[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 120 (Wednesday, June 23, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33457-33459]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-15987]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Request for Comments; National Forest 
Recreation Use

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Forest Service announces its intent to extend a previously approved 
information collection and add a new component to the collection. The 
Forest

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Service uses the currently approved collection to assess customer 
satisfaction and agency performance in meeting customer needs. The new 
collection will enable the Forest Service to estimate the amount and 
type of recreational use that occurs on National Forest System areas. 
The revised collection also will help the Forest Service meet the 
requirements of the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 and 
the National Forest Management Act of 1976. Information will be 
collected from people who visit National Forest System lands for 
recreational activities.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before August 23, 
1999.

ADDRESSES: All comments should be addressed to Donald B.K. English, 
Research Social Scientist, Forestry Sciences Laboratory, Forest 
Service, USDA, 320 Green St., Athens, GA 30602, or email: denglish/
[email protected].
    The public may inspect comments at the offices of Donald English, 
Research Work Unit SRS-4901, Forest Service, USDA, 320 Green St., 
Athens, GA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donald B.K. English, Southern Research 
Station, at (706) 559-4268.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 requires that 
Federal agencies establish measurable goals and monitor their success 
at meeting those goals. Two items the Forest Service has agreed to 
measure are: (1) the views and satisfaction level of recreational 
visitors to National Forest System lands about the types and quality of 
recreational services the agency provides; and (2) the number of 
visitors who come to National Forest System lands for recreational 
purposes. The agency is often asked for this kind of information from a 
variety of organizations that include Congressional Staffs, newspapers, 
magazines, and recreational trade organizations.
    The currently approved information collection is designed to 
evaluate agency performance in meeting the needs of visitors to 
individual recreational sites, such as the visitor's level of 
satisfaction and evaluation of the agency's ability to meet the 
visitor's recreational needs. However, at present, Forest Service 
personnel are unable to estimate the number of visitors who visit 
National Forest System lands for recreational purposes. The current 
information collection is being revised to meet these agency 
informational needs.
    National Forest System land managers will use the collected 
information to better understand their recreational customers, to 
improve recreational opportunities and services, and to identify 
barriers that prevent the agency from meeting the recreational needs of 
its customers. Data from this information collection also will be 
considered when revising land and resource management plans for 
National Forests, as required by the National Forest Management Act of 
1976. The collected information will be shared with all National Forest 
System land managers and, upon request, with others. Results from this 
collection will be published in agency reports and various research 
journals.

Description of Information Collection

    The following describes the information collection to be extended:
    Title: Customer and Use Survey Techniques for Operations, 
Management, Evaluation, and Research.
    OMB Number: 0596-0110.
    Expiration Date of Approval: December 31, 1999.
    Type of Request: Extension, with revision, of a previously approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: The data from this information collection provides the 
agency with information about the characteristics, desires, needs, and 
opinions of recreational visitors to selected recreational sites on 
National Forest System lands and other public agency lands.
    Agency personnel, contract personnel, and volunteers, trained in 
conducting face-to-face interviews, will contact people who are 
visiting public lands for recreational purposes. Survey questions will 
focus on how well the agency meets visitors' expectations for 
recreational opportunities, their satisfaction with the recreational 
site of their choice, and if they have concerns regarding the agency's 
management of the site.
    Agency land managers will use the collected information to better 
understand their recreational customers, to improve recreational 
opportunities and services, and to identify barriers that prevent the 
agency from meeting the recreational needs of its customers.
    The collected information will be shared with agency land managers 
and upon request, with others.
    Data gathered in this collection is not available from other 
sources.
    Estimate of Burden: 10 minutes.
    Type of Respondents: People who visit National Forest System land 
for recreational purposes.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 9,000.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,500 hours.

Description of Information Collection

    The following describes the new component of a currently 
information collection to be extended:
    Title: National Forest Recreation Use Survey.
    OMB Number: 0596-0110.
    Expiration Date of Approval: December 31, 1999.
    Type of Request: New information collection.
    Abstract: Data from this information collection will be used to 
estimate the numbers of recreational visitors to National Forest System 
lands, as well as the types of activities in which they participate. 
The data also will be used to identify recreational markets and to 
estimate the economic values and impacts of recreational visits.
    Respondents will be asked questions about the activities in which 
they participate while visiting National Forest System lands, the 
duration of their visit, how often they visit, what types of items they 
have purchased during their visit, and the State in which they live.
    Forest Service personnel will interview visitors as they exit 
National Forest System land recreational sites. Surveys will be 
conducted on about one-fourth of the National Forests each year, so 
that complete coverage of agency lands will occur over a 4-year cycle. 
Each National Forest will retain a copy of data collected on its 
visitors. Results of this study will be published in agency reports and 
various research journals.
    Data gathered in this collection is not available from other 
sources.
    Estimate of Burden: 6 minutes.
    Type of Respondents: People who visit the National Forest System 
lands for recreational purposes.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 80,000.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 8,000 hours.

Comment Is Invited

    The agency invites comments on the following: (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 will have practical or scientific utility; (b) 
the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed 
collection of information,

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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: June 17, 1999.
Robert Lewis, Jr.,
Deputy Chief for Research & Development.
[FR Doc. 99-15987 Filed 6-22-99; 8:45 am]
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