18142 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 71 / Monday, April 14, 1997 / Notices

to: Desk Officer for the Interior

Department, Office of Information and

Regulatory Affairs, Office of

Management and Budget, Washington,

DC 20503; and the Bureau Clearance

Officer, U.S. Geological Survey, 208

National Center, Reston, VA 20192.

As required by OMB regulations at 5

CFR 1320.8(d)(1), the U.S. Geological

Survey solicits specific public

comments as to:

1. Whether the collection of

information is necessary for the proper

performance of the functions on the

bureaus, including whether the

information will have practical utility;

2. The accuracy of the bureau’s

estimate of the burden of the collection

of information, including the validity of

the methodology and assumptions used:

3. The quality, utility, and clarity of

the information to be collected; and

4. How to minimize the burden of the

collection of information on those who

are to respond, including the use of

appropriate automated, electronic,

mechanical, or other forms of

information technology.

Title: National Mapping Division Data

Grant Program for Land Processes

Research.

OMB approval number: 1028–0052.

Abstract: Respondents supply

information and awardees supply a final

report. Application information

identifies the land processes research

project and remotely sensed data

requirements. Final report identifies

utility of Data Grant Program in the

completion of the nonprofit institution’s

research project.

Bureau form number: None.

Frequency: Annually.

Description respondents: Non-profit

institutions.

Estimated completion time: 25 hours.

Annual responses: 520.

Annual burden hours: 13,000 hours.

Bureau clearance officer: John

Cordyack, 703–648–7313.

Dated: February 5, 1997.

John N. Fischer,

Acting Associate Chief, Operations

[FR Doc. 97–9472 Filed 4–11–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–31–M

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[WO–4710–02–24 1A]

Extension of Approved Information

Collection, OMB Number 1004–0073

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice of request for comments.

SUMMARY: In accordance with the

Paperwork Reduction act of 1995, the

Bureau of Land Management (BLM)

announces its intention to request

renewal of existing approval of certain

information from any person,

association, or corporation, or any

subsidiary, affiliate, or persons

controlled by or under common control

with such person, association or

corporation, interested in elasing for or

developing Federal coal. This

information allows BLM’s authorized

officer to determine if the applicant to

lease for or develop Federal coal is

qualified to hold such lease.

DATES: BLM must receive comments on

the proposed information collection by

June 13, 1997 to assure its consideration

of them.

ADDRESSES: Mail comments to: Director

(630), Bureau of Land Management,

1849 C Street NW, Room 401LS,

Washington, D.C. 20240.

Send comments via Internet to:

WoComment@wo.blm.gov. Please

include ‘‘Attn: 1004–0073’’ and your

name and return address in your

Internet message.

You may hand-deliver comments to

the Bureau of Land Management

Administrative Record, Room 401, 1620

L Street, NW, Washington, D.C.

BLM will make comments 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:

Patrick Sheehy, WO–320, 202–452–

0350.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In

accordance with 5 CFR 1320.12(a), BLM

is required to provide 60-day notice in

the Federal Register concerning a

collection of information contained in

BLM (Form—1004–0073), 43 CFR Group

3400, Coal Management, 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 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, including

through the use of appropriate

automated, electronic, mechanical, or

other technological collection

techniques or other forms of information

technology. BLM will receive and

analyze any comments sent in response

to this notice and include them with its

request for approval from the OMB

under 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.

BLM plans to seek from the Office of

Management and Budget extension of

approval for the information collection

requirements in 43 CFR Parts 3400

through 3485, which cover the leasing

and development of Federal coal. These

regulations implement the statutory

authority governing leasing activities on

Federal land which is found in the

Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 (30 U.S.C.

181 et seq.), the Mineral Leasing act for

Acquired Lands of 1947 (30 U.S.C. 351–

359), the Federal Land Policy and

Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C.

1701 et seq.), the Surface Mining

Control and Reclamation Act of 1977

(30 U.S.C. 1201 et seq.), the Multiple

Mineral Development Act of 1954 (30

U.S.C. 521–531), the National

Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42

U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Federal Coal

Leasing Amendments Act of 1976 (90

Stat. 1083–1092), and the Act of October

30, 1978 (92 Stat. 2073–2075).

BLM uses the information provided

by the applicant(s) to allow the

authorized officer to determine if the

applicant to lease for or develop Federal

coal is qualified to hold such lease. If

BLM did not collect this information, it

would not be able to gather relevant

data to manage the leasing and

development of coal in the public

interest.

Based on BLM’s experience in

administering the activities described

above, the public reporting burden for

the information collected is estimated to

average 19 hours per response. The

respondents are applicants to lease for

or develop Federal coal, and vary from

individuals to small businesses and

major corporations. The frequency of

response is occasionally, usually upon

application. The number of responses

per year is estimated to total 1,299. The

estimated total annual burden on new

respondents is about 19 hours. BLM is

specifically requesting your comments

on its estimate of the amount of time

that it takes to prepare a response.

