[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 77 (Thursday, April 22, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19744-19745]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-10081]



[[Page 19744]]

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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Request for Comments; Urban Connections

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Forest Service announces its intent to establish a new information 
collection. The collected information will help Forest Service 
personnel better understand the demands that urban residents make on 
agency programs and services, how well the agency meets these demands, 
and if the agency effectively communicates its programs and services to 
urban residents. Information will be collected from people living in 
and around Boston, Massachusetts; Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota; 
Detroit, Michigan; and Cleveland, Ohio.

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

ADDRESSES: All comments should be addressed to LindaLou Stockinger, 
Public Affairs, Forest Service, USDA, 310 West Wisconsin Avenue, 
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53203 or email to lstockin/[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: LindaLou Stockinger, Public Affairs, 
at (414) 297-3326.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Urban residents are increasingly looking to the National Forests as 
a source of recreation and relaxation and to gain some relief from 
dense urban settings. Many eastern National Forests are situated within 
a few hours drive from dense urban environments. For example, the 
Chippewa and Superior National forests are within a few hours drive of 
Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota. The Huron-Manistee, Hiawatha, and 
Ottawa National Forests are within driving distance of Detroit, 
Michigan. The White Mountain National Forest, located in New Hampshire, 
is within commuting distance of Boston, Massachusetts. Two National 
Forests, the Wayne in Ohio and the Allegheny in Pennsylvania, are 
within a few hours drive of Cleveland, Ohio. As a result, National 
Forest System lands are under increased pressure from urban residents 
to meet their need for relief from dense urban environments.
    Because of the increased demands on these natural resources, the 
agency is collecting information to identify the concerns that urban 
residents have regarding the agency's ability to meet these additional 
demands.
    The Forest Service has contracted with a private public affairs 
firm, Kearns & West, to collect this information. Personnel from Kearns 
& West will collect information in four phases that will include 
telephone interviews and focus groups. Forest Service personnel will 
work with Kearns & West personnel to evaluate and analyze the results.
    The results of the study will help Forest Service personnel better 
understand the demands that urban residents make on the agency's 
programs and services, how well the agency communicates its programs 
and services to these residents, how well the agency meets needs and 
expectations of urban residents, how opportunities might be made 
available to involve urban residents in discussions about land 
management issues, and how to interest urban residents in participating 
in volunteer activities on National Forest System lands.
    Data from this information collection is not available from other 
sources.

Description of Information Collection

    Title: Urban Connections--Phase I--Telephone Surveys.
    OMB Number: New.
    Expiration Date of Approval: New.
    Type of Request: This is a new information collection that has not 
received approval from the Office of Management and Budget.
    Abstract: The purpose of the information collected in Phase I is to 
gain feedback on the types of questions that will be asked in Phase II. 
Kearns & West personnel will interview 12 urban residents: 3 in Boston, 
Massachusetts; 3 in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota; 3 in Detroit, 
Michigan; and 3 in Cleveland, Ohio. Each participant will be asked 
questions that include how important they think the health of forest 
lands are to future generations; their perceptions of how and why 
National Forest System lands are managed as they are; their knowledge 
of Forest Service programs; their thoughts about economically based 
enterprises on National Forest System lands, such as concessionaires; 
their view of the Forest Service Natural Resource Agenda that includes 
improving water quality, recreational experiences, wildlife habitat, 
and land stewardship; their perceptions of Forest Service customer 
service; and if they would be willing to volunteer time to help the 
agency with activities, such as trail maintenance. Respondents also 
will be asked if there are other questions they think should be 
included on the survey and if they know of anyone who might be a 
potential survey participant.
    Estimate of Burden: 15 minutes.
    Type of Respondents: Residents living in or around the cities of 
Boston, Massachusetts; Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota; Detroit, 
Michigan; and Cleveland, Ohio.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 12.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 3 hours.

