[Federal Register: April 27, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 80)]
[Notices]               
[Page 22639]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr27ap99-72]

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[WO-320-1330-01 24 1A]

 
OMB Approval Number 1004-0169; Notice of Proposed Information 
Collection

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces its intention to 
request approval for the renewal of the collection of information 
annually from holders of unpatented mining claims concerning the use 
and occupancy of their claims. This collection has an Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) clearance number of 1004-0169.

DATES: Comments must be received by June 28, 1999 to be assured of 
consideration.

ADDRESSES: You may mail comments to: Regulatory Affairs Group (WO-630), 
Bureau of Land Management, 1849 C St., N.W., Mail Stop 401 LS, 
Washington, D.C. 20240. You may send comments via Internet to: 
WoComment@wo.blm.gov. Please include ``ATTN: 1004-0169'' and your name 
and return address in your Internet message. You may hand-deliver 
comments to: Bureau of Land Management, 1620 L St., N.W., Room 401, 
Washington, D.C.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard E. Deery, (202) 452-0353.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Per 5 CFR 1320.8(d), BLM is required to 
provide 60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning a proposed 
collection of information to seek 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) 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.
    In a final rule published in the Federal Register on July 16, 1996 
(61 FR 37116), BLM established procedures for managing existing and 
future use and occupancy of mining claims on BLM-administered lands 
consistent with the General Mining Law (30 U.S.C. 612), and the Federal 
Land Policy and Management Act (43 U.S.C. 1733). Under the terms of the 
regulations, BLM has to acknowledge any newly proposed activity related 
to mining on public lands if the activity involves occupancy or fencing 
to exclude the public before the occupancy or fencing begins.
    Anyone planning to occupy mining claims on public lands under the 
mining law has to submit the following information to BLM:
    1. A detailed map that identifies the site and shows the place of 
temporary and permanent structures for occupancy, the location of and 
reason for the structures intended to exclude the public, and the 
location of reasonable public passage or access routes through or 
around the area adjacent to public lands;
    2. A written description of the proposed occupancy that describes 
in detail how the proposed occupancy is reasonably incident and how the 
proposed occupancy meets the conditions specified in the regulations at 
43 CFR 3715.2 and 3715.2-1; and
    3. An estimate of the period of use of the structures used to 
exclude the public and a schedule for their removal and reclamation 
when operations end.
    Submitting the information is required to obtain and keep a 
benefit, which is the use of the public lands open to mining under the 
mining law for occupancy reasonably incident to prospecting, mining, 
and processing operations. BLM estimates that the public reporting 
burden for this collection is 2 hours per response, including the time 
to read the instructions, gather the information, and report it to BLM. 
The respondents are mining claimants and operators of prospecting, 
exploration, mining, and processing operations. The annual number of 
respondents is estimated at 130 new claimants and 600 existing 
claimants, i.e., those that have claims and are just now beginning 
operations on those claims, for a total annual burden of 1,560 hours. 
The number of responses is one per operation.
    You may review all comments received in response to this notice at 
the office address given in the ADDRESSES section of this notice. The 
comments will be available for inspection during regular business hours 
(7:45 am to 4:15 pm), Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. BLM 
will summarize all comments received and include them in the request 
for approval from OMB. All comments will become a matter of public 
record.

    Dated: April 21, 1999.
Carole J. Smith,
BLM Information Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 99-10544 Filed 4-26-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-M