[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 244 (Friday, December 19, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 66595]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-33126]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Natural Resources Conservation Service


Notice of Intent To Request a Revision of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection

AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service, United States 
Department of Agriculture.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. 
L. 104-13) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations at 
5 CFR Part 1320 (60 FR 44978, August 29, 1995), this notice announces 
the Natural Resources Conservation Service's (NRCS) intention to 
request a revision to a currently approved information collection, the 
Rural Abandoned Mine Program.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by February 17, 1998 to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS:
Contact Marcella Graham, Agency OMB Clearance Officer, Natural 
Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural 
Resources Conservation Service, P.O. Box 2890, Washington, D.C. 20013-
2890, (202) 720-5699.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

    Title: Rural Abandoned Mine Program.
    OMB Number: 0578-0019.
    Expiration Date of Approval: May 31, 1998.
    Type of Request: To reinstate, with change, a previously approved 
collection for which approval has expired.
    Abstract: The primary objective of the Natural Resources 
Conservation Service is to work in partnership with the American people 
to conserve and sustain our natural resources. The Rural Abandoned Mine 
Program authorizes Federal technical and financial long-term cost-
sharing assistance for conservation treatment and reclamation of 
abandoned coal mined land with eligible land users. The financial 
assistance is based on a conservation plan for reclamation which is 
made a part of an agreement or contract for a 5 or 10-year period of 
time. Under the terms of the agreement, the participant agrees to 
apply, or arrange to apply, the conservation treatment specified in the 
conservation plan. In return for this agreement, Federal cost-share 
payments are made to the land users, or third party, upon successful 
application of the conservation treatment.
    Information collected is used by the NRCS to ensure proper 
utilization of program funds. The NRCS-LTP-013 is used to record 
progress in applying the conservation/reclamation plan (7 CFR 632.24), 
such as the verification, revision or modification of the conservation 
plan, as well as recording the need for any follow up technical 
assistance. The NRCS-LTP-150 is for the land user to enter into a 
contract with NRCS to receive Federal cost-share assistance (7 CFR 
632.22). The NRCS-LTP-151 is used to notify the participant, with an 
active agreement or contract, that information has been received which 
indicates a violation of the contract (7 CFR 632.42 (b)(1)(2)). The 
NRCS-LTP-152 is used during the contract period when the land user 
loses control of all or part of the right and interest in the land (7 
CFR 632.22(f)). The NRCS-LTP-153 is used is used when non-compliance of 
the contract is indicated (7 CFR 632.41). The NRCS-LTP-156 is the basic 
document used by landowners to request assistance through the local 
NRCS field office (7 CFR 632.20). The NRCS-FNM-140 is used to authorize 
the vendor to furnish the conservation materials and services described 
in column (b) of the form (7 CFR 632.31(e)). This information 
collection is being resubmitted to reflect the elimination of two forms 
previously authorized (NRCS-LTP-154 and NRCS-LTP-155) and to reflect a 
scaled-down program. NRCS will ask for 3-year OMB approval within 60 
days of submitting the request.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 0.50 hours per response.
    Respondents: Farms, individuals or households, or State, local, or 
Tribal governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 438.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 223 hours.
    Copies of this information collection and related instructions can 
be obtained without charge from Marcella Graham, the Agency OMB 
Clearance Officer, at (202) 720-5699.
    Comments: Comments are invited 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 
burden of the proposed collection of information,including the validity 
of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the 
quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and 
(d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, such as through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technologic collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments may be 
sent to: Marcella Graham, Agency OMB Clearance Officer, U.S. Department 
of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, P.O. Box 2890, 
Washington, D.C. 20013-2890.
    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.

    Signed at Washington, D.C. on December 15, 1997.
Thomas A. Weber,
Acting Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service.
[FR Doc. 97-33126 Filed 12-18-97; 8:45 am]
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