2018-05236. Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Requirements for Coal Exploration

AGENCY:

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice of information collection; request for comment.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) are proposing to renew an information collection related to requirements for coal exploration.

DATES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before April 16, 2018

ADDRESSES:

Send written comments on this information collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget's Desk Officer for the Department of the Interior by email at [e-mail]; or via facsimile to [phone]. Please provide a copy of your comments to John Trelease, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 1849 C Street NW, Mail Stop 4559, Washington, DC 20240; or by email to [e-mail]. Please reference OMB Control Number 1029-0112 in the subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

To request additional information about this ICR, contact John Trelease by email at [e-mail], or by telephone at [phone]. You may also view the ICR at http://www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we provide the general public and other Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on new, proposed, revised, and continuing collections of information. This helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. It also helps the public understand our information collection requirements and provides the requested data in the desired format.

A Federal Register notice with a 60-day public comment period soliciting comments on this collection of information was published on November 20, 2017 (82 FR 55114). No comments were received.

We are again soliciting comments on the proposed ICR that is described below. We are especially interested in public comment addressing the following issues: (1) Is the collection necessary to the proper functions of OSMRE; (2) is the estimate of burden accurate; (3) how might OSMRE enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) how might OSMRE minimize the burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use of information technology.

Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of public record. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Title: 30 CFR part 772—Requirements for coal exploration.

OMB Control Number: 1029-0112.

Abstract: OSMRE and State regulatory authorities use the information collected under 30 CFR part 772 to keep track of coal exploration activities, evaluate the need for an exploration permit, and ensure that exploration activities comply with the environmental protection and reclamation requirements of 30 CFR parts 772 and 815, and section 512 of SMCRA (30 U.S.C. 1262).

Form Number: None.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents/Affected Public: Persons planning to conduct coal exploration and State regulatory authorities.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 320 coal operators and 24 State regulatory authorities.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 613.

Estimated Completion Time per Response: Varies from .5 hours to 70 hours, depending on type of respondent and activity.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 1,864 hours.

Respondent's Obligation: Required to Obtain or Retain a Benefit.

Frequency of Collection: One time.

Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: $288.

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 authority for this action is the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

Dated: March 12, 2018.

John A. Trelease,

Acting Chief, Division of Regulatory Support.