06-8810. Notice of Proposed Information Collection for 1029-0027

AGENCY:

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is announcing its intention to seek renewed authority to collect information for 30 CFR part 740 which relates to surface coal mining and reclamation operations on Federal lands. This collection request has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The information collection request describes the nature of the information collection and the expected burden and cost.

DATES:

OMB has up to 60 days to approve or disapprove the information collections but may respond after 30 days. Therefore, public comments should be submitted to OMB by November 20, 2006, in order to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES:

Comments may be submitted to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Department of the Interior Desk Officer, via e-mail at [e-mail], or by facsimile to [phone]. Also, please send a copy of your comments to John A. Trelease, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 1951 Constitution Ave, NW., Room 202-SIB, Washington, DC 20240, or electronically to [e-mail]. Please reference 1029-0027 in your correspondence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

To request a copy of the information collection request, explanatory information and related form, contact John A. Trelease at [phone], or electronically to [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations at 5 CFR part 1320, which implement provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13), require that interested members of the public and affected agencies have an opportunity to comment on information collection and recordkeeping activities [see 5 CFR 1320.8(d)]. OSM has submitted a request to OMB to renew its approval of the collections of information contained in 30 CFR part 740, Surface Coal Mining and Reclamation Operations on Federal Lands. OSM is requesting a 3-year term of approval for this information collection activity.

An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control number for this collection of information is 1029-0027.

As required under 5 CFR 1320.8(d), a Federal Register notice soliciting comments on this collection of information was published on May 2, 2006 (71 FR 25857). No comments were received. This notice provides the public with an additional 30 days in which to comment on the following information collection activity.

Title: 30 CFR Part 740—General requirements for surface coal mining and reclamation operations on Federal lands.

OMB Control Number: 1029-0027.

Summary: Section 523 of SMCRA requires that a Federal lands program be established to govern surface coal mining and reclamation operations on Federal lands. The information requested is needed to assist the regulatory authority to determine the eligibility of an applicant to conduct surface coal mining operations on Federal lands.

Frequency of Collection: Once.

Description of Respondents: Applicants for surface coal mine permits on Federal lands and State regulatory authorities.

Total Annual Responses: 42.

Total Annual Burden Hours for Applicants: 2,602.

Total Annual Burden Hours for State Regulatory Authorities: 800.

Total Annual Burden Hours for All Respondents: 3,402.

Send comments on the need for the collections of information for the performance of the functions of the agency, the accuracy of the agency's burden estimates; ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information collections; and ways to minimize the information collection burdens on respondents, such as use of automated means of collections of the information, to the addresses listed previously. Please refer to the appropriate OMB control number in all correspondence.

Dated: July 20, 2006.

John R. Craynon,

Chief, Division of Regulatory Support.