[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 245 (Thursday, December 21, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 66253]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-31023]



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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Extension of Currently Approved Information Collection for 
Baseline and Trend Information on Wilderness Use and Users

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Forest Service announces its intent to extend a currently approved 
information collection of questions and sampling alternatives used to 
develop baseline and trend information about the changing role of 
wilderness in rural communities and the behavior of urban residents who 
visit wilderness for recreation, education programs, or scientific 
study.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before February 20, 
1996.

ADDRESSES: All comments should be addressed to: Alan Watson, Aldo 
Leopold Wilderness Research Institute, Forest Service, USDA, P.O. Box 
8089, Missoula, MT 59807.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alan Watson, Aldo Leopold Wilderness 
Research Institute, (406) 542-4197.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Description of Information Collection

    The currently approved information collection comprises a pool of 
questions and sampling alternatives (for example, on-site surveys and 
mailback questionnaires); the following describes the information 
collection to be extended:
    Title: Baseline and Trend Information on Wilderness Use and Users.
    OMB Number: 0596-0108.
    Expiration Date of Approval: May 31, 1996.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Wilderness Act (Pub. L. 88-577) directs that 
wilderness be managed to preserve natural conditions and to provide 
outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfined 
type of recreation. To make informed decisions on appropriate 
management methods that mediate recreational users' impact on natural 
resources and on other visitor experiences, Forest Service and other 
Federal land managers need information on visitors' behavior in the 
area, their preferences for various types of social interaction, and 
their support for various management strategies. It is difficult for 
wilderness managers to obtain accurate information on these topics 
because information currently available is limited to only a few 
wilderness areas. Established baselines and monitoring trends for 
visitor characteristics, behavior, and preferences throughout the 
country are needed by Federal agencies managing wilderness, including 
the Forest Service and the USDI National Park Service, Bureau of Land 
Management, and Fish and Wildlife Service. The Forest Service has been 
using the previously approved collection of questions and sampling 
alternatives to establish baselines, monitor trends, and provide input 
to forest planning activities at several wildernesses managed by the 
agency.
    Estimate of Burden: The response time is likely to vary from 3 to 5 
minutes to respond to on-site surveys and from 15 to 20 minutes to 
complete mailback questionnaires.
    Type of Respondents: Visitors to units of the National Wilderness 
Preservation System.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,000 per year for 3 years.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 410 hours.
    Comments are invited on (a) whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, 
including through the use of automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information.

Use of Comments

    All comments received in response to this notice will be summarized 
and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will also 
become a matter of public record.

    Dated: December 15, 1995.
David G. Unger,
Associate Chief.
[FR Doc. 95-31023 Filed 12-20-95; 8:45 am]
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