OSMRE and State regulatory authorities use the information collected under 30 CFR 800 to ensure that persons conducting or planning to conduct surface coal mining and reclamation operations post and maintain: (1) an appropriate liability insurance policy, and (2) a performance bond in a form and amount adequate to guarantee fulfillment of all reclamation obligations.
US Code:
30 USC 1201 et. seq.
Name of Law: Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977
We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) are submitting this information collection clearance package to revise our authority to collect information and require retention of records under 30 CFR part 800, âPerformance Bond, Financial Assurance, and Insurance Requirements for Surface Coal Mining and Reclamation Operations.â We are requesting these changes to reflect regulatory modifications resulting from a final rule we have developed that establish requirements for financial assurances for long-term discharges, that would alter the procedures and criteria for bond release, and that would reorganize part 800.
OSMRE received over 94,000 comments on the proposed rule, many of which had information collection ramifications. These comments were reviewed and the final SPR has incorporated changes, where appropriate, to reflect the comments. Likewise, this information collection request has been modified from the original request to OMB to incorporate those final rule changes and the public comments which affect this information collection request.
OSMRE is now submitting this information collection package based on the SPR which modifies the collection requirements in 30 CFR part 800. The final rule and information collection packages associated with this rule incorporate comments received from the public on the burden estimates for part 800, the availability of data, frequency of collection, the clarity of instructions and recordkeeping, disclosure, or reporting format, and on the data elements to be recorded, disclosed, and reported.
The currently approved information collection clearance for 30 CFR Part 800 includes 147,874 burden hours. We are now requesting 179,224 burden hours for this part. This includes a program increase of 33,670 hours and a burden reduction of 2,422 hours to adjustments. This information collection request will also increase non-wage burden costs from $1,502,404 to $1,515,129, an increase of $12,725. This represents a programmatic increase of $16,817 due to promulgation of the final Stream Protection Rule, and a reduction of $4,092 due to adjustments in responses.
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.
800.16 - General terms and conditions of bond (SRAs)