[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 151 (Monday, August 5, 1996)] [Notices] [Pages 40656-40657] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-19765] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service Notice of Request for Extension and Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice and request for comments on information collection regarding National Park Service mining regulations. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the National Park Service's (NPS) intention to request that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) extend and revise the currently approved information collection budget for the NPS's minerals management regulatory program inside park boundaries. Currently, the NPS has regulations at 36 CFR Part 9 to control mineral development activities in park units on mining claims located under the 1872 Mining Law and non-Federal oil and gas rights. DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by October 4, 1996. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS: Contact Carol McCoy, Chief, Policy and Regulations Branch, Geologic Resources Division, National Park Service, P.O.Box 25287, Lakewood, Colorado 80225, (303) 969-2096. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: NPS/Minerals Management Program/Mining Claims and Non- Federal Oil and Gas Rights OMB Number: 1024-0064 Expiration Date of Approval: October 31, 1996 Type of Request: Extension and revision of a currently approved information collection Abstract: While surprising, outstanding mineral rights exist in many units of the National Park System. In most cases, these rights predate the establishment of the units. Currently, over 12,000 mining claims, which were located under the 1872 Mining Law, exist in a total of 20 park units. The majority of these claims are located in Mojave National Preserve that was added to the National Park System through the California Desert Protection Act of 1994 (16 U.S.C. 410aaa). With respect to non-Federal oil and gas rights in park units, 580 non- Federal oil and gas operations currently exist in 13 park units. The potential for additional non-Federal oil and gas operations in additional units is tied to market forces and the quality and quantity of oil and gas deposits in park boundaries that coincide with the presence of private rights. The NPS regulates mineral development activities inside park boundaries on mining claims and on non-Federal oil and gas rights under regulations codified at 36 CFR Part 9: Subpart A for mining claims and Subpart B for non-Federal oil and gas rights. The NPS promulgated both sets of regulations in the late 1970's. In the case of mining claims, the NPS did so under Congressional authority granted under the Mining in the Parks Act of 1976 (16 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.) and individual park enabling statutes. For non-Federal oil and gas rights, the NPS regulates development activities pursuant to authority under the NPS Organic Act of 1916 as amended (16 U.S.C. 1 et seq.) and individual park enabling statutes. As directed by Congress, the NPS developed the regulations in order to protect park resources and visitor values from the adverse impacts associated with mineral development within park boundaries. The heart of the regulations is the approved ``plan of operations'' requirement. Essentially, a plan of operations is a prospective operator's blueprint setting forth all intended activities from access to extraction to reclamation related to developing a particular mineral right in a given park unit. The information required in a plan of operations is set forth in NPS regulations. Before an operator can commence development activities in a park unit, the NPS must approve an operator's proposed plan of operations and the operator must secure a bond in an amount sufficient to cover the cost of reclamation to the Federal Government in the event the operator defaults on his/her obligations. Usually, an approved plan of operations covers the life of the mine or well, from development and production to reclamation. Under NPS regulations, such plans may be revised. No set form is required for a plan of operations. Each plan is tailored to the intended activities of an operator and the particulars of the environment, e.g., hardwood forest or desert, presence of endangered species or cultural resources, location and extent of water resources including wetlands. Because of the variability among plans of operations, the duration of such plans, and the fact that prospective operators initiate the plan of operations review process, assessing the annual [[Page 40657]] paperwork burden of complying with the NPS's mining regulations is difficult. Below is the NPS's best estimate, pro-rated on an annual basis, as to the number of respondents and number of hours involved in complying with the Service's regulations governing mining claims and non-Federal oil and gas rights. Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 80 hours per response. Respondents: Publicly held companies, private companies and individuals. Estimate of Number of Respondents: On an annual basis, the NPS estimates that it receives a range of between 20 to 35 plans of operations under its regulations: 5 to 15 plans of operations for mining claims and 15 to 20 plans of operations for non-Federal oil and gas rights. Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: One. To conduct mineral development operations in park units, a prospective operator must submit a proposed plan of operations to the NPS for review and approval. Once approved, such a plan covers the life of the operation. If the plan is for geophysical work associated with private oil and gas rights it may only cover a period of a few months. In contrast, a plan for a production oil and gas well or a hardrock mine may cover a period of 10 or more years. Estimated Total Annual Burden: 1760 to 2520 hours. The NPS estimates that on an annual basis, it will take operators a range of 440 to 1760 hours to prepare complete plans of operations for review and approval under the Service's mining claim regulations at 36 CFR Part 9, Subpart A. In the case of non-Federal oil and gas rights, the NPS estimates it will take all operators a range of 1320 to 1760 hours to prepare complete plans of operations for review and approval under the Service's non-Federal oil and gas regulations at 36 CFR Part 9, Subpart B. Please send comments regarding the accuracy of the burden estimates, ways to improve them and any other related comments on the collection of information under the NPS's mining regulations at 36 CFR Part 9 to the noted addressee above. The NPS also solicits information and estimates on the typical costs that prospective operators incur in preparing complete plans of operations under both the Service's mining claim and non-Federal oil and gas rights. All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of public record. Dated: July 26, 1996. David B. Shaver, Chief, Geologic Resources Division. [FR Doc. 96-19765 Filed 8-2-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-70-P