[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 190 (Friday, October 1, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 53311]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-25630]



[[Page 53311]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Request for Comments; Public Perceptions 
of Pacific Northwest National Forest System Land Management Practices

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 intention to establish a new information 
collection. This information will help the Forest Service learn more 
about the people who live in western Washington, western Oregon, and 
northern California and who visit the National Forests.

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

ADDRESSES: All comments should be addressed to: Linda Kruger, Research 
Social Scientist, Seattle Forestry Sciences Laboratory, Forest Service, 
USDA, 4043 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105.
    Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to (206) 553-7709 or 
by email to lkruger/[email protected].
    The public may inspect comments received at the Office of the 
Director, Seattle Forestry Sciences Laboratory, Forest Service, USDA, 
4043 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle, Washington.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Linda Kruger, Seattle Forestry 
Sciences Laboratory, at (206) 553-7817.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    In 1994, the Forest Service adopted the Northwest Forest Plan in 
response to perceptions the public had that Forest Service land 
management practices on National Forests in western Washington, western 
Oregon and northern California might have negative impacts on timber 
resources and threatened and endangered species, such as the northern 
spotted owl.
    The Northwest Forest Plan includes new guidelines, such as whether 
or not to harvest trees, and if trees are harvested, the geographic 
location from which they may be harvested, as well as the methods that 
may be used to harvest them.
    Forest Service personnel now need a better understanding as to 
whether or not the new guidelines meet the natural resource management 
expectations of the public.

Description of Information Collection

    The following describes the new information collection:
    Title: Public Perceptions of New Approaches to Forest Management.
    OMB Number: New.
    Expiration Date of Approval: New.
    Type of Request: The following describes a new collection 
requirement and has not received approval by the Office of Management 
and Budget.
    Abstract: The data from this information collection will help the 
Forest Service gain a better understanding of the western Washington, 
western Oregon, and northern California residents' perceptions of the 
agency's land management practices on the National Forests in these 
areas, such as how the agency decides where timber harvests will occur 
and how the agency manages the harvests.
    The Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station People and 
Natural Resources Program has entered into a cooperative agreement with 
the University of Oregon to facilitate this collection of information. 
University of Oregon staff, in collaboration with Forest Service 
Pacific Northwest Research Station staff, will write the survey, 
administer the survey, and analyze the survey results.
    Residents in western Washington, western Oregon, and northern 
California will be asked to view photographs of forests that have been 
harvested using a variety of harvesting methods; residents also will 
view photographs of forests that have not been harvested. Interviewers 
will explain why certain areas were chosen for timber harvesting and 
the reasons for the specific harvesting method. The residents will 
indicate their level of approval or disapproval for each photograph, in 
addition to their perceptions of how a particular harvesting method or 
lack of harvesting affected the scenic beauty of the area, the wildlife 
habitat, or the water quality.
    Residents will be asked which of the National Forest resources are 
most important to them: the recreational facilities, the potential 
economic opportunities, or the aesthetic qualities. Residents also will 
be asked to respond to questions about their ethnic background, their 
economic status, their age, their educational level, the type of 
residence in which they live, and how long they have lived in the 
Pacific Northwest.
    Data gathered in this information collection is not available from 
other sources.
    Estimate of Burden: 20 minutes.
    Type of Respondents: Respondents will include people who live in 
rural and urban settings in western Oregon, western Washington, and 
northern California, and members of organizations interested in 
management of the National Forests in western Oregon, western 
Washington and northern California.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1700.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 567 hours.

Comment is Invited

    The agency invites comments on: (a) whether the proposed collection 
of information is necessary for the stated purposes or the proper 
performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the 
information will have practical or scientific utility; (b) the accuracy 
of this 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 or 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 will 
also become a matter of public record.

    Dated: September 23, 1999.
Robert Lewis, Jr.,
Deputy Chief for Research & Development.
 [FR DOC 99-25630 Filed 9-30-99; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-11-P