05-22794. Notice of Proposed Information Collection for 1029-0063

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 that the information collection request for the title described below 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 its 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 December 19, 2005 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 1029-0063 in your correspondence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

To request a copy of either information collection request, explanatory information and related form, contact John A. Trelease at [phone]. You may also contact Mr. Trelease at [e-mail].

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)]. OSM has submitted a request to OMB to renew its approval for the collection of information found at 30 CFR part 870, Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund—Fee Collection and Coal Production Reporting and the form it implements, the OSM-1, Coal Reclamation Fee Report. This request consolidates these requirements with the excess moisture deduction provisions found in section 870.18, approved separately by OMB under control number 1029-0090. OSM is requesting a 3-year term of approval for these information collection activities.

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 1029-0063 for part 870 and the OSM-1 form.

As required under 5 CFR 1320.8(d), a Federal Register notice soliciting comments on this collection of information was published on August 30, 2005 (70 FR 51364). No comments were received. This notice provides the public with an additional 30 days in which to comment on the following information collection activities:

Title: Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund—Fee Collection and Coal Production Reporting, 30 CFR 870.

OMB Control Number: 1029-0063.

Summary: The information is used to maintain a record of coal produced for sale, transfer, or use nationwide each calendar quarter, the method of coal removal and the type of coal, and the basis for coal tonnage reporting in compliance with 30 CFR 870 and section 401 of Public Law 95-87. Individual reclamation fee payment liability is based on this information. Without the collection of information OSM could not implement its regulatory responsibilities and collect the fee.

Bureau Form Number: OSM-1.

Frequency of Collection: Quarterly.

Description of Respondents: Coal mine permittees.

Total Annual Responses: 11,192.

Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,462.

Send comments on the need for the collection 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 collection; and ways to minimize the information collection burden on respondents, such as use of automated means of collection of the information, to the following address. Please refer to the appropriate OMB control number in all correspondence.

Dated: November 2, 2005.

Dennis G. Rice,

Acting Chief, Division of Regulatory Support