[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 73 (Friday, April 14, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20131-20132]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-9290]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Request for Comments; Timber Purchasers' 
Costs and Sales Data

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 reinstate a previously 
approved information collection. The collected information will help 
the Forest Service facilitate the appraisal and sale of timber on 
National Forest System lands. Information will be collected from 
purchasers of this timber.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before June 13, 2000.

ADDRESSES: All comments should be addressed to Rex Baumback, Forest 
Management, Mail Stop 1105, Forest Service, USDA, P.O. Box 96090, 
Washington, D.C. 20090-6090.
    Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to (202) 205-1045 or 
by email to: [email protected].
    The public may inspect comments received in the Office of the 
Director, Forest Management Staff, Forest Service, USDA, Room 3NW, 
Yates Building, 201 14th Street, SW, Washington, D.C. Callers are urged 
to call ahead to facilitate entrance into the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rex Baumback, Timber Sale Contract 
Administration Specialist, Forest Management, at (202) 205-0855.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Multiple-Use Sustained Yield Act of 1960, the Forest Rangeland 
Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974, and the National Forest 
Management Act of 1976 authorize the Forest Service to sell forest 
products and National Forest System timber.
    Forest Service timber appraisers develop advertised timber sale 
prices using a transaction evidence method of appraisal. Transaction 
evidence appraisals begin with an average of past successful bids by 
timber purchasers for timber for which the stumpage rate has been 
adjusted for the timber sale and the market conditions at the time. The 
Forest Service transaction evidence appraisal system includes costs 
incurred by the timber purchaser to log the timber and get the logged 
timber to the lumber mill.
    The Western Wood Products Association (WWPA) cooperates with the 
agency to evaluate the lumber and other products values, provided by 
the timber purchasers to the WWPA, which the Forest Service uses to 
develop average value information for transaction evidence appraisals. 
This average value information enables Forest Service appraisers to 
better estimate the fair market value of a particular sale of National 
Forest System timber and helps the appraisers develop the prices that 
are advertised in local newspapers for the timber sale. The timber will 
be sold at not less than the appraised value and not below a minimum 
stumpage rate established by the Chief.
    Timber purchasers also provide information on product values. 
Product values are the values of products that result from the 
harvested timber, such as lumber chips, plywood, and pressed board. The 
value of these products may vary from one geographical location to 
another. In many areas, product values may be purchased from the 
Western Wood Products Association.

Description of Information Collection

    The following describes the information collection to be 
reinstated:
    Title: Timber Purchasers' Costs and Sales Data.
    OMB Number: 0596-0017.
    Expiration Date of Approval: September 30, 1998.
    Type of Request: Reinstatement of an information collection 
previously approved by the Office of Management and Budget.
    Abstract: Forest Service personnel will evaluate the collected 
information to facilitate the appraisal and sale of timber on National 
Forest System lands.
    Forest Service timber appraisers will use a transaction evidence 
method of appraisal to update the selling values and advertised rates 
of National Forest System timber.
    The Forest Service transaction evidence appraisal system includes 
costs incurred by the timber purchaser to log the timber and get the 
logged timber to the lumber mill. Timber purchasers will provide 
incurred cost information, upon written request from the Forest 
Service. The costs incurred by timber purchasers should include items 
similar to the following: (1) falling and bucking, (2) skidding and 
loading, and (3) hauling. The Forest Service will share this cost data 
with States and other Federal agencies for their use in developing 
appraisals of timber sales.
    Forest Service personnel also will request product value 
information from timber sale purchasers. Timber purchasers will provide 
both the cost data and the product value information via surface mail 
or electronic mail, using their own report formats. Some timber sale 
purchasers, instead of sending the requested information to the agency, 
will provide on-site access to Forest Service personnel, so the 
information may be retrieved from the timber purchasers' files or 
electronic databases.
    Data gathered in this information collection are not available from 
other sources.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: 1 hour.
    Type of Respondents: Purchasers of National Forest System timber.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 20.
    Estimated Annual 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 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

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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: April 7, 2000.
James R. Furnish,
Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 00-9290 Filed 4-13-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P