06-6855. Notice of Proposed Information Collection for 1029-0094, 1029-0098 and 1029-0119

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 its intention to request approval to continue the collections of information for 30 CFR part 700—general provisions, 30 CFR part 769—the petition process for the designation of Federal lands as unsuitable for all or certain types of surface coal mining operations and for termination of previous designations, and 30 CFR 874.16—contractor eligibility requirements for general reclamation and its Abandoned Mine Land Contractor Information form. These information collection activities were previously approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and assigned clearance numbers 1029-0094, 1029-0098, and 1029-0119, respectively.

DATES:

Comments on the proposed information collection must be received by October 10, 2006, to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES:

Comments may be mailed to John A. Trelease, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 1951 Constitution Ave., NW., Room 202—SIB, Washington, DC 20240. Comments may also be submitted electronically to [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

To request a copy of the information collection requests, explanatory information and related forms, contact John A. Trelease, at [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB regulations at 5 CFR 1320, which implementing 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)]. This notice identifies information collections that OSM will be submitting to OMB for approval. These collections are contained in (1) 30 CFR 700, General (1029-0094); (2) 30 CFR part 769, Petition process for designation of Federal lands as unsuitable for all or certain types of surface coal mining operations and for termination of previous designations; and (3) 30 CFR 874.16 and the Abandoned Mine Land Contractor Information form. OSM will request a 3-year term of approval for each information collection activity.

Comments are invited on: (1) The need for the collection of information for the performance of the functions of the agency; (2) the accuracy of the agency's burden estimates; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information collection; and (4) ways to minimize the information collection burden on respondents, such as use of automated means of collection of the information. A summary of the public comments will accompany OSM's submission of the information collection requests to OMB.

The following information is provided for the information collection: (1) Title of the information collection; (2) OMB control number; (3) summary of the information collection activity; and (4) frequency of collection, description of the respondents, estimated total annual responses, and the total annual reporting and recordkeeping burden for the collection of information.

Title: General, 30 CFR part 700.

OMB Control Number: 1029-0094.

Summary: This Part establishes procedures and requirements for terminating jurisdiction of surface coal mining and reclamation operations, petitions for rulemaking, and citizen suits filed under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977.

Bureau Form Number: None.

Frequency of Collection: Once.

Description of Respondents: State and tribal regulatory authorities, private citizens and citizen groups, and surface coal mining companies.

Total Annual Responses: 6.

Total Annual Burden Hours: 84.

Title: Petition process for designation of Federal lands as unsuitable for all or certain types of surface coal mining operations and for termination of previous designations, 30 CFR part 769.

OMB Control Number: 1029-0098.

Summary: This part establishes the minimum procedures and standards for designating Federal lands unsuitable for certain types of surface mining operations and for terminating designations pursuant to a petition. The information requested will aid the regulatory authority in the decision making process to approve or disapprove a request.

Bureau Form Number: None.

Frequency of Collection: Once.

Description of Respondents: People who may be adversely affected by surface mining on Federal lands.

Total Annual Responses: 1.

Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,067.

Title: Contractor eligibility requirements for general reclamation, 30 CFR 874.16 and the AML Contractor Information Form.

OMB Control Number: 1029-0119.

Summary: 30 CFR 874.16 requires that every successful bidder for an AML contract must be eligible under 30 CFR 773.15(b)(1) at the time of contract award to receive a permit or conditional permit to conduct surface coal mining operations. Further, the regulation requires the eligibility to be confirmed by OSM's automated AVS and the contractor must be eligible under the regulations implementing Section 510(c) of the Surface Mining Act to receive permits to conduct mining operations. The AML Contractor Information form provides a tool for OSM and the States/Indian tribes to help them prevent persons with outstanding violations from conducting further mining of AML reclamation activities in the State.

Bureau Form Number: None.

Frequency of Collection: Once per contract.

Description of Respondents: AML contract applicants and State and tribal regulatory authorities.

Total Annual Responses: 420 bidders and 8 State responses.

Total Annual Burden Hours: 161.

Dated: August 7, 2006.

John R. Craynon,

Chief, Division of Regulatory Support.