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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 235 (Friday, December 6, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 97064-97065]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-28736]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

[S1D1S SS08011000 SX064A000 256S180110; S2D2S SS08011000 SX064A000 
25XS501520; OMB Control Number 1029-0043]

Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and 
Approval; Bond and Insurance Requirements for Surface Coal Mining and 
Reclamation Operations Under Regulatory Programs

AGENCY: Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Information Collection; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, 
the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE),

[[Page 97065]]

are proposing to renew an information collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
February 4, 2025.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments on this information collection request 
(ICR) by mail to Mark Gehlhar, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and 
Enforcement, 1849 C Street NW, Room 1544-MIB, Washington, DC 20240, or 
by email to [email protected]. Please reference OMB Control Number 
1029-0043 in the subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact Mark Gehlhar by email at [email protected], or 
by telephone at 202-208-2716. Individuals in the United States who are 
deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 
711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay 
services. Individuals outside the United States should use the relay 
services offered within their country to make international calls to 
the point-of-contact in the United States. You may also view the ICR at 
http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) and 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), we provide 
the general public and other Federal agencies with an opportunity to 
comment on new, proposed, revised, and continuing collections of 
information. This helps us assess the impact of our information 
collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. It 
also helps the public understand our information collection 
requirements and provide the requested data in the desired format.
    We are soliciting comments on the proposed ICR that is described 
below. We are especially interested in public comment addressing the 
following issues: (1) is the collection necessary to the proper 
functions of the agency; (2) will this information be processed and 
used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) 
how might the agency enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (5) how might the agency minimize the 
burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use 
of information technology.
    Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request 
to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone 
number, email address, or other personal identifying information in 
your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including 
your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available 
at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your 
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.
    Abstract: The regulations at 30 CFR part 800 primarily implement 
Sec.  509 of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 
(SMCRA or the Act), which requires that people planning to conduct 
surface coal mining operations first post a performance bond to 
guarantee fulfillment of all reclamation obligations under the approved 
permit. The regulations also establish bond release requirements and 
procedures consistent with Sec.  519 of the Act, liability insurance 
requirements pursuant to Sec.  507(f) of the Act, and procedures for 
bond forfeiture should the permittee default on reclamation 
obligations.
    Title of Collection: Bond and Insurance Requirements for Surface 
Coal Mining and Reclamation Operations under Regulatory Programs.
    OMB Control Number: 1029-0043.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Businesses and state governments.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 3,375.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 8,158.
    Estimated Completion Time per Response: Varies from 2 hours to 35 
hours, depending on activity.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 66,440.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit.
    Frequency of Collection: One time.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: $521,735.
    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 authority for this action is the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

Mark J. Gehlhar,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, Office of Surface Mining 
Reclamation and Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 2024-28736 Filed 12-5-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-P
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