83 FR 62898 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Exemption for Coal Extraction Incidental to the Extraction of Other Minerals

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 234 (December 6, 2018)

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), are announcing our intention to request renewed approval for the collection of information which implements the requirement in Section 701(28) of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA). This grants an exemption from the requirements of SMCRA to operators extracting not more than 16 \2/3\ percentage tonnage of coal incidental to the extraction of other minerals. This information will be used by the regulatory authorities to make that determination.

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 234 (Thursday, December 6, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62898-62899]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-26425]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

[S1D1S SS08011000 SX064A000 190S180110; S2D2S SS08011000 SX064A000 
19XS501520; OMB Control Number 1029-0089]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Exemption for Coal 
Extraction Incidental to the Extraction of Other Minerals

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), are 
announcing our intention to request renewed approval for the collection 
of information which implements the requirement in Section 701(28) of 
the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA). This 
grants an exemption from the requirements of SMCRA to operators 
extracting not more than 16 \2/3\ percentage tonnage of coal incidental 
to the extraction of other minerals. This information will be used by 
the regulatory authorities to make that determination.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
January 4, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on this information collection request 
(ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget's Desk Officer for the 
Department of the Interior by email at [email protected]; or 
via facsimile to (202) 395-5806. Please provide a copy of your comments 
to John Trelease, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 
1849 C Street NW, Mail Stop 4559, Washington, DC 20240; or by email to 
[email protected]. Please reference OMB Control Number 1029-0089 in 
the subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact John Trelease by email at [email protected], 
or by telephone at (202) 208-2783. 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, 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 provides the requested data in the desired 
format.
    A Federal Register notice with a 60-day public comment period 
soliciting comments on this collection of information was published on 
September 5, 2018 (83 FR 45139). No comments were received.
    We are again 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 OSMRE; (2) is the estimate of burden accurate; (3) 
how might OSMRE enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (4) how might OSMRE 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. 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.
    Title of Collection: 30 CFR part 702--Exemption for Coal Extraction 
Incidental to the Extraction of Other Minerals.
    OMB Control Number: 1029-0089.
    Abstract: This Part implements the requirement in Section 701(28) 
of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA), 
which grants an exemption from the requirements of SMCRA to operators 
extracting not more than 16 \2/3\ percentage tonnage of coal incidental 
to the extraction of other minerals. This information will be used by 
the regulatory authorities to make that determination.

[[Page 62899]]

    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Coal mine operators and State 
regulatory authorities.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 43 Coal mine 
operators and 24 State regulatory authorities.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 86 Coal mine operator 
responses and 126 State regulatory authority responses.
    Estimated Completion Time per Response: Varies from 1 to 28 hours 
per response from Coal mine operators, and 1 to 30 hours for State 
regulatory authorities, depending on collection activity.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 703 hours.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit.
    Frequency of Collection: Once and annually.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: $600.
    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.

    Authority: The authorities for this action are the Surface 
Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, as amended (30 U.S.C. 
1201 et seq.), and the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3501 et seq.).

John A. Trelease,
Acting Chief, Division of Regulatory Support.
[FR Doc. 2018-26425 Filed 12-4-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-05-P