96-7931. Extension of Currently Approved Information Collection, OMB Approval Number 1004-0020

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 2, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14575-14576]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-7931]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[WO-330-1020-00-24 1A]


Extension of Currently Approved Information Collection, OMB 
Approval Number 1004-0020

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is announcing its intention to request 
extension of approval to collect information from individuals who seek 
to graze livestock on unfenced, intermingled public and private land. 
BLM uses the information to issue exchange-of-use grazing agreements to 
ensure orderly administration of the range, including fair and 
equitable sharing of the operation and maintenance of range 
improvements.

DATES: Comments on the proposed information collection must be received 
by June 3, 1996, to be considered.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to: Regulatory Management Team (420), 
Bureau of Land Management, 1849 C Street NW., Room 401 LS, Washington, 
DC 20240.
    Comments may be sent via Internet to: ![e-mail]. Please 
include ``Attn: 1004-0020'' and your name and return address in your 
Internet message.

[[Page 14576]]

    Comments may be hand delivered to the Bureau of Land Management 
Administrative Record, Room 401, 1620 L Street, NW., Washington, DC.
    Comments will be available for public review at the L Street 
address during regular business hours (8:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., Monday 
through Friday).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Ramey, Jr., [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with 5 CFR 1320.12(a), BLM is 
required to provide 60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning a 
collection of information contained in published current rules to 
solicit comments on (a) Whether the collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information has practical utility; (b) the 
accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the collection, 
including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) 
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on those who are to respond, including through the use of 
appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
    The Taylor Grazing Act (TGA) of 1934 (43 U.S.C. 315 a-r), the 
Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1739, 1740) 
and the Public Rangelands Improvement Act of 1978 (43 U.S.C. 1901) 
provide the authority for BLM to administer the livestock grazing 
program consistent with land-use plans, multiple-use objectives, 
sustained yield, environmental values, economic considerations, and 
other factors. Authorizing livestock use on the public lands is an 
important and integral part of program administration. Intermingled 
land patterns sometimes complicate this administration.
    BLM's regulations at 43 CFR 4130.6-1 provide for an exchange-of-use 
grazing agreement to be issued to an applicant (an individual or farm 
owner) who owns or controls lands that are unfenced and intermingled 
with public lands in the same allotment. Use under such an agreement 
must be in harmony with the management objectives for the allotment and 
must be compatible with existing livestock operations. Initiation of an 
exchange-of-use agreement is voluntary on the part of the applicant. 
The implementing regulations were adopted in 1980 (45 FR 47105) and 
last amended in 1995 (60 FR 9894, February 22, 1995).
    BLM uses the Exchange-of-Use Grazing Agreement (Form 4130-4) to 
enable individuals to apply for exchange-of-use agreements. BLM 
considers the information provided on Form 4130-4 before issuing an 
exchange-of-use grazing permit or lease to graze livestock on the 
public lands, including other private or leased lands and the 
additional grazing capabilities. The information provided by the 
applicant includes identification of the intermingled private lands and 
estimated grazing capacity of the lands, the name of the BLM allotment 
and administrating District, the period of time the agreement is to be 
in effect, and the total number of livestock and animal unit months to 
be recognized on the allotment.
    The information requested on Form 4130-4 is only available from the 
individual or farm owner. The applicant's ownership papers, which are 
readily available to the applicant, but not to BLM, provide the 
specific information necessary to approve the agreement. This 
information ensures the orderly administration of the range, including 
fair and equitable sharing of the operation and maintenance of range 
improvements. Without exchange-of-use agreements, permittees would be 
required to fence their private lands or limit grazing to the number of 
livestock allowed only on public land in order to avoid unauthorized 
use violations. BLM would have to spend additional time supervising use 
of the range at an increased cost to taxpayers.
    The information collection is strictly voluntary to receive a 
benefit. The application is completed once during a permittee's period 
of ownership. Based on its experience managing the activities described 
above, BLM estimates that the public reporting burden for the 
information collection is 20 minutes per response. The number of 
responses is estimated to be 600 per year. The estimated total annual 
burden on new respondents is 200 hours.
    Any interested member of the public may request and obtain, without 
charge, a copy of Form 4130-4 by contacting the person identified under 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. All responses to this notice will be 
summarized and included in the request for Office of Management and 
Budget approval. All comments will also become a matter of public 
record.

    Dated: March 27, 1996.
Annetta L. Cheek,
Chief, Regulatory Management Team.
[FR Doc. 96-7931 Filed 4-1-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-P