[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 110 (Wednesday, June 7, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36108-36109]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-14218]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 110 / Wednesday, June 7, 2000 / 
Notices  

[[Page 36108]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Request for Comments; Woodsy Owl Official 
Licensee Royalty Statement

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 an information 
collection. The information will enable the Forest Service to collect 
royalty fees for the commercial use of the Woodsy Owl symbol and to 
assess the effectiveness of licensing the Woodsy Owl symbol for 
commercial use. Information will be collected from individuals and from 
for-profit businesses and non-profit organizations.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before August 7, 
2000.

ADDRESSES: All comments should be addressed to the Office of Education 
Conservation, National Symbols Coordinator, Forest Service, USDA, P.O. 
Box 96090, Washington, D.C. 20090-6090.
    Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to (202) 690-5658 or 
by email to: Education_Conservation/[email protected].
    The public may inspect comments received at the Office of Education 
Conservation, Room 1SE, Forest Service, USDA, 201 14th Street SW., 
Washington, D.C. Visitors are urged to call ahead to (202) 205-5681 to 
facilitate entrance into the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roberta Hilbruner, Conservation 
Education, at (202) 205-5681.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Woodsy Owl-Smoky Bear Act of 1974 established the Woodsy Owl 
symbol and slogan, authorized the Forest Service to manage the use of 
the slogan and symbol, authorized the licensing of the symbol for 
commercial use, and provided for continued protection of the symbol by 
stating that Woodsy Owl may only be used by permission of the Forest 
Service. Part 272 of Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations 
authorizes the Chief of the Forest Service to approve commercial use of 
the Woodsy Owl symbol and to collect of royalty fees for such use. 
Woodsy Owl may be replicated as a plush toy and the Woodsy Owl symbol 
or logo may be replicated on items such as tee shirts, mugs, pins, 
figurines, ornaments, storybooks, stickers, and toys.
    The message to the public inherent with the Woodsy Owl symbol is 
about caring for the environment (Thus the slogans ``Give a Hoot, Don't 
Pollute'' and ``Lend a Hand, Care for the Land''). The goal of Woodsy 
Owl is to inspire children to observe the natural world around them, 
teach children ecological principles, and motivate children to join in 
specific actions to help care for the environment.

Description of Information Collection

    The following describes the information collection to be 
reinstated:
    Title: Woodsy Owl Official Licensee Royalty Statement.
    OMB Number: 0596-0087.
    Expiration Date of Approval: October 31, 1999.
    Type of Request: Reinstatement of an information collection 
previously approved by the Office of Management and Budget.
    Abstract: The Forest Service National Symbols Coordinator will 
evaluate the data to determine if an individual, corporation, or 
organization, requesting a license to use the Woodsy Owl symbol 
commercially, should be granted a license or, if currently licensed, to 
determine the royalty fee the licensed entity must pay to the agency 
based on a percentage of the licensee's total sales and whether the 
licensed entity has met its stated objectives.
    An individual or corporation may apply for a Woodsy Owl license by 
contacting Forest Service personnel by telephone, fax, e-mail, or by 
writing to the address listed in the address section of this notice. In 
the course of communicating with the potential applicant, the agency 
will learn how long the individual, corporation, or organization has 
been in business; the products the individual, corporation or 
organization sells or plans to sell; the geographical location from 
which the products will be sold; the projected sales volume; and how 
the individual, corporation, or organization plans to market the 
products.
    If Forest Service personnel determine that granting a license to 
the individual, corporation, or organization for the purpose of using 
the Woodsy Owl symbol for commercial use would be in the best interest 
of the agency and would promote the Woodsy Owl messages, a license 
contract would be mailed to the individual, corporation or 
organization. The contract would have to be completed and returned to 
the Forest Service. Once the contract has been by signed by an 
authorized Forest Service employee and by the individual or the 
corporate or organizational representative, the newly licensed entity 
will have to submit to the Forest Service the agreed upon advanced 
guaranteed royalty payment. The individual, corporation, or 
organization also will submit a quarterly report to the agency, using 
the Woodsy Owl Licensee Royalty Statement Form, along with any royalty 
fees garnered from sales that have exceeded the advanced guaranteed 
royalty payment.
    When making the quarterly reports, individuals, corporations, or 
organizations will be asked to provide information that includes the 
following: a list of each item that will be sold with the Woodsy Owl 
symbol; the projected sales of each item; the price at which each item 
will be sold; the total sales amount subject to the agency royalty fee; 
the royalty fee due based on sales quantity and price; a description 
and itemization of any deductions, such as fees waived or previously 
paid as part of the advance royalty payment which is their sales 
quantity guarantee; the new total royalty fee the business or 
organization must pay after deductions; the running total amount of 
royalties accrued in that fiscal year; and the typed name and signature 
of the business or organizational employee certifying the truth of the 
report.
    Data gathered in this information collection are not available from 
other sources.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: 30 minutes.

[[Page 36109]]

    Type of Respondents: For-profit businesses and non-profit 
organizations currently holding a Woodsy Owl license or applying for 
such license.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 10.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 4.
    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 
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: June 1, 2000.
Robin L. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Chief, State and Private Forestry.
[FR Doc. 00-14218 Filed 6-6-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P