Notice of Proposed Information Collection

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 for the collections of information under 30 CFR part 882, Reclamation of private lands; and Form OSM-76, Abandoned Mine Land Problem Area Description form.

DATES:

Comments on the proposed information collection must be received by January 26, 2001, 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 210-SIB, Washington, DC 20240. Comments may also be submitted electronically to jtreleas@osmre.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

To request a copy of either information collection request, explanatory information and related forms, contact John A. Trelease, at (202) 208-2783.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations at 5 CFR 1320, which implement 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 Part 882, Reclamation on private lands; and (2) Form OSM-76, Abandoned Mine Land Problem Area Description 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 submissions 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; (4) the Bureau form number; and (5) 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: Reclamation on Private Lands, 30 CFR 882.

OMB Control Number: 1029-0057.

Summary: Public Law 95-87 authorizes Federal, State, and Tribal governments to reclaim private lands and allows for the establishment of procedures for the recovery of the cost of reclamation activities on privately owned lands. These procedures are intended to ensure that governments have sufficient capability to file liens so that certain landowners will not receive a windfall from reclamation.

Bureau Form Number: None.

Frequency of Collection: Once.

Description of Respondents: State governments and Indian tribes.

Total Annual Responses: 1.

Total Annual Burden Hours: 16.

Title: Abandoned Mine Land Problem Area Description Form, OSM-76.

OMB Control Number: 1029-0087.

Summary: This form will be used to update the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement's inventory of abandoned mine lands. From this inventory, the most serious problem areas are selected for reclamation through the apportionment of funds to States and Indian tribes.

Bureau Form Number: OSM-76.

Frequency of Collection: On occasion.

Description of Respondents: State governments and Indian tribes.

Total Annual Responses: 1,800.

Total Annual Burden Hours: 4,000.