[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 102 (Thursday, May 28, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 29177]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-14131]
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Notices
Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
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Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 102 / Thursday, May 28, 1998 /
Notices
[[Page 29177]]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Extension of Currently Approved Information Collection for
Locatable Minerals
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice: request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
Forest Service announces its intent to extend the existing information
collection found in 36 CFR Part 228, Subpart A, for locatable minerals.
The current information collection will expire July 31, 1998.
DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before July 27, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Director, Minerals and Geology
Management, mail stop 1126, Forest Service, USDA, P.O. Box 96090,
Washington, D.C. 20090-6090.
The public may inspect comments in the Office of the Director. To
facilitate entrance into the building, visitors are encouraged to call
ahead (202) 205-1042.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sam Hotchkiss, Minerals and Geology Management, telephone: (202) 205-
1535.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Description of Information Collection
Title: Locatable Minerals.
OMB Number: 0596-0022.
Expiration Date of Approval: July 31, 1998.
Type of Request: Extension of an existing information collection.
Abstract: Locatable mineral operators must conduct their operations
in accordance with the mineral regulations at 36 CFR Part 228, Subpart
A, to ensure that the environmental impacts are minimized to the extent
practicable.
When submitting a notice of intent, a plan of operations, or a
notice of cessation of operations, the operator may use any format to
submit the required information. To facilitate this process, the Forest
Service has developed a plan of operations form to collect the
information required in the locatable mineral regulations. Although use
of the form is optional by the operator, it was used about 1,000 times
last year. The Forest Service uses the information to review and
evaluate a mining proposal. Without an established procedure for joint
Forest Service and operator planning, adverse impacts such as a
significant soil loss, water pollution, and adverse impacts to plants
and animals will likely occur. The types of activities that will cause
severe impacts to surface resources include an improperly located
access road, unplanned disposal of waste rock and mill tailings,
inadequate water drainage controls in disturbed areas, and a failure to
reclaim disturbed areas after operations are complete. Public safety
would also be a major concern if operators were allowed to leave
shafts, cuts, and adits uncovered, unfenced, and unmarked.
Estimate of Burden: 2 hours.
Type of Respondents: Locatable mineral operators.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 1000.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2000.
Comment Is Invited
The agency invites comments on the following: (a) Whether the
proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the
information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the
Agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of
information, 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 respondents, including the use of
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection
techniques or other forms of information technology.
Use of Comment
All comments, including name and address when provided, will become
a matter of public record. Comments received in response to this notice
will be summarized and included in the request for Office of Management
and Budget approval.
Dated: May 21, 1998.
Darrel L. Kenops,
Acting Deputy Chief, National Forest Systems.
[FR Doc. 98-14131 Filed 5-27-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M
