[Federal Register: October 19, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 201)]
[Notices]               
[Page 56360-56361]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19oc99-97]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[WO-320-1990-02 24 1A]

 
Extension of Currently Approved Information Collection, OMB 
Control No. 1004-0176

SUMMARY: Per the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Land 
Management (BLM) announces its intention to request extension of 
approval to collect certain information from claimants and operators of 
potential mine sites on federal lands. The information requirements 
covered by this information collection are those connected with filing 
notices of intent to conduct mining operation and plans of operation 
for hardrock minerals located under the General Mining Law of 1872.

DATES: Submit comments on the proposed information collection by 
December 20, 1999, to receive full consideration before BLM submits the 
information collection package to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB).

ADDRESSES: You may: (1) Mail comments to: Regulatory Affairs Group 
(630), Bureau of Land Management, 1849 C St., N.W., Mail Stop 401 LS, 
Washington, D.C. 20240; (2) send comments via the Internet to: 
WOComment@blm.gov; or (3) hand-deliver comments to: Bureau of Land 
Management Administrative Record, Room 401, 1620 L St., N.W., 
Washington, D.C.
    If you send comments via the Internet, please include ``Attn.: 
1004-0176'' and your name and return address in your message.
    Comments will be available for public review at the L Street 
address during regular business hours (7:45 am to 4:15 pm), Monday 
through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard E. Deery, Solid Minerals 
Group, (202) 452-9353.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
regulations at 5 CFR 1320.8(d) require BLM to provide a 60-day notice 
in the Federal Register concerning a proposed collection of information 
to solicit comments 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 the burden of the 
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (c)

[[Page 56361]]

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, including through the use of 
appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology. BLM 
will analyze any comments sent in response to this notice and include 
them with its request for extension of approval from OMB under 44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.
    In 1980 the BLM published two final rules to establish procedures 
for managing activities related to prospecting, exploration, mining, 
and processing on lands subject to the operation of the mining law. 
These regulations occur at 43 CFR 3802 and 3809 and are referred to 
collectively as the ``surface management'' regulations by BLM and the 
public. Under the terms of the regulations, anyone planning to conduct 
activities on the public lands under the mining law must submit various 
types of information to BLM to obtain or keep a benefit. Depending on 
the lands involved in the activity, the information is contained in 
either a Notice (43 CFR 3809.1-3) or a Plan of Operations (43 CFR 
3809.1-4 and 3809.1.-5).
    The types of information generally contained within each type of 
response include: (1) The claimant/operator's name, address, and phone 
number; (2) the activity's location; (3) when available, the mining 
claim recordation numbers; (4) a description of the methods and 
equipment to be employed during the operation; (5) a description of the 
proposed activity sufficient to locate it on the ground; (6) a 
description of reclamation and mitigation measures to be employed to 
prevent unnecessary and undue degradation; and (7) a description of 
measures to be taken during periods of non-operation.
    BLM is not the only approving party in the process of conducting 
mineral development on public lands. Before the surface management 
regulations were promulgated, the western states developed their own 
programs. In recognition of these programs, the regulations at 43 CFR 
3809.3-1(a) explicitly rejected a federal preemption of state law and 
at 43 CFR 3809.3-1(c) allowed for the creation, by memoranda of 
agreement, of joint federal/state programs for administering and 
enforcing the regulations. The regulations at 43 CFR 3809.2-2 require 
claimants/operators to comply with ``pertinent federal and state 
laws.'' The language acknowledges the large array of federal, state, 
and local requirements placed on operators by environmental laws and 
state mining and reclamation laws and regulations.
    Submitting all information described in the last two paragraphs is 
required to obtain and keep a benefit, the use of federal lands to 
develop federally owned mineral resources pursuant to the General 
Mining Law of 1872.
    BLM estimates that the annual number of respondents is 1,300 and 
that the total annual burden hours is 25,960. This number is based on 
an estimated 1,150 notices and 150 plans of operation being filed each 
year. Estimated burden hours are an average of 16 hours per notice and 
an average of 32 hours for each plan of operation. BLM is currently 
reviewing these estimates per the public comments received on the 
information collection package that it filed in connection with the 
proposed 3809 regulations. These comments indicated a need to review 
the burden estimate for plans of operation to determine whether it 
reflected the actual resources (money, personnel, and time) spent in 
collecting or compiling the needed information. They also indicated 
that BLM's information burden was by far larger than the information 
burden imposed by other federal, state, and local authorities.
    To assist us in reviewing the burden estimate for plans of 
operation, please provide information about the following:
    (1) An estimate of the information burden imposed by federal, 
state, and local authorities other than BLM. A list of the major 
federal, state, and local permits required for mining operations would 
be helpful for this purpose; and
    (2) An estimate of the information burden imposed by BLM for 
environmental analysis purposes, whether environmental assessments or 
environmental impact statements.
    BLM will summarize all responses to this notice and include them in 
the request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of 
public record.

    Dated: October 13, 1999.
Carole J. Smith,
Bureau of Land Management, Information Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 99-27167 Filed 10-18-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-M