[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 247 (Monday, December 27, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72358-72359]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-33446]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently
Approved Information Collection
AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments on information collection
regarding National Park Service mining regulations.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces the National Park Service's (NPS) intention to request
that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) extend and revise the
currently approved information collection budget for the NPS's minerals
management regulatory program inside park boundaries. Under 36 CFR part
9, the NPS regulates mineral development activities in parks associated
with mining claims located under the 1872 Mining Law and with non-
Federal oil and gas rights.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by February 25, 2000.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Contact Carol McCoy, Chief, Policy
and Regulations Branch, Geologic Resources Division, National Park
Service, P.O.Box 25287, Lakewood, Colorado 80225, (303) 969-2096.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: NPS/Minerals Management Program/Mining Claims and Non-
federal Oil and Gas Rights.
OMB Number: 1024-0064.
Expiration Date of Approval: January 31, 2000.
Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved
information collection.
Abstract: While surprising, outstanding mineral rights exist in
many units of the National Park System. In most cases, these rights
predate the establishment of the units. Currently, approximately 2,100
mining claims, which were located under the 1872 Mining Law, exist in a
total of 20 park units. The majority of these claims are located in
Mojave National Preserve that was added to the National Park System
through the California Desert Protection Act of 1994 (16 U.S.C.
410aaa). With respect to non-Federal oil and gas rights in park units,
597 non-Federal oil and gas operations exist in 11 park units. The
potential for additional non-Federal oil and gas operations in
additional units is tied to market forces and the quality and quantity
of oil and gas reserves in park boundaries that coincide with the
presence of private rights.
The NPS regulates mineral development activities inside park
boundaries on mining claims and on non-Federal oil and gas rights under
regulations codified at 36 CFR part 9: Subpart A for mining claims and
Subpart B for non-Federal oil and gas rights. The NPS promulgated both
sets of regulations in the late 1970's. In the case of mining claims,
the NPS did so under Congressional authority granted under the Mining
in the Parks Act of 1976 (16 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.) and individual park
enabling statutes. For non-Federal oil and gas rights, the NPS
regulates development activities pursuant to authority under the NPS
Organic Act of 1916 as amended (16 U.S.C. 1 et seq.) and individual
enabling statutes. As directed by Congress, the NPS developed the
regulations in order to protect park resources and visitor values from
the adverse impacts associated with mineral development in park
boundaries.
The heart of the regulations is the approved ``plan of operations''
requirement. Essentially, a plan of operations is a prospective
operator's blueprint setting forth all intended activities from access
to extraction to reclamation related to developing a particular mineral
right in a given park unit. The information required in a plan of
operations is set forth in NPS regulations. Before an operator can
commence development activities in a park unit, the NPS must approve
the plan of operations and the operator must secure a bond in an amount
sufficient to cover the cost of reclamation to the Federal Government
in the event the operator defaults on his/her obligations.
Usually, an approved plan of operations covers the life of the mine
or well, from development and production to reclamation. Under NPS
regulations, such plans may be revised. No set form is required for a
plan of operations. Each plan is tailored to the intended activities of
an operator and the particulars of the environment, e.g., hardwood
forest or desert, presence of endangered species or cultural resources,
location and extent of water resources including wetlands.
Because of the variability among plans of operations and the
duration of such plans, assessing the annual paperwork burden of
complying with the NPS's mining regulations is difficult. Below is the
NPS's best estimate, pro-rated on an annual basis, as to the number of
respondents and number of hours involved in complying with the
Service's regulations governing mining claims and non-Federal oil and
gas rights.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average 80 hours per response.
Respondents: Publicly held companies, private companies and
individuals.
Estimate of Number of Respondents: On an annual basis, the NPS
estimates that it receives a range of between 15 to 30 plans of
operations under its regulations: 5 to 10 plans of operations for
mining claims, and 10 to 20 plans of operations for non-Federal oil and
gas rights.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: One. To conduct
mineral development operations in park units, a prospective operator
must submit a proposed plan of operations to the NPS for review and
approval. Once approved, such a plan covers the life of the operation.
If the plan is for geophysical work associated with private oil and gas
rights it may only cover a period of a few months. In contrast, a plan
for a production oil and gas well or a hardrock mine may cover a period
of 10 or more years.
Estimated Total Annual Burden: 1200 to 2400 hours. The NPS
estimates that on an annual basis, it will take operators a range of
400 to 800 hours to prepare complete plans of operations for review and
approval under the Service's mining claim regulations at 36 CFR part 9,
Subpart A. In the case of non-Federal oil and gas rights, the NPS
estimates it will take all operators a range of 800 to 1600 hours to
prepare complete plans of operations for review and approval under the
Service's non-Federal oil and gas regulations at 36 CFR part 9, Subpart
B.
Please send comments regarding the accuracy of the burden
estimates, ways to improve them and any other related comments on the
collection of information under the NPS's mining regulations at 36 CFR
part 9 to the noted addressee above. All responses to this notice will
be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All
comments will also become a matter of public record.
[[Page 72359]]
Dated: December 3, 1999.
David B. Shaver,
Chief, Geologic Resources Division, Natural Resource Program Center.
[FR Doc. 99-33446 Filed 12-23-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P
