E8-66. Extension of Approved Information Collection, OMB Control Number 1004-0103

AGENCY:

Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is requesting the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to extend an existing approval to collect information from applicants who apply to purchase mineral materials from public lands under regulations at 43 CFR parts 3600 and 3610. The BLM uses the information collected on Form 3600-9 (Contract for the Sale of Mineral Materials) to evaluate the environmental impacts of and otherwise evaluate mineral materials disposal proposals.

DATES:

You must submit your comments to BLM at the address below on or before March 10, 2008. BLM will not necessarily consider any comments received after the above date.

ADDRESSES:

You may mail comments to: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Mail Stop 401LS, 1849 C Street, NW., ATTN: Bureau Information Collection Clearance Officer (WO-630), Washington, DC 20240.

You may send comments via Internet to: [e-mail]. Please include “Attn: 1004-0103” and your name and return address in your Internet message.

You may deliver comments to the Bureau of Land Management, Administrative Record, Room 401, 1620 L Street, NW., Washington, DC, 20036.

All 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 except Federal holidays. Before including your address, telephone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, be advised that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask in your comment to withhold from public review your personal identifying information, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

You may contact George Brown at [phone] (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 leave a message for Mr. Brown.

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:

(1) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper functioning of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility;

(2) The accuracy of our estimates of the information collection burden, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions we use;

(3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and

(4) 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 Mineral Materials Act of 1947, as amended (Act), 30 U.S.C. 601 and 602, provides for the disposal of mineral materials, such as sand, gravel, and petrified wood from public lands by sale or free use. BLM disposes such materials under the regulations at 43 CFR parts 3600 and 3610.

BLM uses Form 3600-9 to collect information to:

(1) Determine whether the sale of mineral materials is in the public interest;

(2) Mitigate the environmental impacts of mineral materials development;

(3) Get fair market value for materials sold; and

(4) Prevent trespass removal of the materials.

Applicants must submit a request in writing to BLM to purchase mineral materials. Specific information requirements are not stated in the regulations, but sale agreements are made on Form 3600-9 approved by BLM.

BLM estimates we process 5,400 contracts for mineral materials each year. We estimate it takes 30 minutes to complete and compile supporting documentation. The estimated total annual information collection burden is 2,700 hours.

The BLM will summarize all responses to this notice and include them in the request for OMB approval. All comments will be of public record.

Dated: January 2, 2008.

Ted R. Hudson,

Information Collection Clearance Officer.