Competitive Processes, Terms, and Conditions for Leasing Public Lands for Solar and Wind Energy Development
Revision of a currently approved collection
No
Regular
Comment filed on proposed rule and continue
11/06/2023
06/16/2023
In accordance with 5 CFR 1320.11(c), OMB is filing comment and withholding approval at this time.
This OMB action is not an approval to conduct or sponsor an information collection under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This action has no effect on any current approvals. If OMB has assigned this ICR a new OMB Control Number, the OMB Control Number will not appear in the active inventory. For future submissions of this information collection, reference the OMB Control Number provided. The agency shall examine public comment in response to the proposed rulemaking and include in the supporting statement of the next ICR--to be submitted to OMB at the final rule stage--a description of how the agency has responded to any public comments on the ICR, including comments on maximizing the practical utility of the collection and minimizing the burden. Given that the cost estimates presented rely largely on non-public data, the agency is requested to work with OMB to increase the amount of quality supporting information underlying the cost estimates before this information collection is submitted for renewal. Lastly, the supporting statement submitted at final rule stage should include any changes that occurred between the proposed and final rule related to this ICR.
table that charts list comparision
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
06/30/2026
36 Months From Approved
06/30/2026
3,042
0
3,042
47,112
0
47,112
2,182,302
0
2,182,302
This control number enables the BLM to collect information that is necessary to authorize and manage rights-of-way for solar and wind energy, oil and gas pipelines, and electric transmission lines with a capacity of 100 Kilovolts (kV) or more. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is requesting revision of this control number to reflect proposed changes to the underlying regulations pertaining to renewable energy rents affecting solar and wind energy developments (NPRM RIN 1004-AE78).
US Code:
30 USC 185
Name of Law: Section 28 of the Mineral Leasing Act
US Code:
43 USC 1734
Name of Law: Section 304 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act
US Code:
43 USC 1761 - 1771
Name of Law: Subchapter V of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act
US Code:
43 USC 1701(a)(9)
Name of Law: Section 102(a)(9) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act
The burden increase would result from a proposed new information collection requirement contained in paragraph 2806.52(i) pertaining to the annual certified statement. This change in burden is considered a program change due to agency discretion. This new information collection is needed to help the BLM more accurately determine the production MW capacity fee based on the certified statement provided.
We are also adjusting the burden for 2 existing and unchanged information collections to reflect the burden those activities more accurately would involve for the industry. These adjustments include the following:
⢠Preliminary Application Review Meetings for 2 public meetings for a Large-Scale Right-of-Way (43 CFR 2804.12(b)(4)). The average response time is adjusted from 2 hours to 4 hours. This adjustment resulted in a 40-hour burden increase (from 40 hours to 80 hours).
⢠Environmental, Technical, and Financial Records, Reports, and Other Information
43 CFR 2805.12(a)(15). We have added a 50 percent increase in the hours required to prepare reports (from 4 per response to 6 per response). This resulted in an increasing the estimated annual burden hours for these activities from 80 hours to 120 hours.
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.
Annual Certified Statement 43 CFR 2806.52(i) [PROPOSED NEW]