[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 17 (Friday, January 25, 2013)] [Notices] [Pages 5485-5486] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2013-01518] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLWO320000 L19900000 PO0000] Renewal of Approved Information Collection AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: 30-day Notice and request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has submitted an information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to continue the collection of information under the General Mining Law. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has assigned control number 1004-0025 to this information collection. DATES: The OMB is required to respond to this information collection request within 60 days but may respond after 30 days. For maximum consideration, written comments should be received on or before February 25, 2013. ADDRESSES: Please submit comments directly to the Desk Officer for the Department of the Interior (OMB1004-0025), Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, fax 202-395-5806, or by electronic mail at [email protected]. Please provide a copy of your comments to the BLM. You may do so via 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: [email protected]. Please indicate ``Attn: 1004-0025'' regardless of the form of your comments. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sonia Santillan, at 202-912-7123. 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 Ms. Santillan. You may also review the information collection request online at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501- 3521) and OMB regulations at 5 CFR part 1320 provide that an agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. [[Page 5486]] Until OMB approves a collection of information, you are not obligated to respond. In order to obtain and renew an OMB control number, Federal agencies are required to seek public comment on information collection and recordkeeping activities (see 5 CFR 1320.8(d) and 1320.12(a)). As required at 5 CFR 1320.8(d), the BLM published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register on September 4, 2012 (77 FR 53905), and the comment period ended November 4, 2012. The BLM received no comments. The BLM now requests comments on the following subjects: 1. Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper functioning of the BLM, including whether the information will have practical utility; 2. The accuracy of the BLM's estimate of the burden of collecting the information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; 3. The quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and 4. How to minimize the information collection burden on those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other forms of information technology. Please send comments as directed under ADDRESSES and DATES. Please refer to OMB control number 1004-0025 in your correspondence. 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: Mineral Surveys, Mineral Patent Applications, Adverse Claims, Protests, and Contests (43 CFR parts 3860 and 3870). OMB Control Number: 1004-0025. Abstract: On its face, the General Mining Law (30 U.S.C. 29, 30, and 39) authorizes a holder of an unpatented claim for hardrock minerals to apply for fee title (patent) to the Federal land (as well as minerals) embraced in the claim. Since 1994, a rider on the annual appropriation bill for the Department of the Interior has prevented the BLM from processing mineral patent applications unless the applications were grandfathered under the initial legislation. While grandfathered applications are rare at present, the approval to collect the information continues to be necessary because of the possibility that the moratorium will be lifted. Frequency of Collection: On occasion. Description of Respondents: Owners of unpatented mining claims and mill sites upon the public lands, and of reserved mineral lands of the United States, National Forests, and National Parks. Estimated Annual Burdens: 10 responses. Estimated Hour Burden: 556 hours. Estimated ``Non-Hour Cost'' Burden: $173,600. The ``Non-Hour Cost'' burden estimate includes $13,400 for fixed document processing fees, $1,200 for publication costs, and $159,000 for case-by-case fees for validity examinations. Jean Sonneman, Information Collection Clearance Officer, Bureau of Land Management. [FR Doc. 2013-01518 Filed 1-24-13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-84-P