Notice of Intent To Request a Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Natural Resources Conservation Service

Notice of Intent To Request a Revision of a Currently Approved

Information Collection

AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service, United States

Department of Agriculture.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub.

L. 104-13) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations at

5 CFR Part 1320 (60 FR 44978, August 29, 1995), this notice announces

the Natural Resources Conservation Service's (NRCS) intention to

request a revision to a currently approved information collection, the

Rural Abandoned Mine Program.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by February 17, 1998 to

be assured of consideration.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS:

Contact Marcella Graham, Agency OMB Clearance Officer, Natural

Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural

Resources Conservation Service, P.O. Box 2890, Washington, D.C. 20013-

2890, (202) 720-5699.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Rural Abandoned Mine Program.

OMB Number: 0578-0019.

Expiration Date of Approval: May 31, 1998.

Type of Request: To reinstate, with change, a previously approved

collection for which approval has expired.

Abstract: The primary objective of the Natural Resources

Conservation Service is to work in partnership with the American people

to conserve and sustain our natural resources. The Rural Abandoned Mine

Program authorizes Federal technical and financial long-term cost-

sharing assistance for conservation treatment and reclamation of

abandoned coal mined land with eligible land users. The financial

assistance is based on a conservation plan for reclamation which is

made a part of an agreement or contract for a 5 or 10-year period of

time. Under the terms of the agreement, the participant agrees to

apply, or arrange to apply, the conservation treatment specified in the

conservation plan. In return for this agreement, Federal cost-share

payments are made to the land users, or third party, upon successful

application of the conservation treatment.

Information collected is used by the NRCS to ensure proper

utilization of program funds. The NRCS-LTP-013 is used to record

progress in applying the conservation/reclamation plan (7 CFR 632.24),

such as the verification, revision or modification of the conservation

plan, as well as recording the need for any follow up technical

assistance. The NRCS-LTP-150 is for the land user to enter into a

contract with NRCS to receive Federal cost-share assistance (7 CFR

632.22). The NRCS-LTP-151 is used to notify the participant, with an

active agreement or contract, that information has been received which

indicates a violation of the contract (7 CFR 632.42 (b)(1)(2)). The

NRCS-LTP-152 is used during the contract period when the land user

loses control of all or part of the right and interest in the land (7

CFR 632.22(f)). The NRCS-LTP-153 is used is used when non-compliance of

the contract is indicated (7 CFR 632.41). The NRCS-LTP-156 is the basic

document used by landowners to request assistance through the local

NRCS field office (7 CFR 632.20). The NRCS-FNM-140 is used to authorize

the vendor to furnish the conservation materials and services described

in column (b) of the form (7 CFR 632.31(e)). This information

collection is being resubmitted to reflect the elimination of two forms

previously authorized (NRCS-LTP-154 and NRCS-LTP-155) and to reflect a

scaled-down program. NRCS will ask for 3-year OMB approval within 60

days of submitting the request.

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of

information is estimated to average 0.50 hours per response.

Respondents: Farms, individuals or households, or State, local, or

Tribal governments.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 438.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 223 hours.

Copies of this information collection and related instructions can

be obtained without charge from Marcella Graham, the Agency OMB

Clearance Officer, at (202) 720-5699.

Comments: Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed

collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of

the functions of the agency, including whether the information will

have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of

burden of the proposed collection of information,including the validity

of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the

quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

(d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on

those who are to respond, such as through the use of appropriate

automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technologic collection

techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments may be

sent to: Marcella Graham, Agency OMB Clearance Officer, U.S. Department

of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, P.O. Box 2890,

Washington, D.C. 20013-2890.

All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the

request for OMB approval.

All comments will also become a matter of public record.

Signed at Washington, D.C. on December 15, 1997.

Thomas A. Weber,

Acting Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service.

[FR Doc. 97-33126 Filed 12-18-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3610-16-M