Extension of Approved Information Collection, OMB Control Number 1004-0185

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) is requesting the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to extend existing approvals to collect certain information from lessees, operators, record title holders, operating rights owners, and the general public on oil and gas and operations on Federal lands.

DATES:

You must submit your comments to BLM at the address below on or before January 20, 2009. BLM will not necessarily consider any comments postmarked or received after the above date.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments by any of the following methods:

Mail: U.S. Department of the Interior, Director (630), Bureau of Land Management, Mail Stop 401 LS, 1849 C St., NW., (Attention: 1004-0185), Washington, DC 20240.

Personal or messenger delivery: 1620 L Street, NW., Room 401, Washington, DC 20036.

E-mail: information_collection@blm.gov (Attn.: 1004-0185).

Comments will be available for public review at the L Street address during regular business hours (7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.) Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

You may contact Barbara Gamble, Division of Fluid Minerals, on (202) 452-0338 (Commercial or FTS). Persons who use a telecommunication device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) on 1-800-877-8330, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to contact Ms. Gamble.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

5 CFR 1320.12(a) requires that we provide a 60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning a collection of information to solicit comments on:

(1) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper functioning of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility;

(2) The accuracy of our estimates of the information collection burden, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions we use;

(3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and

(4) Ways to minimize the information collection burden on those who are required to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

The Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 (MLA), 30 U.S.C. 191 et seq., gives the Secretary of the Interior responsibility for oil and gas leasing on approximately 570 million acres of public lands and national forests, and private lands where the mineral rights are reserved by the Federal government. The Act of May 21, 1930 (30 U.S.C. 301-306), authorizes the leasing of oil and gas deposits under railroads and other rights-of-way. The Act of August 7, 1947 (Mineral Leasing Act of Acquired Lands), authorizes the Secretary to lease lands acquired by the United States (30 U.S.C. 341-359). The regulations under 43 CFR part 3000 et al. authorize BLM to manage the oil and gas leasing and exploration activities. Without the information, BLM would not be able to analyze and approve oil and gas leasing and exploration activities.

BLM collects nonform information on oil and gas leasing and exploration activities when the lessee, record title holder, operating rights owner, or operator files any of the following information for BLM to adjudicate:

BLM collects the information in the regulations that address oil and gas drainage and no form is required.

Based upon our experience managing oil and gas activities, we estimate for the information collection 2,880 responses per year with an annual information burden of 6,835 hours.

BLM will summarize all responses to this notice and include them in the request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public record.