[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 54 (Monday, March 22, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13763-13764]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-6931]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Baseline and Trend Information on Wilderness Use and Users

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Extension of an information collection; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Forest Service announces its intent to request extension of a currently 
approved information collection. This information collection has been 
used to collect data about wilderness recreation users in the United 
States, since 1990. The information is necessary to help the Forest 
Service and other Federal wilderness management agencies meet the needs 
and expectations of visitors, who look to the National Wilderness 
Preservation System for recreational experiences that are dependent 
upon natural wilderness conditions away from human development and 
devoid of crowds. Respondents will be visitors, or potential visitors, 
to the National Wilderness Preservation System.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before May 21, 1999.

ADDRESSES: All comments should be addressed to Alan Watson, Aldo 
Leopold Wilderness Research Institute, Forest Service, USDA, P.O. Box 
8089, Missoula, Montana 59807 or email awatson/
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alan Watson, Aldo Leopold Wilderness 
Research Institute, (406) 542-4197.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Description of Information Collection

    The following describes the information collection to be extended:
    Title: Baseline and Trend Information on Wilderness Use and Users.
    OMB Number: 0596-0108.
    Expiration Date of Approval: May 31, 1999.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Wilderness Act of 1964 directs that the National 
Wilderness Preservation System (System) be managed to protect natural 
wilderness conditions and to provide outstanding opportunities for the 
public to find solitude or primitive and unconfined types of 
recreational experiences.
    To meet the requirements of The Wilderness Act of 1964 and to help 
the Forest Service enhance visitors' recreational experiences, the 
agency monitors trends of visitor recreational activities. Forest 
Service personnel also want to ensure that visitors' recreational 
activities do not harm the natural resources of the National Wilderness 
Preservation System. The agency is expanding the scope of the survey to 
include wilderness areas about which the agency has little information 
in regard to visitor recreational trends. Data from this information 
collection will be maintained at the interagency (Agriculture and 
Interior) Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute in Missoula, 
Montana.
    The Forest Service will use information from this collection: (1) 
to establish visitor recreational use baselines; (2) to monitor visitor 
recreational use trends; (3) to gain an understanding of how the 
agency's management of the National Wilderness Preservation System 
influences a visitor's wilderness experience; and (4) to help 
understand how to educate visitors, so they may enjoy their wilderness 
experience without leaving permanent reminders of their visits, such as 
damaged vegetation, litter, and polluted streams. The information also 
will be used for planning management direction for various wilderness 
areas managed by the agencies in the Departments of Agriculture and 
Interior.
    Respondents will be visitors, or potential visitors, to the 
National Wilderness Preservation System. Forest Service personnel will 
conduct face-to-face, on-site interviews with visitors as they enter 
the System or will send mailback survey forms to visitors at their 
homes, using addresses that visitors provide when visiting the System. 
Forest Service personnel will contact visitors at nonwilderness sites 
to ask if they have plans to visit the System. When unable to conduct 
face-to-face interviews with potential visitors, the agency will send 
mailback survey forms to the homes of those who visited nonwilderness 
areas, using addresses provided by them as they entered the 
nonwilderness sites. In some cases, the agency forms will be made 
available on a self-service basis to visitors in trailhead displays.
    Respondents will be asked questions that include how many times 
they visit, when they plan their next visit, or if they plan to visit 
at all. Respondents will be asked, when visiting, if they come in 
groups, and, if so, the size of those groups. Respondents will be asked 
how long they stay when visiting? Do they use equipment, such as 
stoves, or use wood for fires while visiting, and do they have 
preferences for social conditions? For example, do they like or will 
they accept crowded conditions, such as crowded camping areas, designed 
to limit negative effects to the natural resources, such as soil 
compaction, damage to tree roots, and negative impacts to water 
quality? Do respondents support various wilderness management 
strategies, such as limiting visitor use of wilderness areas to lessen 
negative effects to the wilderness environment? Do they support

[[Page 13764]]

separating uses, such as designating some campsites for use only by 
groups with pack animals, to avoid conflict? Data collected in this 
information collection is not available from other sources.
    Estimate of Burden: 15 minutes.
    Type of Respondents: Visitors or potential visitors to the National 
Wilderness Preservation System.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3000.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 750 hours.

Comment Is Invited

    Comments are invited on (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the stated purposes and the proper 
performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the 
information shall 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 
techniques or other forms of information technology.

Use of Comments

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

    Dated: March 16, 1999.
Robert Lewis, Jr.,
Deputy Chief for Research & Development.
[FR Doc. 99-6931 Filed 3-19-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P