[Federal Register: August 7, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 152)]
[Notices]               
[Page 51291-51292]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07au02-111]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[BC-621-1830-PF-24 1A]

 
Extension of Approved Information Collection, OMB Approval Number 
1004-0187

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) requests the office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) to extend an existing approval to collect social security 
numbers or taxpayer identification numbers (SSN/TIN) from entities 
doing business with BLM. The BLM needs this information in case an 
entity fails to timely pay money owed, in which case BLM may refer the 
matter to the Treasury Department for collection. BLM uses Form 1372-6 
to collect this information for debt collection purposes only under the 
Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996.

DATES: You must submit your comments to BLM at the address below on or 
before October 7, 2002. BLM will not necessarily consider any comments 
received after the above date.

ADDRESSES: You may mail comments to: Regulatory Affairs Group (WO-630), 
Eastern States Office, 7450 Boston Blvd., Springfield, Virginia 22153.
    You may send comments via Internet to: WOComment@blm.gov. Please 
include ``ATTN: 1004-0187'' and your name and address with your 
comments.
    You may deliver comments to the Bureau of Land Management, 
Administrative Record, Room 401, 1620 L Street, NW., Washington, DC.
    Comments will be available for public review at the L Street 
address during regular business hours (7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.) Monday 
through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: You may contact Dorothy Butler, Branch 
Chief, Collection and Billings (BC-621), National Business Center, 
Denver, Colorado, on (303) 236-6332 (Commercial or FTS). Persons who 
use a telecommunication device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) on 1-800-877-8330, 24 hours a day, 
seven days a week, to contact Ms. Butler.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 5 CFR 1320.12(a) requires that we provide a 
60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning a collection of 
information to solicit comments on:
    (a) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the 
proper functioning of the agency, including whether the information 
will have practical utility;
    (b) the accuracy of our estimates of the information collection 
burden, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions we 
use;
    (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information collected; and
    (d) ways to minimize the information collection burden on those who 
are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology.
    The Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 (DCIA), 31 U.S.C. 3701, 
contains a number of provisions that affect how BLM does business. One 
of the more significant provisions allows BLM to refer debts delinquent 
over 180 days to the Treasury Department for collection. Another 
provision gives the Treasury Department increased flexibility in 
seeking to collect the debts by various

[[Page 51292]]

offsets of payments, including tax refunds.
    The DCIA requires that all Federal disbursements include the 
payee's SSN/TIN. This information aids the Treasury Department in 
matching debtors to payments and in seeking those payments from the 
debtors. BLM uses Form 1372-6 to collect the payee's full name, 
address, and the SSN/TIN. The SSN/TIN data is protected under the 
Privacy Act.
    Based on BLM's experience administering this program, we estimate 
the public reporting burden is 1 minute to complete Form 1372-6. These 
estimates include the time spent on research, gathering, and assembling 
information, reviewing instructions, and completing the respective 
form. In FY 1999, BLM estimated 120,000 respondents the first year with 
a total annual burden of 20,000 hours. The number was expected to 
decrease the second year to 5,000 respondents with a total annual 
burden of 83 hours. Respondents are those entities who do business with 
BLM which include licensees, permittees, lessees, and contract holders. 
Individuals who pay one-time recreation fees are not affected.
    Any member of the public may request and obtain, without charge, a 
copy of BLM Form 1372-6 by contacting the person identified under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
    BLM will summarize all responses to this notice and include them in 
the request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of a 
public record.

    Dated: August 1, 2002.
Michael H. Schwartz,
Bureau of Land Management, Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 02-19887 Filed 8-6-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-M