[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 77 (Wednesday, April 22, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 19945]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-10579]


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

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: OMB has up to 60 days to approve or disapprove the information 
collection but may respond after 30 days. Therefore, public comments 
should be submitted to OMB by May 22, 1998, in order 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 to [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--underground mining activities, 30 CFR Part 817. 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 817.10, which is 1029-
0048.
    As required under 5 CFR 1320.8(d), a Federal Register notice 
soliciting comments on these collections of information was published 
on January 29, 1998 (63 FR 4472). 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--Underground Mining 
Activities, 30 CFR Part 817.
    OMB Control Number: 1029-0048.
    Summary: Sections 515 and 516 of the Surface Mining Control and 
Reclamation Act of 1977 provide that permittees conducting surface coal 
mining operations with underground mining activities 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: 2,837 active underground coal mining 
operators.
    Total Annual Responses: 52,690.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 183,284.
    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: April 15, 1998.
Richard G. Bryson,
Chief, Division of Regulatory Support.
[FR Doc. 98-10579 Filed 4-21-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-M