03-27297. Notice of Proposed Information Collection for 1029-0080 and 1029-0089

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 request renewed authority for two collections of information: 30 CFR Part 702 regarding the exemption of coal extraction incidental to the extraction of other minerals; and 30 CFR Part 850 authorizing State regulatory authorities to develop blaster certification programs. These information collection activities were previously approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and assigned them clearance numbers 1029-0089 and 1029-0080, respectively.

DATES:

Comments on the proposed information collection must be received by December 29, 2003 to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES:

Comments may be mailed to John A. Trelease, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 1951 Constitution Ave, Room 210-SIB, Washington, DC 20240. Comments may also be submitted electronically to [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

To request a copy of the information collection requests, explanatory information and related forms, contact John A. Trelease, at [phone].

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)). This notice identifies information collections that OSM will be submitting to OMB for approval. These collections are contained in 30 CFR Part 702, Exemption for Coal Extraction Incidental to the Extraction of Other Minerals; and 30 CFR Part 850, Permanent regulatory program requirements—standards for certification of blasters. OSM will request a 3-year term of approval for each information collection activity.

Comments are invited on: (1) The need for the collection of information for the performance of the functions of the agency; (2) the accuracy of the agency's burden estimates; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information collection; and (4) ways to minimize the information collection burden on respondents, such as use of automated means of collection of the information. A summary of the public comments will accompany OSM's submission of the information collection request to OMB.

The following information is provided for each information collection: (1) Title of the information collection; (2) OMB control number; (3) summary of the information collection activity; and (4) frequency of collection, description of the respondents, estimated total annual responses, and the total annual reporting and recordkeeping burden for the collection of information.

Title: Exemption for Coal Extraction Incidental to the Extraction of Other Minerals, 30 CFR Part 702.

OMB Control Number: 1029-0089.

Summary: This part implements the requirement in Section 701 (28) of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA), which grants an exemption from the requirements of SMCRA to operators extracting not more than 162/3 percentage tonnage of coal incidental to the extraction of other minerals. This information will be used by the regulatory authorities to make that determination.

Bureau Form Number: None.

Frequency of Collection: Once and annually thereafter.

Description of Respondents: Producers of coal and other minerals.

Total Annual Responses: 57.

Total Annual Burden Hours: 581.

Title: Permanent regulatory program requirements—standards for certification of blasters, 30 CFR 850.

OMB Control Number: 1029-0080.

Summary: This part establishes the requirements and procedures applicable to the development of regulatory programs for the training, examination, and certification of persons engaging in or directly responsible for the use of explosives in surface coal mining operations.

Bureau firm Number: None.

Frequency of Collection: Once.

Description of Respondents: State regulatory authorities.

Total Annual Responses: 1.

Total Annual Burden Hours: 173.

Dated: October 24, 2003.

John A. Trelease,

Acting Chief, Division of Regulatory Support.