Renewal and Revision of Approved Information Collection

AGENCY:

Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION:

60-Day notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) invites public comments on, and plans to request approval to continue, the collection of information that enables the BLM to manage Federal coal resources in accordance with applicable statutes. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has assigned control number 1004-0073 to this information collection.

DATES:

Please submit comments on the proposed information collection by March 25, 2013.

ADDRESSES:

Comments may be submitted by mail, fax, or electronic mail. Mail: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, 1849 C Street NW., Room 2134LM, Attention: Jean Sonneman, Washington, DC 20240. Fax: to Jean Sonneman at 202-245-0050. Electronic mail: Jean_Sonneman@blm.gov. Please indicate “Attn: 1004-0073” regardless of the form of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Bill Radden-Lesage, at 202-912-7116. Persons who use a telecommunication device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339, to leave a message for Mr. Radden-Lesage.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

OMB regulations at 5 CFR part 1320, which implement provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3521, require that interested members of the public and affected agencies be given an opportunity to comment on information collection and recordkeeping activities (see 5 CFR 1320.8(d) and 1320.12(a)). This notice identifies an information collection that the BLM plans to submit to OMB for approval. The Paperwork Reduction Act provides that an agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Until OMB approves a collection of information, you are not obligated to respond.

The BLM will request a 3-year term of approval for this 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 our submission of the information collection requests to OMB.

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.

The following information is provided for the information collection:

Title: Coal Management (43 CFR parts 3400 through 3480).

OMB Control Number: 1004-0073.

Summary: This collection enables the BLM to learn the extent and qualities of Federal coal resources; evaluate the environmental impacts of coal leasing and development; determine the qualifications of prospective lessees to acquire and hold Federal coal leases; and ensure lessee compliance with applicable statutes, regulations, and lease terms and conditions.

Frequency of Collection: On occasion.

Forms:

• Form 3440-1, Application and License to Mine Coal (Free Use); and
• Form 3400-12, Coal Lease.

Description of Respondents:

• Applicants for, and holders of, coal exploration licenses;
• Applicants/bidders for, and holders of, coal leases;
• Applicants for, and holders of, licenses to mine coal; and
• Surface owners and State and tribal governments whose lands overlie coal deposits.

Estimated Annual Responses: 2,159.

Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 38,809.

Estimated Annual Non-Burden Cost: $625,883 in document processing fees.