Agency Information Collection Activities; Mining and Mining Claims and Non-Federal Oil and Gas Rights

Published date27 June 2019
Citation84 FR 30768
Record Number2019-13755
SectionNotices
CourtInterior Department,National Park Service
Federal Register, Volume 84 Issue 124 (Thursday, June 27, 2019)
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 124 (Thursday, June 27, 2019)]
                [Notices]
                [Pages 30768-30770]
                From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
                [FR Doc No: 2019-13755]
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                DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
                National Park Service
                [NPS-NRSS-GRD-NPS0027807; PPWONRADG0, PPMRSNR1Y.NG0000 (199); OMB
                Control Number 1024-0064]
                Agency Information Collection Activities; Mining and Mining
                Claims and Non-Federal Oil and Gas Rights
                AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.
                ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.
                -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we,
                the National Park Service (NPS) are proposing to renew an information
                collection with revisions.
                DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before
                July 29, 2019.
                ADDRESSES: Send written comments on this information collection request
                (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Desk Officer for
                the Department of the Interior by email at [email protected];
                or by facsimile at 202-395-5806. Please provide a copy of your comments
                to Phadrea Ponds, Information Collection Clearance Officer, National
                Park Service, 1201 Oakridge Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80525; or by email
                at [email protected]. Please reference OMB Control Number 1024-0064
                in the subject line of your comments.
                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information
                about this ICR, contact Stephen Simon, Policy and Regulatory
                Specialist, Energy and Minerals Branch, Geologic Resources Division,
                National Park Service, P.O. Box 25287, Lakewood, Colorado 80225; or by
                email at [email protected]. Please reference OMB Control Number
                1024-0064 in the subject line of your comments. You may also view the
                ICR at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.
                [[Page 30769]]
                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 provide the requested data in the desired
                format.
                 On April 24, 2019, we published a Federal Register notice
                soliciting comments on this collection of information for 60 days,
                ending on June 23, 2019 (84 FR 17200-17201). We received one comment
                from the public in response to that notice. This comment did not
                necessitate any revisions to the information collection.
                 We are again soliciting comments on the proposed ICR described
                below. We are especially interested in public comment addressing the
                following issues: (1) Is the collection necessary to the proper
                functions of the NPS; (2) will this information be processed and used
                in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) how
                might the NPS enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
                information to be collected; and (5) how might the NPS 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 Organic Act of 1916 (NPS Organic Act) (54 U.S.C.
                100101) authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to develop regulations
                for units of the national park system (System units) under the
                Department's jurisdiction. The Mining in the Parks Act (54 U.S.C.
                100731 et seq.) directs the Secretary of the Interior to regulate all
                operations in System units in connection with the exercise of mineral
                rights on patented and unpatented mining claims.
                 The regulations codified in 36 CFR part 9, subparts A and B, ensure
                that mining and non-Federal oil and gas activities in System units are
                conducted in a manner consistent with conserving each System unit for
                the benefit of present and future generations. The information required
                by Subpart A identifies the claim, claimant, and operator (the claimant
                and operator are often the same) and details how the operator intends
                to access and develop the minerals associated with the claim. It also
                identifies the steps the operator intends to take to minimize any
                adverse impacts of the mining operations on park resource and values.
                No information, except claim ownership information, is submitted unless
                the claimant wishes to conduct mining operations. The information
                required by Subpart B identifies the owner and operator (the owner and
                operator are often the same) and details how the operator intends to
                access and develop the oil and gas rights. It also identifies the steps
                the operator intends to take to minimize any adverse impacts on park
                resources and values. No information is submitted unless the owner
                wishes to conduct oil and gas operations. The information collected is
                used to evaluate proposed operations, ensure that all necessary
                mitigation measures are employed to protect park resources and values,
                and ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
                 With this submission, we are asking OMB to approve our request to
                consolidate the information collection requirements currently approved
                under OMB Control Number 1024-0274, ``Non-Federal Oil and Gas Rights,
                36 CFR Part 9, Subpart B'' into collection 1024-0064. Prior to March
                2016, 36 CFR part 9, subparts A and B were managed by a single NPS
                program office which used the same OMB Control Number (1024-0064). In
                November of 2016, the NPS promulgated an update to the 9B Regulations
                and as part of the rulemaking process, the information collection
                associated with the update was assigned a new control number (1024-
                0274). In the FRN (81 FR 77991), for the final rule, NPS stated that
                ``We plan to transfer the corresponding burden for the Subpart B
                requirements [from 1024-0274] to OMB Control Number 1024-0064 after the
                final rule goes into effect and will then discontinue the new control
                number [1024-0274].'' In this request, we are asking OMB to consolidate
                two information collections so that there will be only be one ICR with
                the regulation. We have identified the information collection
                requirements associated with 1024-0274 that will be consolidated into
                1024-0064 (see burden table below). Upon approval, we will discontinue
                OMB Control Number 1024-0274.
                 Title of Collection: Mining and Mining Claims and Non-Federal Oil
                and Gas Rights, 36 CFR part 9, subparts A and B.
                 OMB Control Number: 1024-0064.
                 Form Number: None.
                 Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
                 Respondents/Affected Public: Businesses.
                 Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit.
                 Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
                 Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: $158,500.
                ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Estimated Completion
                 number of time per Estimated
                 Activity/requirement annual response total annual
                 responses (hours) burden hours
                ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                ICs Currently Approved Under 1024-0064:
                 Mining and Mining Claims.................................... 1 176 176
                ICs Previously Approved Under 1024-0274 Proposed to be
                 Consolidated into 1024-0064:
                 Previously Exempt Operations (Sec. Sec. 9.50-9.53)....... 106 10 1,060
                 Application for Temporary Access Permit (Sec. Sec. 9.60- 5 15 75
                 9.63)......................................................
                 Extension of Temporary Access Permit........................ 1 1 1
                 Accessing Oil and Gas Rights From a Surface Location Outside 3 80 240
                 the Park Boundary--Application for Exemption (Sec. Sec.
                 9.70-9.73).................................................
                 Accessing Oil and Gas Rights From a Surface Location Outside 1 2 2
                 the Park Boundary--Notice of change (Sec. Sec. 9.70-
                 9.73)......................................................
                Operations Permit (New Operations):
                 Application--(Sec. Sec. 9.80-9.90)....................... 5 140 700
                [[Page 30770]]
                
