[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 181 (Friday, September 18, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49893-49894]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-25053]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 181 / Friday, September 18, 1998 / 
Notices  

[[Page 49893]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


National Survey on Recreation and the Environment

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of information collection: 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. This collection is necessary 
to ensure that the Forest Service and other land managing agencies meet 
the recreational needs of the public, understand the public's attitudes 
and preferences for management of public lands and the environment, and 
meet the Congressionally mandated reporting requirements for the 
Renewable Resources Planning Act and the Government Performance and 
Results Act. Respondents will be adults in the United States.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before November 17, 
1998.

ADDRESSES: All comments should be addressed to: H. Ken Cordell, 
Southern Research Station, Forest Service, USDA, 320 Green Street, 
Athens, GA 30602-2044 or faxed to (706) 559-4262. Comments also may be 
sent via e-mail to kcordell/[email protected].
    The public may inspect comments at the offices of the Southern 
Research Station, Research Work Unit SRS-4901, Forest Service, USDA, 
320 Green Street, Athens, Georgia.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: H. Ken Cordell, Southern Research 
Station, at (706) 559-4263 or e-mail kcordell/[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Description of Information Collection

    Title: National Survey on Recreation and the Environment: The 
Seventh National Recreation Survey.
    OMB Number: 0596-0127.
    Expiration Date of Approval: September 30, 1998.
    Type of Request: Extension of a previously approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The collected information will be used to measure the 
demands the public makes on National Forests and other public lands and 
recreational sites; to identify the recreational preferences of 
visitors to public and private recreational sites; to identify the 
public's, especially persons with disabilities, perceptions of 
accessibility to recreational sites; to gain feedback from the public 
about management of National Forests and other recreational lands; to 
ask the public how they think public agencies could improve management 
of public land and recreational areas; and to keep abreast of shifts in 
recreational demands that might influence delivery of recreational 
services. The Forest Service also will use the collected information in 
developing the Renewable Resources Planning Act Assessment for the year 
2000, which will look at emerging public recreational trends.
    The first National Survey on Recreation and the Environment was 
conducted in 1960. Since then, the survey has been conducted every 5 
years. The data collected in this series of information collections has 
enabled Federal and State agencies to keep up to date on changing 
public recreational trends that place demands on public recreational 
facilities and areas.
    In 1987, the Forest Service coordinated the National Survey on 
Recreation and the Environment in collaboration with five other Federal 
agencies (the Bureau of Land Management, Corps of Engineers, 
Environmental Protection Agency, Economic Research Service, and 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), three private sector 
interests (the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association, Sports Fishing 
Institute, and Outdoor Recreation Coalition of America), and five 
universities (the University of Georgia, Indiana University, Georgia 
Southern University, Purdue University, and the University of 
Tennessee). The Forest Service assumed the principle investigative role 
for the Survey and, in 1994, conducted the most recent survey in the 
continuing national series. As the lead agency, Forest Service 
personnel led the conceptualization, design, and execution of the 1994-
95 National Survey on Recreation and the Environment.
    The Forest Service will coordinate the next National Survey on 
Recreation and the Environment to be conducted from March, 1999, 
through February, 2000. It will be the seventh in this series of 
Federally-sponsored recreational surveys. To maintain the historical 
integrity of the data, this survey will incorporate many of the same 
interviewing protocols used since the beginning survey in 1960.
    As with the 1994-95 National Survey on Recreation and the 
Environment, interviews will be conducted by telephone. The telephone 
numbers of respondents will be selected at random. Respondents will be 
interviewed by personnel trained in interviewing techniques and will be 
bilingual to overcome language barriers.
    Data gathered in this information collection is not available from 
other sources.
    Estimate of Burden: 20 minutes.
    Type of Respondents: Individuals 16 years or older with access to a 
telephone.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 50,000.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 16,667 hours.

Comment Is Invited

    The agency invites comments on the following: (a) Whether the 
information proposed for collection is appropriate for the stated 
purposes and the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the 
accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed 
collection of information, including the validity of the methodology 
and assumptions used; (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, electronic, mechanical, or other technological 
collection

[[Page 49894]]

techniques or other forms of information technology.

Use of Comments

    All comments, including name and address when provided, will become 
a matter of public record. Comments received in response to this notice 
will be summarized and included in the request for Office of Management 
and Budget approval.

    Dated: September 14, 1998.
Robert C. Joslin,
Acting Associate Chief.
[FR Doc. 98-25053 Filed 9-17-98; 8:45 am]
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