30 CFR 874.16 requires that every successful bidder for an AML contract must be eligible under 30 CFR 773 at the time of contract award to receive a permit or conditional permit to conduct surface coal mining operations. This connection to our permit eligibility rules means a successful bidder for an AML contract is subject to the same eligibility rules as an applicant for a surface coal mining permit. This requirement applies to all AML contractors and any subcontractor a contractor might employ. It is under the permit eligibility requirements that successful bidders for AML contracts and State AML contracting officers and program staff incur information collection burdens. OSM or the State AML authority must perform an eligibility evaluation using OSM's automated Applicant Violator System to ensure that the bidder has no unabated or uncorrected violations of Title IV or V of SMCRA.
US Code:
30 USC 1201
Name of Law: Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977
This information collection request will result in an increase of 33 hours due, primarily, to an increase in the number of instances when States create the data on the AVS and conduct the AVS evaluations of bidders, instead of requesting that OSM do this work.
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.