[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 240 (Monday, December 15, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 65714]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-32600]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement


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 that the information collection request for the title 
described below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The information collection request 
describes the nature of the information collection and the expected 
burden and cost.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before January 14, 1998, to be 
assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
To request a copy of the information collection request, explanatory 
information and related form, contact John A. Trelease at (202) 208-
2783, or electronically at [email protected].

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)). OSM has submitted a request to OMB to renew its approval of 
the collection of information for the permanent program performance 
standards--surface mining activities at 30 CFR Part 816. OSM is 
requesting a 3-year term of approval for this information collection 
activity.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a 
currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control number for this 
collection of information is listed in 30 CFR Part 816, which is 1029-
0047.
    As required under 5 CFR 1320.8(d), a Federal Register notice 
soliciting comments on these collections of information was published 
on August 28, 1997 (62 FR 45684). No comments were received. This 
notice provides the public with an additional 30 days in which to 
comment on the following information collection activity:
    Title: Permanent Program Performance Standards--Surface Mining 
Activities, 30 CFR Part 816.
    OMB Control Number: 1029-0047.
    Summary: Section 525 of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation 
Act of 1977 provides that permittees conducting surface coal mining 
operations shall meet all applicable performance standards of the Act. 
The information collected is used by the regulatory authority in 
monitoring and inspecting surface coal mining activities to ensure that 
they are conducted in compliance with the requirements of the Act.
    Bureau Form Number: None.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion, quarterly and annually.
    Description of Respondents: Surface coal mining operators.
    Total Annual Responses: 146,224.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 412,076.
    Send comments on the need for the collections of information for 
the performance of the functions of the agency; the accuracy of the 
agency's burden estimates; ways to enhance the quality, utility and 
clarity of the information collections; and ways to minimize the 
information collection burdens on respondents, such as use of automated 
means of collections of the information, to the following addresses. 
Please refer to the appropriate OMB control number in all 
correspondence.

ADDRESSES: Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of 
Management and Budget, Attention: Department of Interior Desk Officer, 
725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20503. Also, please send a copy of 
your comments to John A. Trelease, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation 
and Enforcement, 1951 Constitution Ave. NW., Room 210-SIB, Washington, 
DC 20240, or electronically to [email protected].

    Dated: December 9, 1997.
Kathryn S. O'Toole,
Acting Chief, Division of Regulatory Support.
[FR Doc. 97-32600 Filed 12-12-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-M