[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 30 (Thursday, February 13, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6755-6756]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-3626]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service


Information Collection for Recreation, Scenery and Tourism 
Management

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 intention to establish a new information 
collection. The new collection is necessary to gather information about 
visitor preferences and expectations concerning recreational 
facilities, such as campgrounds and parking areas; scenery management, 
including visitors' favorite scenic views; and highway management, such 
as whether highway maintenance activities are compatible with the 
scenic objectives. The information collected will be used in developing 
Scenic Byways Corridor Management Plans for the Bighorn National 
Forest.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before April 14, 
1997.

ADDRESSES: All comments should be addressed to: Bernie Bornong, 
Forester, Bighorn National Forest, 1969 S. Sheridan Avenue, Sheridan, 
WY 82801.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Bernie Bornong, Bighorn National Forest, at (307) 672-0751.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Description of Information Collection

    The following describes the information collection:
    Title: Bighorn National Forest Scenic Byways Summer User Survey.
    OMB Number: New.
    Expiration Date of Approval: New.
    Type of Request: The following describes a new collection 
requirement and has not received approval by the Office of Management 
and Budget.
    Abstract: The Bighorn National Forest, located in north central 
Wyoming, has contracted with EDAW, Inc. to write a Scenic Byways 
Corridor Management Plan (CMP) for three Scenic Byways on the Bighorn 
National Forest located on U.S. Highways 14, 14A, and 16. As part of 
this project, EDAW, Inc. will conduct a survey of visitors using the 
Scenic Byways during the summer of 1997 to ensure that the needs, 
expectations, and preferences of visitors are addressed in the Scenic 
Byways Corridor Management Plan.
    The Forest Service Bighorn National Forest, Wyoming Department of 
Transportation (WYDOT), local Chambers of Commerce, and numerous small 
businesses, including lodges and restaurants, will use this information 
to more effectively manage the Scenic Byways to ensure that 
recreational opportunities and scenic views meet the expectations of 
visitors and to ensure that management of the highways within the 
Scenic Byways meets WYDOT standards while enhancing visitor 
experiences.
    The Forest Service, for example, will use the information to 
incorporate visitor preferences into the management of recreational 
facilities, such as campgrounds. This could include the location of 
campgrounds, as well as the condition of the campgrounds. The data will 
also help the Forest Service incorporate scenic preferences, such as 
wildlife viewing areas, when planning projects.
    The Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) will use the 
information to plan for and assess the public's desires concerning the 
dual purposes of providing safe and efficient transportation within the 
Scenic Byways, while at the same time maintaining the scenic beauty of 
the highway corridors. When designing roads, WYDOT will consider 
visitor preferences for such matters as type and color of guardrails to 
install, use of retaining walls in specific locations, or the use of 
snow fences instead of plowing snow. WYDOT also will include visitor 
needs, expectations, and preferences when planning and conducting road 
maintenance.
    Local communities and tourism and recreation industries will use 
the information to design marketing strategies to promote tourism and 
increase visitation within and along the Scenic Byways.
    To facilitate the collection of information, personnel from EDAW, 
Inc. will write the survey, conduct the interviews, and analyze the 
survey results, under the contract supervision of the Bighorn National 
Forest. The interviewers will randomly select visitors using the Scenic 
Byways on the Bighorn National Forest. This is a voluntary survey, and 
the first question asked will be whether or not the visitor wishes to 
participate. The survey is a 20-minute interview, with the interviewer 
recording the visitor's responses on the survey instrument. The 
interviewers will station themselves at areas along the Scenic Byways 
extensively used by visitors, such as parking areas, visitor centers, 
and campgrounds.
    The interviewers will ask visitors, who choose to participate in 
the survey, to evaluate the current status of, and suggest possible 
improvements to, the recreational facilities along the Scenic Byways. 
These recreational facilities include rest areas, parking areas, 
visitor information centers, camping and picnicking facilities, and 
lodging and restaurant facilities operating under the authorization of 
and with special use permits issued by the Forest Service.
    Interviewers will ask visitors their expectations concerning the 
highway infrastructure and if maintaining the highway infrastructure or 
maintaining scenic beauty is more important to them.
    Interviewers also will show visitors a series of photographs of the 
Scenic Byways and will ask their perceptions and preferences of various 
landscapes and their visual sensitivity to various multiple uses 
depicted in the photographs. Visitors also will be asked to point out 
the areas they find particularly attractive, so that those areas can be 
managed to protect their scenic importance.
    Additionally, EDAW, Inc. will develop a profile of Bighorn National 
Forest Scenic Byways visitors by asking participants their State of 
residence; the number of times per year they visit the Bighorn National 
Forest Scenic Byways; the seasons of use; and the types of recreational 
activities they enjoy along the Scenic Byways.
    Data gathered in this information collection is not available from 
other sources.
    Estimate of Burden: 20 minutes.
    Type of Respondents: Individual users of the Scenic Byways on the 
Bighorn National Forest and small businesses located along the byways, 
such as the lodges and restaurants.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 300.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 100 hours.
    The agency invites comments 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

[[Page 6756]]

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, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological 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 10, 1997.
David G. Unger,
Associate Chief.
[FR Doc. 97-3626 Filed 2-12-97; 8:45 am]
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