[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 197 (Friday, October 10, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61281-61282]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-24200]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Information Collection; Locatable Minerals
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice, request for comment.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals and
organizations on the extension of a currently approved information
collection, 36 CFR part 228, subpart A--Locatable Minerals.
DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before December 9,
2014 to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date
will be considered to the extent practicable.
ADDRESSES: Comments concerning this notice should be addressed to:
Forest Service, Director, Minerals and Geology Management Staff, Mail
Stop 1140, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20250.
Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to 703-605-1575 or by
email to: [email protected].
Comments submitted in response to this notice may be made available
to the public through relevant Web sites and upon request. For this
reason, please do not include in your comments information of a
confidential nature, such as sensitive personal information or
proprietary information. If you send an email comment, your email
address will be automatically captured and included as part of the
comment that is placed in the public docket and made available on the
Internet. Please note that responses to this public comment request
containing any routine notice about the confidentiality of the
communication will be treated as public comments that may be made
available to the public notwithstanding the inclusion of the routine
notice.
The public may inspect the draft supporting statement and/or
comments received at 201 14th Street SW., Washington, DC during normal
business hours. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to 703-605-4545
to facilitate entry to the building. The public may request an
electronic copy of the draft supporting statement and/or any comments
received be sent via return email. Requests should be emailed to
[email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim DeMaagd, Assistant Director,
Minerals and Geology Management, at 303-275-5473. Individuals who use
telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay
Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 twenty-four hours a day, every day of
the year, including holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: 36 CFR Part 228, Subpart A--Locatable
Minerals.
OMB Number: 0596-0022
Expiration Date of Approval: January 31, 2015.
Type of Request: Extension without change of a currently approved
collection.
Abstract: This collection of information is necessary to ensure
that the environmental impacts associated with locatable mineral
operations on National Forest System (NFS) lands are minimized to the
extent practicable. The Forest Service regulations at 36 CFR 228.5
require mining operators, with some exceptions, to notify the
authorized Forest Service officer of their intent to conduct a
locatable mineral operation on NFS lands by filing a Notice of Intent
or Plan of Operations. 36 CFR 228.10 requires mining operators to
submit a Cessation of Operation when mining operations are temporarily
ceased, other than for seasonal closure.
There is not a required format for the information collection, but
all information identified in 36 CFR part 228 must be included. Form
FS-2800-5, Plan of Operations for Mining Activities on National Forest
System Lands, is available for use by mining operators to simplify this
process. The information required in a Plan of Operations, detailed in
36 CFR 228.4(c), (d), and (e), includes:
1. The name and legal mailing address of operators (and claimants
if they are not the same) and their lessees, assigns, or designees.
2. A map or sketch showing information sufficient to locate:
a. The proposed area of operations on the ground.
b. Existing and/or proposed roads or access routes to be used in
connection with the operation as set forth in 36 CFR 228.12 on access.
c. The approximate location and size of areas where surface
resources will be disturbed.
3. Information sufficient to describe the:
a. Type of operations proposed and how they would be conducted.
b. Type and standard of existing and proposed roads or access
routes.
c. Means of transportation used or to be used as set forth in 36
CFR 228.12.
d. Period during which the proposed activity will take place.
e. Measures to be taken to meet the requirements for environmental
protection in 36 CFR 228.8.
A Notice of Intent is required, as detailed in 36 CFR 228.4(a)(2),
to include information sufficient to identify the area involved, the
nature of the proposed operation, the route of access to the area of
operations, and the method of transport. A Cessation of Operations is
required, as detailed in 36 CFR 228.10, to include verification of
intent to maintain structures, equipment, and other facilities;
expected reopening date; and an estimate of extended durations of
operations.
These collections of information are crucial to protecting surface
resources, including plants, animals, and their habitat, as well as
public safety on NFS lands. The authorized Forest Service officer will
use the collected information to ensure that the exploration,
development, and production of mineral resources are conducted in an
environmentally sensitive manner; that these mineral operations are
integrated with the planning and management of other
[[Page 61282]]
resources using the principles of ecosystem management; and that lands
disturbed by mineral operations are reclaimed using the best scientific
knowledge and returned to other productive uses. If this information
was not collected, the Forest Service would not be in compliance with
the Federal Regulations and locatable mineral operations could result
in undue damage to surface resources.
Estimate of Annual Burden: 12 Hours (10 hours--Plan of Operations;
1 hour--Notice of Intent; 1 hour--Cessation of Operations).
Type of Respondents: Mining operators.
Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 283 (111--Plans of
Operations; 169--Notices of Intent; 3--Cessation of Operations).
Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 10,005 Hours (12
hours x 111 Plans of Operation = 1,332; 2 hour x 169 Notices of Intent
= 338; 1 hour x 3 Cessation of Operations = 3; 1,332 + 338 + 3 =
1,673).
Comment is invited on: (1) Whether this collection of information
is necessary for the stated purposes and the proper performance of the
functions of the Agency, including whether the information will have
practical or scientific utility; (2) the accuracy of the Agency's
estimate of the burden of the collection of information, including the
validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance
the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected;
and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on
respondents, including the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information
technology.
All comments received in response to this notice, including names
and addresses when provided, will be a matter of public record.
Comments will be summarized and included in the request for Office of
Management and Budget approval.
Dated: October 2, 2014.
Gregory C. Smith,
Acting Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2014-24200 Filed 10-9-14; 8:45 am]
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