                Operating Standards--Simulation Operations (Sec. 9.118(b)):
                 Demonstrate mechanical integrity............................ 5 4 20
                 Record treating pressures and all annular pressures......... 5 4 20
                 Notify Superintendent if mechanical integrity is lost....... 1 1 1
                 Report of accident.......................................... 2 1 2
                Operating Standards--Production (Sec. 9.118(c)):
                 Document maintenance of mechanical integrity................ 534 2 1,068
                 Signage to identify wells................................... 5 4 20
                General Terms and Conditions (Sec. Sec. 9.120-9.122):
                 Affidavit that proposed operations are in compliance with 111 1 111
                 all laws and that information submitted to NPS is accurate.
                 Third-Party Monitor Report.................................. 60 17 1,020
                 Notification--Accidents involving Serious Personal Injuries/ 2 1 2
                 Death and Fires/Spills.....................................
                 Written Report--Accidents Involving Serious Injuries/Deaths 2 16 32
                 and Fires/Spills...........................................
                 Notification--Discovery of any cultural or scientific 1 1 1
                 resources..................................................
                 Report--Verify Compliance with Permits...................... 534 4 2,136
                 Reporting for Hydraulic Fracturing.......................... 1 2 2
                Financial Assurance (Sec. Sec. 9.140-9.144).................. 5 1 5
                Modification to an Operation (Sec. 9.150)..................... 1 16 16
                Change of Operator (Sec. Sec. 9.160-9.161)................... 5 8 40
                Well Plugging (Sec. Sec. 9.170-9.171)........................ 33 14 462
                Reconsideration and Appeals (Sec. Sec. 9.190-9.194).......... 1 16 16
                Public Participation (Sec. 9.200)............................. 1 4 4
                 -----------------------------------------------
                 Total....................................................... 1,431 .............. 7,232
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                 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.).
                Phadrea Ponds,
                Acting NPS Information Collection Clearance Officer, National Park
                Service.
                [FR Doc. 2019-13755 Filed 6-26-19; 8:45 am]
                 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P
                

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