BLM’s estimate is 19 hours per response

is an average of the following estimated

completion time:
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 71 / Monday, April 14, 1997 / Notices 18143

Type of application Number of

responses

Hours/responses Total hours

Exploration License ................................................................................................................................ 10 30 300

Coal for Coal & Resource Information ................................................................................................... 5 3 15

Surface Owner Consultation .................................................................................................................. 50 1 50

Exp. of Leasing Interest ......................................................................................................................... 15 6.6 100

Notice of Sale ......................................................................................................................................... 20 3 60

Leasing on Application ........................................................................................................................... 2 150 300

Surface Owner Consent ......................................................................................................................... 10 10 100

PRLA ...................................................................................................................................................... 10 150 1,500

Lease Modification ................................................................................................................................. 10 35 250

License to Mine ...................................................................................................................................... 2 5 10

Lease Transfer (incl. assignments) ........................................................................................................ 30 10 300

Sp.Leasing Qual. .................................................................................................................................... 10 4 40

Bonding Requirements ........................................................................................................................... 10 40 400

Lease Form ............................................................................................................................................ 5 1 5

Exploration Plans ................................................................................................................................... 50 59 2,950

Res. Rec. and Protection Plans ............................................................................................................. 30 174.8 5,245

Mining Plans ........................................................................................................................................... 10 457.5 4,575

Changes in Plans ................................................................................................................................... 100 29.5 2,950

Mining Operations Maps ........................................................................................................................ 650 11.30 7,350

Pref, Standards for Exploration .............................................................................................................. 90 1.75 158

Unexpected Wells .................................................................................................................................. 10 1 10

Exploration Reports ................................................................................................................................ 50 7.5 375

Royalty of Rental Reductions ................................................................................................................. 10 150 1,500

Suspensions ........................................................................................................................................... 10 14.4 144

Corr. Repts. for Noncompliances ........................................................................................................... 90 3.75 338

LMU Applications/Requirements ............................................................................................................ 10 32 320

Totals ........................................................................................................................................... 1,299 ...................... 24,737

BLM will summarize all responses to

this notice and include them in the

request for Office of Management and

Budget approval. All comments will

also become a matter of public record.

Dated: April 7, 1997.

Carole Smith,

Information Collection Officer.

[FR Doc. 97–9448 Filed 4–11–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–84–M

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[NV–040–1510–00]

Ely District Proposed Fire and

Vegetative Resource Management Plan

and Environmental Documentation

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Modify Fire

Management Plan and Other Planning

Documents As Necessary, Ely District,

Nevada.

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land

Management, Ely District, Nevada

intends to modify its current Fire

Management Plan and, if necessary,

existing land use plans, including a

Resource Management Plans (RMP), and

two Management Framework Plans

(MFPs) and to prepare appropriate

National Environmental Policy Act

(NEPA) analysis for the adoption of a

Fire Management Plan (FMP). The

purpose of the FMP is to provide the

framework for the reintroduction of fire

into the ecosystem while maintaining

first priority on protection of human

life, and secondary priority on

protection of property and natural and

cultural resources. Public comment is

sought on identification of issues,

alternatives that should be considered,

and the level of analysis which would

be appropriate under the NEPA.

DATES: Comments will be accepted

throughout the process of modifying

plans and preparation of NEPA analysis.

However, comments received after May

28, 1997 may not be reflected in the

alternatives considered in any

preliminary NEPA analysis.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill

Dunn, Fire Management Officer, Bureau

of Land Management, Ely District

Office, HC 33 Box 33500, Ely, NV

89301; Telephone (702) 289–1920.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

Federal Wildland Fire Policy and

Program Review was completed to

address issues of firefighter safety, as

well as costs, inefficiencies, and

inconsistencies between federal

agencies involved in wildland fire

suppression. Among the results of that

review is a standardization of policies

and procedures among Federal agencies,

including the determination that

wildland fire, as a critical natural

process, must be reintroduced into the

ecosystem. The Bureau of Land

Management, Ely District intends to

develop objectives through a Technical

Review Team, and supported by

resource professionals, which will

integrate fire into resource management;

including fire suppression, prescribed

fire, fuels management and public

education (including fire prevention)

without regard to administrative

boundaries. Because the Technical

Review Team will include private

property owners, all of the affected land

managing agencies (County, State and

Federal), and interested land users, the

preliminary fire management objectives

will be developed through consensus to

apply to all lands without regard to

administrative jurisdiction to permit a

comprehensive and realistic approach to

fire and vegetative resource

management.

At this point, it is uncertain what

level of plan modification will be

needed, if any. Land use plans affected

by actions within the Ely District

include the Egan Resource Management

Plan, Schell Management Framework

Plan, and Caliente Management

Framework Plan. The level of

environmental analysis appropriate

under the Council on Environmental

Quality’s regulations implementing

NEPA (40 CFR part 1500) is

undetermined pending the outcome of

the Technical Review Team’s

recommendations. Should it be

determined that no environmental