[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 168 (Friday, August 29, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45867-45868]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-23052]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[HE-952-9911-00]
Information Collection Associated With Contracts for Sale of In-
Kind Crude Helium
agency: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
action: Notice and request for comments.
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summary: In accordance with the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces its
intention to request approval for the collection of information from
those persons who have entered into enforceable contracts to purchase
an equivalent amount of crude helium from the Secretary. The BLM uses
the information to balance crude helium sales with sales to Federal
agencies.
dates: Comments in the proposed collection must be received by October
28, 1997 to be considered.
addresses: Comments may be mailed or hand delivered to: Bureau of Land
Management, Helium Operations, 801 S. Fillmore, Suite 500, Amarillo, TX
79101-3545. Comments will be available for public review at the
Fillmore address during regular business hours (7:30 a.m. to 4:00
p.m.), Monday through Friday. You may also send comments electronically
by way of the Internet to Cneely@he.blm.gov. Please submit comments as
an ASCII file to avoid the use of special characters and any form of
encryption.
for further information contact: Connie H. Neely, Helium Sales Officer,
(806) 324-2635.
supplementary information: In accordance with 5 CFR 1320.12(a), BLM is
required to provide a 60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning
a collection of information contained in proposed rules or other
documents to solicit comments on: (a) Whether the collection of
information is necessary for 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 collecting the
information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions
used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the
information on those who are to respond, including through the use of
appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical or technological
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
The Helium Privatization Act of 1996 requires the Department of
Defense, the Atomic Energy Commission, the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration and other Federal agencies to purchase their major
requirements for helium from people who have entered into enforceable
contracts to purchase an equivalent amount of crude helium from the
Secretary. The Act requires BLM to change its current helium
regulations at 30 CFR 601 and 602. In advance of the regulatory
changes, however, BLM must prepare a new standard contract to meet the
``enforceable contract'' provision of the Act. This information
collection meets the requirements of that provision.
The proposed contract will contain the following information and
recordkeeping requirements: Information pertaining to definitions,
effective date and term of contract, delivery, pricing, charges,
billing and payment of crude helium, and reports of sales to Federal
agencies.
BLM will use the information to account for helium sold to Federal
agencies and crude helium purchased from BLM. Upon request, BLM will
furnish information as to which companies are in-kind crude helium
customers and which Federal agencies might have a major helium
requirement. If BLM did not collect this information, there could be no
accurate accounting of BLM helium to Federal agencies from Federal
helium suppliers. The information, which is required by law, is
mandatory for reporting purposes.
[[Page 45868]]
There is no other source of the information, and failure to provide the
information is grounds for terminating the contract.
Based on past experience in administering previous helium
distribution contracts, BLM estimates that there will be approximately
10 respondents annually and that it will take each respondent an
average of approximately 30 minutes to supply the requested
information. This includes a range of from 15 minutes to 2 hours. The
frequency of response is quarterly. The estimated total annual burden
is 20 hours. These numbers may change as BLM gains experience in
administering Act and the new contract.
Any interested member of the public may obtain a copy of the
proposed contract, without charge, by contacting the person identified
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
BLM will summarize and include all responses to this notice in the
request for approval to the Office of Management and Budget. All
comments will also become part of the public record.
Dated: August 26, 1997.
Carole Smith,
Bureau of Land Management, Information Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 97-23052 Filed 8-28-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-M
