03-30345. Notice of Proposed Information Collection for 1029-0115, 1029-0116 and 1029-0117

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 that the information collection requests for 30 CFR part 773 (Requirements for permits and permit processing), part 774 (Revision; Renewal; and Transfer, Assignment, or Sale of Permit Rights), and part 778 (Permit Applications—Minimum Requirements for Legal, Financial, Compliance, and Related Information) have been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and reauthorization. The information collection packages were previously approved and assigned clearance numbers 1029—0115 for 30 CFR part 773, 1029-0116 for 30 CFR part 774, and 1029-0117 for 30 CFR part 778. This notice describes the nature of the information collection activities and the expected burdens.

DATES:

OMB has up to 60 days to approve or disapprove the information collection but may respond after 30 days. Therefore, public comments should be submitted to OMB by January 7, 2003, in order to be assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

To request a copy of the information collection requests, explanatory information and related forms, contact John A. Trelease at [phone], or electronically to [e-mail].

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)) OSM has submitted requests to OMB to renew its approval for the collections of information for 30 CFR part 773 (Requirements for permits and permit processing), part 774 (Revision; Renewal; and Transfer, Assignment, or Sale of Permit Rights), and part 778 (Permit Applications—Minimum Requirements for Legal, Financial, Compliance, and Related Information). 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 numbers for these collections of information are listed in 30 CFR 773.3, which is 1029-0115; in 30 CFR 774.9, which is 1029-0116; and in 30 CFR 778.8, which is 1029-0117.

As required under 5 CFR 1320.8(d), a Federal Register notice soliciting comments on these collections of information was published on August 1, 2003 (68 FR 45275). 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: Requirements for Permits and Permit Processing, 30 CFR part 773.

OMB Control Number: 1029-0115.

Summary: The collection activities for this part ensure that the public has the opportunity to review permit applications prior to their approval, and that applicants for permanent program permits or their associates who are in violation of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act do not receive surface coal mining permits pending resolution of their violations.

Bureau Form Number: None.

Frequency of Collection: Once.

Description of Respondents: Applicants for surface coal mining and reclamation permits and State governments and Indian tribes.

Total Annual Responses: 324.

Total Annual Burden Hours: 11,058.

Total Non-wage Costs: $12,040.

Title: Revisions; Renewals; and Transfer, Assignment, or Sale of Permit Rights—30 CFR part 774.

OMB Control Number: 1029-0116.

Summary: Sections 506 and 511 of Pub. L. 95-87 provide that persons seeking permit revisions, renewals, transfer, assignment, or sale of their permit rights for coal mining activities submit relevant information to the regulatory authority to allow the regulatory authority to determine whether the applicant meets the requirements for the action anticipated.

Bureau Form Number: None.

Frequency of Collection: On occasion.

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

Total Annual Responses: 6,498.

Total Annual Burden Hours: 49,164.

Title: Permit Applications—Minimum Requirements for Legal, Financial, Compliance, and Related Information—30 CFR part 778.

OMB Control Number: 1029-0117.

Summary: Section 507(b) of Pub. L. 95-87 provides that persons conducting coal mining activities submit to the regulatory authority all relevant information regarding ownership and control of the property affected, their compliance status and history. This information is used to insure all legal, financial and compliance requirements are satisfied prior to issuance or denial of a permit.

Bureau Form Number: None.

Frequency of Collection: Once.

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

Total Annual Responses: 301.

Total Annual Burden Hours: 6,436.

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, 1029--0115 for part 773, 1029-0116 for part 774, and 1029-0117 for part 778.

ADDRESSES:

Submit comments to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Attention: Department of Interior Desk Officer, by telefax at [phone] or via e-mail to [e-mail]. Also, please send a copy of your comments to John A. Trelease, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 1951 Constitution Ave, NW., Room 210—SIB, Washington, DC 20240, or electronically to [e-mail].

Dated: October 2, 2003.

Richard G. Bryson,

Chief, Division of Regulatory Support.