2021-06073. Agency Information Collection Activities; Surface Mining Permit Applications-Minimum Requirements for Reclamation and Operation Plan

AGENCY:

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice of information collection; request for comment.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are proposing to renew an information collection.

DATES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before May 24, 2021.

ADDRESSES:

Send your comments on this information collection request (ICR) by mail to Mark Gehlhar, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 1849 C Street NW, Room 4556-MIB, Washington, DC 20240, or by email to [e-mail]. Please reference OMB Control Number 1029-0036 in the subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

To request additional information about this ICR, contact Mark Gehlhar by email at [e-mail], or by telephone at 202-208-2716.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) and 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), we provide the general public and other Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on new, proposed, revised, and continuing collections of information. This helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. It also helps the public understand our information collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired format.

We are soliciting comments on the proposed ICR that is described below. We are especially interested in public comment addressing the following issues: (1) Is the collection necessary to the proper functions of the agency; (2) will this information be processed and used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) how might the OSMRE enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (5) how might the OSMRE minimize the burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use of information technology.

Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Abstract: Sections 507(b), 508(a), 510(b), 515(b) and (d), and 522 of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA), 30 U.S.C. 1201 et seq., require applicants to submit operation and reclamation plans for coal mining activities. This information collection is needed to determine whether the plans will achieve the reclamation and environmental protections that SMCRA requires. Without this information, Federal and State regulatory authorities cannot review and approve permit application requests.

Title of Collection: Surface Mining Permit Applications—Minimum Requirements for Reclamation and Operation Plans.

OMB Control Number: 1029-0036.

Form Number: None.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents/Affected Public: State governments and businesses.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 100.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 4,000.

Estimated Completion Time per Response: Varies from 2 hours to 160 hours, depending on activity.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 100,000.

Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit.

Frequency of Collection: One time.

Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: $1,000,000.

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 authority for this action is the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

Mark J. Gehlhar,

Information Collection Clearance Officer, Division of Regulatory Support.