[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 41 (Wednesday, March 1, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11033-11034]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-4863]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Reinstatement of a Previously Approved Information Collection; 
Request for Comments; Visitor's Permit Form FS-2300-30 and Visitor 
Registration Card FS-2300-32

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Forest Service announces its intention to request reinstatement of a 
peviously approved information collection for Visitor's Permit Form FS-
2300-30 and Visitor Registration Card Form FS-2300-32. The collected 
information will help the Forest Service ensure that visitors' use of 
National Forest System lands is in the public interest and is 
compatible with the mission of the agency. Information will be 
collected from National Forest System land visitors, who will be asked 
to describe their intended use of the land and their estimated duration 
of use.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before May 1, 2000.

ADDRESSES: All comments should be addressed to the Wilderness Program 
Manager; Recreation, Heritage, and Wilderness Resources Staff; Mail 
Drop 1125; Forest Service, USDA; P.O. Box 96090; Washington, DC 20090-
6090.
    Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to (202) 205-1145 or 
by email to jstokes/[email protected].
    The public may inspect comments in the Office of the Director, 
Recreation, Heritage, and Wilderness Resources Staff, 201 14th Street, 
SW, Washington DC Visitors are encouraged to call (202) 205-1706 to 
facilitate entrance into the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jerry Stokes, Wilderness Program 
Manager, Recreation, Heritage, and Wilderness Resources Staff at (202) 
205-0925.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Organic Administration Act (16 U.S.C. 473), Wilderness Act (16 
U.S.C. 1131), Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1271), and 
Executive Order 11644 of February 8, 1972, (Use of Off-Road Vehicles on 
the Public Lands) authorize the Forest Service to manage National 
Forest System lands to benefit the land and the people for present and 
future generations.
    Each year, millions of people visit National Forest System lands. 
These lands include wilderness and special management areas, such as 
wild and scenic rivers, restricted off-road vehicle areas, and 
campgrounds. Access to many of these areas requires reservations and/or 
permits.
    The Forest Service developed Visitor's Permit Form FS-2300-30 and 
Visitor Registration Card Form FS-2300-32 to facilitate visitor access 
to wilderness and special management areas. Forest Service personnel 
collect information from visitors as they register or apply for permits 
to use or visit wilderness or special management areas.
    Visitors will be asked to provide their name and address, the site 
they plan to visit, their expected length of stay, the number of people 
in their group, their point of entry and point of exit, their primary 
method of travel, the number of pack or saddle animals they plan to 
bring, and number of watercraft or vehicles they plan to bring.
    Data gathered in this information collection is not available from 
other sources.

Description of Information Collection

    The following describes the information collection to be 
reinstated:
    Title: FS-2300-30, Visitor's Permit.
    OMB Number: 0596-0019.
    Expiration Date of Approval: October 31, 1999.
    Type of Request: This is a request for reinstatement of an 
information collection previously authorized by the Office of 
Management and Budget.
    Abstract: The Forest Service will analyze the collected data to 
identify the National Forest System lands and wilderness areas most 
frequently visited by the public.
    Visitor's Permit Form FS-2300-30 will be used only where public 
access must be managed and/or monitored to prevent damage to the 
natural resources, to preserve the quality of the visitor's experience, 
or to provide for public safety.
    When asking visitors to complete Form FS-2300-30, Forest Service 
personnel will take the opportunity to discuss with visitors how they 
can protect the natural resources while visiting, proper camping 
techniques they should use, fire prevention, safety, and sanitation 
requirements. The very

[[Page 11034]]

issuance of this permit will provide information that will help the 
Forest Service identify the wilderness and special management areas 
that will be visited most frequently and will provide the agency with 
opportunities to encourage people to visit less popular sites.
    To determine the estimate of burden, three Forest Service employees 
not familiar with the form were requested to individually complete 
Visitor's Permit Form FS-2300-30.
    Estimate of Burden: 3 minutes.
    Type of Respondents: Individuals and groups requesting use of 
National Forest System wilderness and special management areas.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 100,000.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 5,000 hours.

Description of Information Collection

    The following describes the information collection to be 
reinstated:
    Title: FS-2300-32, Visitor Registration Card.
    OMB Number: 0596-0019.
    Expiration Date of Approval: October 31, 1999.
    Type of Request: This is a request for reinstatement of an 
information collection previously authorized by the Office of 
Management and Budget.
    Abstract: The Visitor Registration Card FS-2300-32, like the 
Visitor Permit Form FS-2300-30, will provide the Forest Service with 
information that will help the agency identify National Forest System 
wilderness and special management areas most frequently visited and 
will provide the agency with opportunities to encourage people to visit 
less popular sites. Completing the Visitor Registration Card will be a 
voluntary exercise by visitors; it is not a requirement for visitation 
to a site.
    Visitor Registration Cards will be available to visitors at field 
locations, such as trailheads. Visitors will complete the cards and 
place them in a container designed for that purpose.
    To determine the estimate of burden, one Forest Service employee 
not familiar with the form was asked to complete the Visitor 
Registration Card FS-2300-32.
    Estimate of Burden: 3 minutes.
    Type of Respondents: Individuals and groups visiting National 
Forest System wilderness and special management areas.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 210,000 respondents.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 10,500 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, 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 names 
and addresses when provided, will become a matter of public record. 
Comments will be summarized and included in the request for Office of 
Management and Budget approval.

    Dated: February 22, 2000.
Paul Brouha,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest Systems.
[FR Doc. 00-4863 Filed 2-29-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P