[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 126 (Tuesday, July 1, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 35523]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-17212]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Information Collection Requirements; Backcountry Use Permit

AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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    Notice of Submission to OMB, Opportunity for Public Comment. OMB 
has up to 60 days to approve or disapprove the information collection 
but may respond after 30 days; therefore, public comments should be 
submitted to OMB within 30 days in order to assure their maximum 
consideration. Backcountry Use Permit.

SUMMARY: Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. 3507) and 5 CFR part 1320, Reporting and 
Recordkeeping Requirements, the National Park Service (NPS) invites 
public comments on a request for renewal of approval for the 
information collection requirements associated with permits 
implementing provisions of agency regulations, pertaining to the use of 
public lands (OMB Control 1024-0022). Standard Form 10-404, Backcountry 
Use Permit, is the primary form used to implement a backcountry 
reservation system and provide access into backcountry areas where 
limits are imposed in accordance with regulations. Such permitting 
enhances resource protection, hazard warnings and search and rescue 
efforts.
    There were no public comments received as a result of publishing in 
the Federal Register (61 FR 14162) a 60-day notice of intention to 
request clearance for this information collection request.

DATES: Public comments will be accepted on or before July 31, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs of OMB, Attention Desk Officer for the Department of the 
Interior, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20503. All 
responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request 
for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval. All comments will 
become a matter of public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dennis Burnett, Ranger Activities 
Division, National Park Service, 18th and C Streets, Washington, DC 
20240. Telephone 202-208-7675.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The objectives of the backcountry use permit 
system is to provide campers desiring access to backcountry areas of 
national parks with continuing opportunities for solitude, while 
enhancing resource protection and providing a means of disseminating 
public safety messages regarding backcountry travel. In 1976, the NPS 
initiated a backcountry registration system in accordance with 
regulations found at 36 CFR 1.5, 1.6 and 2.10. This system assures 
campers of finding routes and campsites which are not crowded beyond 
their capacity. The quality of both the recreational experience and the 
physical setting thereby remain uncompromised.
    NPS backcountry program managers, by designating access routes and 
overnight camping locations, can redistribute campers in response to 
user impact, high fire danger, flood, wind or other weather related 
hazards, bear activity or other situations that may temporarily close a 
portion of the backcountry. The NPS may also use the permit system as a 
means of ensuring that each backcountry user receives up-to-date 
information on backcountry sanitation procedures, food storage, 
wildlife activity, trail conditions and weather projections so that 
concerns for visitor safety are met.
    The Backcountry Use Permit is an extension of the NPS statutory 
responsibilities to protect the park areas it administers and to manage 
the public use thereof (16 U.S.C. 1 & 3). NPS regulations codified in 
36 CFR parts 1 through 7, 12 and 13, are designed to implement 
statutory mandates that provide for resource protection and public 
enjoyment. Several regulations contain information collection 
requirements previously approved by the OMB (1024-0022).
    Title: Public Information Collection--Backcountry Permit.
    Estimated annual reporting burden: 16,500.
    Estimated average burden hours per response: 4 minutes.
    Estimated average number of respondents: 206,300.
    NPS is soliciting comments regarding: (1) Whether the collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
NPS, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) 
the accuracy of the burden estimate including the validity of the 
method and assumptions used; (3) the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; (4) ways to minimize the burden, 
including through the use of automated collection or other forms of 
information technology; or (5) any other aspect of this collection of 
information.
Diane Cooke,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 97-17212 Filed 6-30-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P