Description of Information Collection

    Title: Urban Connections--Phase II--Telephone Survey.
    OMB Number: New.
    Expiration Date of Approval: New.
    Type of Request: This is a new information collection that has not 
received approval from the Office of Management and Budget.
    Abstract: Data from Phase I is the basis for the questionnaire used 
in Phase II. Kearns & West will interview 1000 people in each of the 
following metropolitan areas: Boston, Massachusetts; Minneapolis/St. 
Paul, Minnesota; Detroit, Michigan; and Cleveland, Ohio.
    Respondents will be asked questions that include how important they 
think the health of forest lands are to future generations; their 
perceptions of how and why National Forest System lands are managed as 
they are; their knowledge of Forest Service programs; their thoughts 
about economically based enterprises on National Forest System lands, 
such as concessionaires; their view of the Forest Service Natural 
Resource Agenda that includes improving water quality, recreational 
experiences, wildlife habitat, and land stewardship; their perceptions 
of Forest Service customer service; and if they would be willing to 
volunteer time to help the agency with activities, such as trail 
maintenance. Respondents also will be asked if there are other 
questions they think should be included on the survey and if they know 
of anyone who might be a potential survey participant.
    Respondents also will be asked if they are, or if they know of 
anyone who might be, willing to participate in a future focus group.
    Data from Phase II will help Forest Service personnel understand 
how urban residents perceive the agency's management of National Forest 
System lands.
    Estimate of Burden: 20 minutes.
    Type of Respondents: Residents living in or around the cities of 
Boston, Massachusetts; Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota; Detroit, 
Michigan, and Cleveland, Ohio.

[[Page 19745]]

    Estimated Number of Respondents: 4000.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1334 hours.

Description of Information Collection

    Title: Urban Connections--Phase III--Focus Groups.
    OMB Number: New.
    Expiration Date of Approval: New.
    Type of Request: This is a new information collection that has not 
received approval from the Office of Management and Budget.
    Abstract: The information collected during Phases I and II of this 
information collection will form the basis for Phase III. Kearns & West 
will conduct a total of 8 focus groups: 2 in Boston, Massachusetts; 2 
in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota; 2 in Detroit, Michigan; and 2 in 
Cleveland, Ohio. The purpose of the focus groups is to discuss 
responses to questions asked in Phases I and II and help Forest Service 
personnel understand perceptions urban residents have concerning the 
agency's management of National Forest System lands.
    Estimate of Burden: 2 hours.
    Type of Respondents: Residents living in or around the cities of 
Boston, Massachusetts; Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota; Detroit, 
Michigan; and Cleveland, Ohio who either participated in a telephone 
interview in Phases I or II or whose name was suggested by one of the 
telephone interviewees as someone who might be interested in 
participating in a focus group.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 96.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 192 hours.

Description of Information Collection

    Title: Urban Connections--Phase IV--Telephone Surveys.
    OMB Number: New.
    Expiration Date of Approval: New.
    Type of Request: This is a new information collection that has not 
received approval from the Office of Management and Budget.
    Abstract: The information collected during Phases I, II and III 
will serve as the basis for Phase IV. Kearns and West personnel will 
interview 10 people in each of the metropolitan areas of Boston, 
Massachusetts; Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota; Detroit, Michigan; and 
Cleveland, Ohio.
    These respondents will be selected from those who were interviewed 
previously during Phase I or II of this information collection process, 
or will be people who were identified as potential participants by one 
of the earlier telephone survey respondents.
    The purpose of Phase IV is to gain additional information to those 
questions that were included in Phases I and II. The collected 
information will help the Forest Service understand what urban 
residents expect from public lands in order for the agency to meet 
these expectations.
    Estimate of Burden: 30 minutes.
    Type of Respondents: Residents living in or around the cities of 
Boston, Massachusetts; Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota; Detroit, 
Michigan; and Cleveland, Ohio.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 40.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 20 hours.

Comment Is Invited

    The agency invites comments on the following: (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 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 Comment

    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: April 15, 1999.
Robert Lewis, Jr.,
Acting Associate Chief.
[FR Doc. 99-10081 Filed 4-21-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P