The regulations at 43 CFR 3500-3590 provide for the leasing of solid minerals other than coal and oil shale. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) needs the information to determine who is eligible to conduct mining operations on the public lands, and that said operations are conducted in a manner that is consistent with the regulations and environmental requirements in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act.
The previously approved number of responses was 308. In this submission, we are requesting approval for 473 responses. Of the total increase of 165, there are 90 program changes in this submission to correct omissions from the previous submission, and 75 adjustments due to changes in our burden estimates.
The total estimated hour burden for this submission is 16,346 hours, compared to 6,522 hours for the previous submission, a net increase of 9,824 hours. The net change is due to an increase of 10,350 due to program changes in this submission to correct omissions in the previous submission, and a decrease of 526 hours due to adjustments in our estimated burdens.
The total annual cost burden for this submission is $562,040, compared to $7,611 for the previous submission. This increase is due to an increase of $553,640 in program changes in this submission to correct omissions in the previous submission, and also due to an increase of $789 due to adjustments in our estimated burden.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.