[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 28 (Friday, February 9, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4953-4954]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-2878]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Extension of Currently Approved Information Collection for
Special Use Administration
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 request an extension of a
currently approved information collection for the administration of
special uses on National Forest System lands.
DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before April 9, 1996.
ADDRESSES: All comments should be addressed to: Director, Lands Staff
(2720), Forest Service, USDA, P.O. Box 96090, Washington, DC 20090-
6090.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mark Scheibel, Lands Staff, at (202) 205-1264.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Description of Information Collection
The following describes the information collection to be extended:
Title: Special use Administration.
OMB Number: 0596-0082.
Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 1996.
Type of Request: Extension of a previously approved information
collection.
Abstract: The data collected will be evaluated by the Forest
Service to ensure that the authorization of the use of Federal land is
in the public interest and is compatible with the mission of the
agency. The data will help identify environmental and social impacts
that may require mitigation and will ascertain whether a fair market
rental fee for the use of National Forest System lands is being
received. The data will be collected through application forms and
stipulations in operating plans and use authorizations. There are four
general categories of information requests: (1) Initial and amended
application process; (2) annual financial information; (3) preparing
and updating operation and maintenance plans; and (4) compliance
reports and information updates.
Application Process
Estimate of Burden: The information requirements for initial
applications, or for changes to, for special use authorizations are
established in 36 CFR 251.54 and 251.61, respectively. Public reporting
burden for collection of information during the application process to
use National Forest System lands varies according to the intended use
and application form. Four forms have been established to collect the
information. The estimated average for each specific application form
is as follows:
1. Form SF-299--Application for Transportation and Utility Systems
and Facilities on Federal Lands: 4.0 hours.
2. Form FS-2700-3--Special Use Application and Report: 8.0 hours.
3. Form FS-2700-3a--Request for Termination of and Application for
Special use Permit: 0.5 hour.
4. Form FS-2700-3b--Special Use Application for Noncommercial Group
Use: 1.0 hour.
Type of Respondents: Individuals, businesses, corporation, and Sate
and local governments requesting use of National Forest System lands.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
Form SF-299: 100 respondents
Form FS-2700-3: 1,400 respondents
Form FS-2700-3a: 1,000 respondents
Form FS-2700-3b: 2,400 respondents
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents:
Form SF-299: 400 hours
Form FS-2700-3: 11,200 hours
Form FS-2700-3a: 500 hours
Form FS-2700-3b: 2,400 hours
Annual Financial Information
Estimate of Burden: Title V of the Federal Land Policy and
Management Act of 1976, the Independent Offices Appropriation Act of
1952, and the Office of Management and Budget Circular A-25 require the
Forest Service to collect rental fees that reflect fair market value
for the use of National Forest System lands. Special use authorizations
may contain specific terms and conditions requiring the holder to
provide the authorized officer with the information necessary to
calculate fair market value rental fees. Procedures for how the
information is provided and when it is required are contained in the
authorization terms and conditions. Information requests for financial
information are provided to the authorized officer in a variety of
ways. Several examples include gross revenues, value of capitol
improvements, number of trips and/or customers served, or a listing of
occupants in a communications site building. Public reporting burden
for collection of information to determine bills for collection for
fair market rental fees for the use of National Forest System lands is
estimated at 1 hour per response.
Type of Respondents: Individuals, businesses, and corporations
required to provide information to determine fair market rental fees
for the use of National Forest System lands.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,500.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.2.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 3,000 hours.
Preparing and Updating Operation and Maintenance Plans
Estimate of Burden: Special use authorizations may contain a clause
requiring the holder to prepare or update an operation and maintenance
plan, when the authorized officer determines that the day-to-day
operations of the use authorized needs to be enumerated. This
information is useful to the holder and the Forest Service, because it
outlines procedures and policies used while the holder conducts
operations or business on National Forest System lands. Typically,
operation and maintenance plans contain daily operating guidelines,
fire abatement and control procedures, monitoring guidelines,
maintenance standards, safety and emergency plans, inspection standards
and frequencies, and so forth. Operation and maintenance plans are not
required for all special use authorizations, but are usually necessary
for complex operations, commercial uses, and situations involving
sensitive environmental areas. Public reporting burden for collection
of information to prepare or update operation and maintenance plans is
estimated at 1 hour per response.
Type of Respondents: Individuals, businesses, corporations, and
State and local governments required to prepare or update operation and
maintenance plans for activities on National Forest System lands.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 35,000.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
[[Page 4954]]
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 35,000 hours.
Compliance Reports and Information Updates
Estimate of Burden: Special use authorizations may contain specific
terms and conditions requiring the holder to provide the authorized
officer with compliance reports, information reports, and other
information required by Federal law and/or required to properly manage
National Forest System lands to ensure adequate protection of forest
resources and public health and safety. Examples of compliance and
information requests include dam maintenance inspection reports and
logs required by the Reclamation Safety of Dams Act of 1979, and the
Dam Safety Act of 1983; documentation that authorized facilities passed
safety inspections; documents showing that the United States is covered
in an insurance policy; notifications involving changes in corporation
or partnership status; documentation of compliance with
nondiscrimination in Federally assisted programs as required by Title
VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; and so forth. Public
reporting burden for collection of information for compliance reports
and information updates for operations on National Forest System lands
is estimated at 1 hour per response.
Type of Respondents: Individuals, businesses, corporations, State
and local governments.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 13,500.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondent: 13,500 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 will have practical
utility; (b) the accuracy of this 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 the use of automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
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: February 2, 1996.
Mark A. Reimers,
Acting Chief.
[FR Doc. 96-2878 Filed 2-8-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M