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###### Department of the Interior

###### Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement  

# AGENCY:

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Interior.  

# 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 its intention to request renewed approval for the collections of information for 30 CFR 772, Requirements for coal exploration; and 30 CFR 800, Bond and insurance requirements for surface coal mining and reclamation operations under regulatory programs.  

# DATES:

Comments on the proposed information collection activities must be received by November 3, 2008, to be assured of consideration.  

# ADDRESSES:

                        Comments may be mailed to John A. Trelease, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 1951 Constitution Ave., NW., Room 202-SIB, Washington, DC 20240. Comments may also be submitted electronically to                         *jtrelease@osmre.gov*.                      

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

To request a copy of the information collection request, explanatory information and related forms, contact John Trelease, at (202) 208-2783 or via e-mail at the address listed above.  

# 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)]. This notice identifies information collections that OSM will be submitting to OMB for approval. These collections are contained in (1) 30 CFR 772, Requirements for coal exploration; and (2) 30 CFR 800, Bond and insurance requirements for surface coal mining and reclamation operations under regulatory programs. OSM will request a 3-year term of approval for each information collection activity.  

*Comments are Invited On:*                     (1) The need for the collection of information for the performance of the functions of the agency; (2) the accuracy of the agency's burden estimates; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information collection; and (4) ways to minimize the information collection burden on respondents, such as use of automated means of collection of the information. A summary of the public comments will accompany OSM's submission of the information collection request to OMB.                  

Before including your address, phone number, e-mail 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.  

The following information is provided for the information collection: (1) Title of the information collection; (2) OMB control number; (3) summary of the information collection activity; and (4) frequency of collection, description of the respondents, estimated total annual responses, and the total annual reporting and recordkeeping burden for the collection of information.  

*Title:*30 CFR 772—Requirements for coal exploration.                  

*OMB Control Number:*                     1029-0112.                  

*Summary:*                     OSM and State regulatory authorities use the information collected under 30 CFR Part 772 to maintain knowledge of coal exploration activities, evaluate the need for an exploration permit, and ensure that exploration activities comply with the environmental protection and reclamation requirements of 30 CFR Parts 772 and 815 and section 512 of SMCRA (30 U.S.C. 1262)                  

*Bureau Form Number:*                     None.                  

*Frequency of Collection:*                     Once.                  

*Description of Respondents:*                     Persons planning to conduct coal exploration and State regulatory authorities.                  

*Total Annual Responses:*                     905.                  

*Total Annual Burden Hours:*                     8,218.                  

*Title:*30 CFR 800—Bond and insurance requirements for surface coal mining and reclamation operations under regulatory programs.                  

*OMB Control Number:*                     1029-0043.                  

*Summary:*                     The regulations at 30 CFR Part 800 primarily implement § 509 of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act), which requires that persons 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                           ( print page 51514)                        procedures consistent with § 519 of the Act, liability insurance requirements pursuant to § 507(f) of the Act, and procedures for bond forfeiture should the permittee default on reclamation obligations.                  

*Bureau Form Number:*                     None.                  

*Frequency Collection:*                     On Occasion.                  

*Description of Respondents:*                     Surface coal mining and reclamation permittees and State regulatory authorities.                  

*Total Annual Responses:*                     14,175.                  

*Total Annual Burden Hours:*                     133,364 hours.                  

*Total Annual Non-wage costs:*                     $2,123,454.                  

Dated: August 27, 2008.  

John R. Craynon,  

Chief, Division of Regulatory Support.

[FR Doc. E8-20379 Filed 9-2-08; 8:45 am]  

BILLING CODE 4310-05-M