Agency information collection activities: Proposed collection; comment request,

[Federal Register: June 16, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 115)]

[Notices]

[Page 32893]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr16jn98-104]

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[BW-110-1830-00 24 1A]

Request for Approval of a New Information Collection

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces its intention to request approval of a new information collection to collect taxpayer identification numbers from those doing business with BLM. The BLM needs this information in case an entity fails to timely pay money owed, in which case BLM may refer the matter to the Treasury Department for collection.

DATES: Please provide any comments on the proposed collection by August 17, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to: Bureau of Land Management, Accounting Group (BC-610), National Business Center, P.O. Box 25047, Denver, Colorado 80225-0047, or Bureau of Land Management, Regulatory Affairs Group (WO-630), 1849 C St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dorothy Butler, (303) 236-6332.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with 5 CFR 1320.12(a), BLM is required to provide a 60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning a collection of information to solicit comments on (a) whether the proposed collection is necessary for the proper performance of the agency's functions, 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 on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology. BLM will receive and analyze any comments received and include them with its request for approval from the Office of Management and Budget under 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.

The Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 (DCIA), 31 U.S.C. 3701, contains a number of provisions that affect how BLM does business. One of the more significant provisions allows BLM to refer debts delinquent over 180 days to the Treasury Department for collection. Another provision gives the Treasury Department increased flexibility in seeking to collect the debts by various offsets of payments, including tax refunds.

The DCIA requires that all Federal disbursements include the payee's Social Security Number or Taxpayer Identification Number (SSN/ TIN). This information aids the Treasury Department in matching debtors to payments and in seeking those payments from the debtors.

BLM is seeking to implement the SSN/TIN requirement by creating a specific form, requesting the payee's full name, address, and SSN/TIN. The name and address will be used to identify the payee and the SSN/TIN will be used for debt collection purposes, if necessary. We plan to print the form on colored paper so that it can be removed from files to which the public has access. The information will not be available to the public electronically, as the SSN/TIN are data protected under the Privacy Act.

Respondents are those entities who do business with BLM; these include licensees, permittees, lessees, and contract holders. Individuals who pay one-time recreation fees will not be affected. BLM estimates that there will be 120,000 respondents the first year. The number is expected to decrease to 5,000 respondents annually after the first year, since collecting the information will be a one-time occurrence and only those newly doing business with BLM will need to supply the information. Each respondent will take an estimated 1 minute to supply the information, for a total burden hour estimate the first year of 20,000 hours; thereafter, the burden hour estimate will be approximately 83 hours.

Dated: June 9, 1998. Carole Smith, Information Clearance Officer.

[FR Doc. 98-15866Filed6-15-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-84-M