03-7562. Notice of Proposed Information Collection for 1029-0035 and 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 requests for the titles described below have been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The information collection requests describe the nature of the information collections and their expected burden and cost.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before April 30, 2003, to be assured of consideration.

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 two requests to OMB to renew its approval for the collections of information found at 30 CFR part 779, Surface mining permit applications—minimum requirements for environmental resources; and for the Coal Production and Reclamation Fee Report—Form OSM-1. 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 these collections of information are 1029-0035 for Part 779 and 1029-0063 for the OSM-1 form.

As required under 5 CFR 1320.8(d), a Federal Register notice soliciting comments on these collections of information was published on January 17, 2003 (68 FR 2574). 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: Surface mining permit applications—minimum requirements for environmental resources, 30 CFR Part 779.

OMB Control Number: 1029-0035.

Summary: Applicants for surface coal mining permits are required to provide adequate descriptions of the environmental resources that may be affected by proposed surface mining activities. The information will be used by the regulatory authority to determine if the applicant can comply with environmental protection performance standards.

Bureau Form Number: None.

Frequency of Collection: Once upon submittal of mining application.

Description of Respondents: Coal mining companies and state regulatory authorities.

Total Annual Responses: 325.

Total Annual Burden Hours: 52,813 hours.

Title: Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund—Fee Collection and Coal Production Reporting, 30 CFR Part 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 sections 401 and 402 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. This submission is mandatory. Estimated time to complete the OSM-1 form is 16 minutes for paper copy and 5 minutes using electronic means.

Bureau Form Number: OSM-1.

Frequency of Collection: Quarterly.

Description of Respondents: Coal mine permittees.

Total Annual Responses: 12,364.

Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,605.

Send comments on the need for the collection of information for the performances 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.

ADDRESSES:

Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Attention: Department of Interior Desk Officer, 725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503, and to John A. Trelease, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 1951 Constitution Ave, NW., Room 210-SIB, Washington, DC 20240.

Dated: March 20, 2003.

Richard G. Bryson,

Acting Assistant Director, Program Support.