[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 229 (Tuesday, November 26, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60116-60117]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-30094]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Minerals Management Service, Interior.
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request
AGENCY: Minerals Management Service, DOI.
ACTION: Notice of information collection solicitation.
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SUMMARY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Minerals
Management Service (MMS) is soliciting comments on an information
collection, the Payor Information Form for solid minerals (OMB Control
Number 1010-0064).
DATES: Written comments should be received on or before January 27,
1997.
ADDRESSES: Comments sent via the U.S. Postal Service should be sent to:
Minerals Management Service, Royalty Management Program, Rules and
Procedures Staff, P.O. Box 25165, MS 3101, Denver, Colorado, 80225-
0165; courier address is: Building 85, Room A-212, Denver Federal
Center, Denver, Colorado 80225; e:Mail address is: David--
Guzy@smtp.mms.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dennis C. Jones, Rules and Procedures
Staff, phone (303) 231-3046, FAX (303) 231-3194, e-Mail
Dennis__Jones@smtp.mms.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995, Section 3506 (c)(2)(A), each agency shall provide notice
and otherwise consult with members of the public and affected agencies
concerning this collection of information in order to solicit comment
to: (a) evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency,
including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b)
evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the
proposed collection of information; (c) enhance the quality, utility,
and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) minimize the
burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond,
including through the use of automated collection techniques or other
forms of information technology.
The Secretary is authorized to prescribe rules and regulations and
to do any and all things necessary to accomplish the purpose of
applicable laws. Relevant citations (Attachment 1) include 30 U.S.C.
189, pertaining to public lands; 30 U.S.C. 359, pertaining to acquired
lands; and 25 U.S.C. 396d, pertaining to Indian lands. Regulations at
25 CFR 211 et seq. provide by cross reference that applicable
provisions of 30 CFR Chapter II apply to Indian leases. The Bureau of
Land Management regulations at 43 CFR 3473 for coal, and 43 CFR 3503
for minerals other than coal, apply to this information collection. The
Minerals Management Service (MMS) performs the royalty management
functions for the Secretary, who is responsible for the collection of
royalties from lessees who produce minerals from leased Federal and
Indian lands. MMS has developed computer applications that document
payment and sales volumes and values as reported by payors and also
track minerals from the point of production to the point of
disposition, royalty determination, or point of sale. This consolidated
database enables MMS to verify that proper royalties are being received
for minerals produced; it is an essential part of an overall effort to
improve the management of the nation's mineral resources and to ensure
proper collection and accounting for revenues due from industries
removing and processing solid minerals products from Federal or Indian
leases. Information collected using the Payor Information Form (PIF)for
solid minerals is an integral part of this database which is used to
record and report data from new producing leases, for updating payor
changes, and to notify MMS of the products on which royalties will be
paid.
Detailed data are necessary to enable the Secretary to provide
reliable, comprehensive sources of information for Federal, State, and
Indian auditors and inspectors checking payors and lease operators. The
data collected on the PIF are used to establish payor accounts for
mineral leases on Federal and Indian lands, and to assign unique
accounting identification numbers that will enable MMS to maintain,
reconcile, and audit lease accounts. The PIF shows the party who pays
rentals, minimum royalty, or royalties on production to MMS, and the
products on which the payments are to be made.
Failure to collect the information reported on the PIF would make
it impossible for MMS to comply with applicable laws and regulations of
the United States. This, in turn, would result in significant loss of
revenue to the U.S. Treasury, States, and Indians. In addition, the
Secretary is required to
[[Page 60117]]
promptly disburse monies to the States and Indians. Accuracy of royalty
collections and disbursements could not be assured without the PIF
data.
Approximately 400 active solid minerals payors will submit an
estimated 150 initial and updated PIF's annually. MMS estimates that it
will take approximately 75 burden hours to complete these PIF's, or an
average of \1/2\ hour per PIF. MMS further estimates that it will take
approximately 200 burden hours for all payors to perform the necessary
recordkeeping directly related to the PIF, or an average of \1/2\ hour
per payor. Therefore, the total burden hours for this information
collection is estimated to be 275 burden hours annually. At an
estimated cost of $25 per burden hour, the total estimated annual cost
to respondents is $6,875.
Dated: November 10, 1996.
James W. Shaw,
Associate Director for Royalty Management.
[FR Doc. 96-30094 Filed 11-25-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P
