[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.
    
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    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