02-25434. Notice of Proposed Information Collection for 1029-0038

AGENCY:

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement.

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 approval for the collection of information for 30 CFR Part 783, Underground Mining Permit Applications—Minimum Requirements for Information on Environmental Resources.

DATES:

Comments on the proposed information collection must be received by December 6, 2002, to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES:

Comments may be mailed to John A. Trelease, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 1951 Constitution Ave., NW., 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 request, explanatory information and related forms, contact John A. Trelease, at [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations at 5 CFR 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 an information collection activity that OSM will be submitting to OMB for extension. This collection is contained in 30 CFR part 783, Underground Mining Permit Applications—Minimum Requirements for Information on Environmental Resources.

OSM has revised burden estimates, where appropriate, to reflect current reporting levels or adjustments based on reestimates of burden or respondents. OSM will request a 3-year term of approval for this 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.

This notice provides the public with 60 days in which to comment on the following information collection activity:

Title: Underground Mining Permit Applications—Minimum Requirements for Information on Environmental Resources—30 CFR Part 783.

OMB Control Number: 1029-0038.

Summary: Applicants for underground coal mining permits are required to provide adequate descriptions of the environmental resources that may be affected by proposed underground coal mining activities.

Bureau Form Number: None.

Frequency of Collection: Once, at time of application submission.

Description of Respondents: Underground coal mining applicants and State regulatory authorities.

Total Annual Responses: 59

Total Annual Burden Hours: 25,088 hours.

Dated: September 30, 2002.

Richard G. Bryson,

Chief, Division of Regulatory Support.