[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 102 (Thursday, May 28, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 29177]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-14131]


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Notices
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
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Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 102 / Thursday, May 28, 1998 / 
Notices

[[Page 29177]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Extension of Currently Approved Information Collection for 
Locatable Minerals

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice: request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Forest Service announces its intent to extend the existing information 
collection found in 36 CFR Part 228, Subpart A, for locatable minerals. 
The current information collection will expire July 31, 1998.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before July 27, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Director, Minerals and Geology 
Management, mail stop 1126, Forest Service, USDA, P.O. Box 96090, 
Washington, D.C. 20090-6090.
    The public may inspect comments in the Office of the Director. To 
facilitate entrance into the building, visitors are encouraged to call 
ahead (202) 205-1042.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sam Hotchkiss, Minerals and Geology Management, telephone: (202) 205-
1535.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Description of Information Collection

    Title: Locatable Minerals.
    OMB Number: 0596-0022.
    Expiration Date of Approval: July 31, 1998.
    Type of Request: Extension of an existing information collection.
    Abstract: Locatable mineral operators must conduct their operations 
in accordance with the mineral regulations at 36 CFR Part 228, Subpart 
A, to ensure that the environmental impacts are minimized to the extent 
practicable.
    When submitting a notice of intent, a plan of operations, or a 
notice of cessation of operations, the operator may use any format to 
submit the required information. To facilitate this process, the Forest 
Service has developed a plan of operations form to collect the 
information required in the locatable mineral regulations. Although use 
of the form is optional by the operator, it was used about 1,000 times 
last year. The Forest Service uses the information to review and 
evaluate a mining proposal. Without an established procedure for joint 
Forest Service and operator planning, adverse impacts such as a 
significant soil loss, water pollution, and adverse impacts to plants 
and animals will likely occur. The types of activities that will cause 
severe impacts to surface resources include an improperly located 
access road, unplanned disposal of waste rock and mill tailings, 
inadequate water drainage controls in disturbed areas, and a failure to 
reclaim disturbed areas after operations are complete. Public safety 
would also be a major concern if operators were allowed to leave 
shafts, cuts, and adits uncovered, unfenced, and unmarked.
    Estimate of Burden: 2 hours.
    Type of Respondents: Locatable mineral operators.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1000.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2000.

Comment Is Invited

    The agency invites comments on the following: (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 respondents, including the use of 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.

Use of Comment

    All comments, including name and address when provided, will become 
a matter of public record. Comments received in response to this notice 
will be summarized and included in the request for Office of Management 
and Budget approval.

    Dated: May 21, 1998.
Darrel L. Kenops,
Acting Deputy Chief, National Forest Systems.
[FR Doc. 98-14131 Filed 5-27-98; 8:45 am]
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