[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 190 (Friday, October 1, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 53310]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-25629]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Request for Comments; Forest Service 
Stewardship Programs Demographics

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Forest Service announces its intention to seek approval for a 
collection of demographic information on non-industrial private forest 
owners, who participate in the following two Forest Service State and 
Private Forestry programs: the Forest Stewardship Program and the 
Stewardship Incentive Program. This demographic information will help 
ensure that these agency programs serve eligible landowners without 
regard to race, ethnicity, gender, or disability status.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before November 30, 
1999.

ADDRESSES: All comments should be addressed to: Stewardship 
Coordinator, Cooperative Forestry Staff, Mail Stop 1123, Forest 
Service, USDA, P.O. Box 96090, Washington, D.C. 20090-6090.
    Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to (202) 205-1271 or 
by email to: cf/[email protected].
    The public may inspect comments received at the Office of the 
Director, Cooperative Forestry Staff, Forest Service, USDA, 201 14th 
Street, SW, Washington, D.C. Visitors are urged to call ahead to 
facilitate entrance into the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Stein, Cooperative Forestry 
Staff, at (202) 205-0837.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Description of Information Collection

    The following describes the new information collection:
    Title: Stewardship Incentive Program Participant Demographics.
    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 Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act (16 U.S.C., 21 
03B) authorizes the Forest Service to provide technical and financial 
assistance to non-industrial private forest (NIPF) owners under the 
Forest Stewardship and Stewardship Incentive Programs.
    The Forest Stewardship Program is the program that helps NIPF 
landowners prepare the forest stewardship plans for their land. 
Landowners need a completed forest stewardship plan to become eligible 
to receive cost-share dollars under the Stewardship Incentive Program.
    The Stewardship Incentive Program is the program that assists NIPF 
owners with up to 75 percent of the funding on a cost-share basis to 
implement forest stewardship plan practices. Both programs are 
administered cooperatively with State forestry agencies.
    Under this information collection, participants, enrolled in either 
of these programs, will be asked by their State forestry or State 
natural resource agency to voluntarily complete a Stewardship Program 
Participant Demographics Form. Program participants will answer 
questions that include their race, their ethnicity, their gender, and 
whether or not they have a disability.
    The data collected will help the Forest Service evaluate the 
effectiveness of its outreach efforts to involve representative 
segments of society in Forest Stewardship Program and Stewardship 
Incentive Program.
    The data in this information collection are not available from 
other sources.
    Estimate of burden: 5 minutes.
    Type of respondents: Non-industrial private forest owners.
    Estimated number of respondents: 18,500.
    Estimated number of responses per respondent: 1.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 1,542 hours.

Comment is Invited

    The agency invites comments on the following: (a) Whether the 
proposed collection of information is necessary for the stated purpose 
or 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, 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 the 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 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 13, 1999.
Larry Payne,
Associate Deputy Chief, State and Private Forestry.
[FR Doc. 99-25629 Filed 9-30-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-U