[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 66 (Tuesday, April 7, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17013-17014]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-9089]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[WO-310-1310-01-24-1A]
Extension of Currently Approved Information Collection; OMB
Approval Number 1004-0160
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is announcing its intention to request
extension of approval for the collection of information from those
persons who submit a Geothermal Leasing Report. BLM will use the
information collected to determine if a lessee qualifies for a lease
extension.
DATES: Comments on the proposed information collection must be received
by June 8, 1998, to be considered.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to: Regulatory Management Team (420),
Bureau of Land Management, 1849 C Street NW, Room 401 LS Bldg.,
Washington, D.C. 20240.
Comments may be sent via Internet to: !WO[email protected]. Please
include ``Attn: 1004-0160'' and your name and return address in your
Internet message.
Comments may be hand delivered to the Bureau of Land Management
Administrative Record, Room 401 L Street, NW, Washington, D.C.
Comments will be available for public review at the L Street
address during regular business hours (7:45 A.M. to 4:15 P.M., Monday
through Friday).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Gamble, Fluids Minerals Group,
(202) 452-0340.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with 5 CFR 1320.12(a), the BLM
is required to provide 60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning
a collection of information contained in published current rules to
solicit comments on (a) whether the proposed collection of information
is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency,
including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the
accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed
collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions
used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
[[Page 17014]]
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the
collection of information on those who are to respond, including
through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information
technology.
The Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (30 U.S.C. 1001-1025) authorized
the Secretary of the Interior to issue leases for geothermal
development. The Geothermal Steam Act Amendments of 1988 (PL 100-443)
supplemented and amended the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 by requiring
that the BLM receive additional information from Federal geothermal
lessees. The legislation allowed for lease extensions when the
Secretary of the Interior determines that a lessee has made a
substantial investment. It also allowed leases to continue beyond their
primary terms if there are wells capable of producing but not actually
producing geothermal resources. The BLM issues geothermal leases both
competitively and noncompetitively. The regulations in Group 3200 of
Title 43 of the Code of Federal Regulations contain procedures for
obtaining a lease to explore for, develop, produce, and utilize
geothermal resources located on Federal lands. The regulations at 43
CFR part 3203 specifically address extended terms of a lease.
Respondents for this information collection supply information in a
diligent efforts report, bona fide efforts report, and/or a significant
expenditures report for the authorized officer to determine if a lessee
qualifies for a lease extension.
Respectively, some of the information required will be used by the
authorized officer to determine if lessees are making ``diligent
efforts'' toward commencing utilization of producible geothermal wells.
By submitting this information, a lessee could have a lease continue
beyond its primary term. Other information will be used by the
authorized officer to determine if a different group of lessees (those
not having producible wells) have made ``bona fide efforts'' to produce
or utilize geothermal resources. By submitting the required information
(by report), those lessees may be granted a 5-year lease extension. A
second extension can be obtained at the end of the first, but another
bona fide effort is required. If lease extensions are granted, the
lessee would be required to submit additional information on an annual
basis that would indicate that ``significant expenditures'' were being
made on the leases. In all cases, the information is submitted in
person or by mail to the proper BLM office.
It is estimated that approximately 75 reports will be filed
annually with an estimated completion time of 2 hours each, for a total
annual burden of 150 hours. Respondents are individuals, small
businesses, and large corporations.
All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the
request for Office of Management and Budget approval. All comments will
also become part of the public record.
Dated: March 27, 1998.
Carole Smith,
Bureau Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 98-9089 Filed 4-6-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-M