Agency Information Collection Activities; Oil and Gas, or Geothermal Resources: Transfers and Assignments, 83102-83103 [2020-28062]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• Bureau of Land Management

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 245 (Monday, December 21, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 83102-83103]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-28062]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLHQ310000.L13100000.PP0000; OMB Control No. 1004-0034]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Oil and Gas, or 
Geothermal Resources: Transfers and Assignments

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, 
the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) are proposing to renew an 
information collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
February 19, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Send your written comments on this information collection 
request (ICR) by mail to Darrin King, Information Collection Clearance 
Officer, U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, 
Attention PRA Office, 440 W 200 S #500, Salt Lake City, UT 84101; or by 
email to [email protected]. Please reference Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) Control Number 1004-0034 in the subject 
line of your comments. Please note that due to COVID-19, the

[[Page 83103]]

electronic submission of comments is recommended.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact Jennifer Spencer by email at [email protected], 
or by telephone at 307-775-6261. Individuals who are hearing or speech 
impaired may call the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 for TTY 
assistance. You may also view the ICR at https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) and 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), all 
information collections require approval under the PRA. We may not 
conduct, or sponsor and you are not required to respond to a collection 
of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.
    As part of our continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent 
burdens, we invite the public and other Federal agencies to comment on 
new, proposed, revised, and continuing collections of information. This 
helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements 
and minimize the public's reporting burden. It also helps the public 
understand our information collection requirements and provide the 
requested data in the desired format.
    We are especially interested in public comment addressing the 
following:
    (1) Whether or not the collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including 
whether or not the information will have practical utility;
    (2) The accuracy of our estimate of the burden for this collection 
of information, including the validity of the methodology and 
assumptions used;
    (3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    (4) How might the agency minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on those who are to respond, including through the use of 
appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., 
permitting electronic submission of response.
    Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request 
to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone 
number, email address, or other personal identifying information in 
your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including 
your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available 
at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your 
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.
    Abstract: This collection of information enables the BLM to process 
assignments of record title interest and transfers of operating rights 
in a lease for oil and gas or geothermal resources. Each assignment or 
transfer is a contract between private parties but, by law, must be 
approved by the Secretary. The BLM uses information about assignments 
and transfers to prevent unlawful extraction of mineral resources, to 
ensure prompt payment of rentals and royalties for the rights obtained 
under a Federal lease, and to ensure that leases are not encumbered 
with agreements that cause the minerals to be uneconomical to produce, 
resulting in lost revenues to the Federal Government. The information 
also enables the BLM to ensure the assignee or transferee is in 
compliance with the bonding requirements, when necessary, before 
approval of the transfer or assignment.
    Title of Collection: Oil and Gas, or Geothermal Resources: 
Transfers and
    Assignments (43 CFR Subparts 3106, 3135, and 3216).
    OMB Control Number: 1004-0034.
    Form Number: 3000-003; 3000-003a.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Assignors and assignees of record 
title interest in a lease for oil and gas or geothermal resources; and 
transferors and transferees of operating rights (sublease) in a lease 
for oil and gas or geothermal resources.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 17,626.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 17,626.
    Estimated Completion Time per Response: 30 minutes.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 8,814.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: $1,674,470.
    An agency may not conduct, or sponsor and a person is not required 
to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a 
currently valid OMB control number.
    The authority for this action is the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

Darrin A. King,
Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020-28062 Filed 12-18-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-P