43 CFR § 3900.5
Information collection
June 11, 2020
(a) OMB has approved the information collection requirements in parts 3900 through 3930 of this chapter under 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. The table in paragraph (d) of this section lists the subpart in the rule requiring the information and its title, provides the OMB control number, and summarizes the reasons for collecting the information and how the BLM uses the information.
(b) Respondents are oil shale lessees and operators. The requirement to respond to the information collections in these parts are mandated under the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EP Act) (42 U.S.C. 15927), the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands of 1947 (30 U.S.C. 351-359), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq., including 43 U.S.C. 1732).
(c) The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 requires us to inform the public that an agency 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.
(d) The BLM is collecting this information for the reasons given in the following table:
Open Table
| 43 CFR Parts 3900-3930, General (1004-0201) | Reasons for collecting information and how used |
|---|---|
| Section 3904.12 Section 3904.14(c)(1) |
Prospective lessee or licensee must furnish a bond before a lease or exploration license may be issued or transferred or a plan of development is approved. The BLM will review the bond and, if adequate as to amount and execution, will accept it in order to indemnify the United States against default on payments due or other performance obligations. The BLM may also adjust the bond amount to reflect changed conditions. The BLM will cancel the bond when all requirements are satisfied. |
| Section 3910.31 Section 3910.44 |
For those lands where no exploration data is available, the lease applicant may apply for an exploration license to conduct exploration on unleased public lands to determine the extent and specific characteristics of the Federal oil shale resource. The BLM will use the information in the application to: |
| (1) Locate the proposed exploration site; | |
| (2) Determine if the lands are subject to entry for exploration; | |
| (3) Prepare a notice of invitation to other parties to participate in the exploration; and | |
| (4) Ensure the exploration plan is adequate to safeguard resource values, and public and worker health and safety. | |
| The BLM will use this information from a licensee to determine if it will offer the land area for lease. | |
| Section 3921.30 | Corporations, associations, and individuals may submit expressions of leasing interest for specific areas to assist the applicable BLM State Director in determining whether or not to lease oil shale. The information provided will be used in the consultation with the governor of the affected state and in setting a geographic area for which a call for applications will be requested. |
| Sections 3922.20 and 3922.30 | Entities interested in leasing the Federal oil shale resource must file an application in a geographic area for which the BLM has issued a “Call for Applications.” The information provided by the applicant will be used to evaluate the impacts of issuing a proposed lease on the human environment. Failure to provide the requested additional information may result in suspension or termination of processing of the application or in a decision to deny the application. |
| Section 3924.10 | Prospective lessees will be required to submit a bid at a competitive sale in order to be issued a lease. |
| Section 3926.10(c) | The lessee of an R, D and D lease may apply for conversion of the R, D and D lease to a commercial lease. |
| Section 3930.11(b) Section 3930.20(b) |
The records, logs, and samples provide information necessary to determine the nature and extent of oil shale resources on Federal lands and to monitor and adjust the extent of the oil shale reserve. |
| Section 3931.11 | The POD must provide for reasonable protection and reclamation of the environment and the protection and diligent development of the oil shale resources in the lease. |
| Section 3931.30 | The BLM may, in the interest of Conservation, order or agree to a suspension of operations and production. |
| Section 3931.41 | Except for casual use, before conducting any exploration operations on federally-leased or federally-licensed lands, the lessee must submit an exploration plan to the BLM for approval. |
| Section 3931.50 | Approved exploration, mining and in situ development plans may be modified by the operator or lessee to adjust to changed conditions, new information, improved methods, and new or improved technology, or to correct an oversight. |
| Section 3931.70 | Production of all oil shale products or byproducts must be reported to the BLM on a monthly basis. |
| Section 3931.80 | Within 30 days after drilling completion the operator or lessee must submit to the BLM a signed copy of records of all core or test holes made on the lands covered by the lease or exploration license. |
| Sections 3932.10(b) and 3932.30(c) | A lessee may apply for a modification of a lease to include additional Federal lands adjoining those in the lease. |
| Section 3933.31 | Any lease may be assigned or subleased, and any exploration license may be assigned, in whole or in part, to any person, association, or corporation that meets the qualification requirements at subpart 3902. |
| Section 3934.10 | A lease or exploration license may be surrendered in whole or in part. |
| Section 3935.10 | Operators or lessees must maintain production and sale records which must be available for the BLM's examination during regular business hours. |
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