 740--General requirements for surface coal

mining and reclamation operations on Federal lands.

OMB Control Number: 1029-0027.

Summary: Section 523 of SMCRA requires that a Federal lands program

be established to govern surface coal mining and reclamation operations

on Federal lands. The information requested is needed to assist the

regulatory authority determine the eligibility of the applicant and

compliance with the requirements of SMCRA.

Frequency of Collection: On occasion.

Description of Respondents: Coal mine operators on Federal lands.

Total Annual Responses: 30.

Total Annual Burden Hours: 643.

Title: 30 CFR Part 870--Abandoned mine reclamation fund--fee

collection and coal production reporting.

OMB Control Number: 1029-0090.

Summary: Section 402 of SMCRA requires fees to be paid to the

Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund by coal operators on the basis of coal

tonnage produced. This information collection request is needed to

support verification of the moisture deduction allowance. The

information will be OSM during audits to verify that the amount of

excess moisture taken by the operator is appropriate.

Frequency of Collection: On occasion (recordkeeping).

Description of Respondents: Coal mine operators.

Total Annual Responses: 1,050.

Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,100.

Title: 30 CFR Part 872--Abandoned mine land reclamation funds.

OMB Control Number: 1029-0054.

Summary: Sections 401 and 402 of SMCRA provide for the creation of

the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund and require the Secretary to make a

determination regarding the use of

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allocated State/Indian tribe funds which have been granted but not

expended within a three-year period. Granted funds that have not been

expended within three years may be withdrawn if the Director finds in

writing that the amounts involved are not necessary to carry out

approved reclamation activities. This information collection and

subsequent determinations serve as a safeguard to protect States and

Indian tribes from automatic or indiscriminate withdrawal of funds.

Frequency of Collection: On occasion.

Description of Respondents: State and Tribal abandoned mine land

reclamation agencies.

Total Annual Responses: 1.

Total Annual Burden Hours: 1.

Send comments on the need for the collection of information for the

performance of the functions of the agency; the accuracy of the

agency's burden estimates; ways to enhance the quality, utility and

clarity of the information collections; and ways to minimize the

information collection burden on respondents, such as use of automated

means of collection of the information, to the following addresses.

Please refer to the appropriate OMB control number in all

correspondence.

ADDRESSES: John A. Trelease, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and

Enforcement, 1951 Constitution Ave, NW., Room 120--SIB, Washington, DC

20240.

Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management

and Budget, Attention: Department of Interior Desk Officer, 725 17th

Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503.

Dated: June 26, 1996.

Ruth E. Stokes,

Acting Chief, Office of Technology Development and Transfer.

[FR Doc. 96-16810 Filed 7-1-96; 8:45 am]

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