[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 153 (Wednesday, August 8, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 41494]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-19804]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 153 / Wednesday, August 8, 2001 / 
Notices  

[[Page 41494]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Public Land Uses and Values

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals and 
organizations on a new information collection associated with an agency 
research project to study social and economic impacts of public land 
and resource management in general terms. This study requires 
administration of a survey to a statistical sample of the general 
public.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before October 9, 
2001 to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date 
will be considered to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Dr. Daniel W. McCollum, USDA 
Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, 2150-A Centre Ave., 
Suite 350, Fort Collins, CO 80526-1891. Comments also may be submitted 
by e-mail to [email protected] or by facsimile to (970) 295-5959. The 
public may inspect comments received at the address given previously. 
Visitors are urged to call ahead to (970) 295-5962 to facilitate 
entrance into the office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Daniel W. McCollum, Rocky Mountain 
Research Station at (970) 295-5962, [email protected] or Mary Ann 
Ball, Forest Service Information Collection Coordinator at (703) 605-
4572, or [email protected]. Individuals who use telecommunication 
devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay 
Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern 
Daylight Time, Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Public Land Uses and Values.
    OMB Number: 0596-New.
    Type of Request: New.
    Abstract: As part of a continuing research effort to develop and 
evaluate alternative approaches and methods for obtaining and 
incorporating public input into land and resource management decisions, 
this information collection will be focused mainly on people and their 
use of public lands. The information collected will help Forest Service 
and public land managers better understand how and why members of the 
general public do or do not use public lands for recreation or other 
purposes. It will contribute to the assessment of economic and social 
impacts of public land management in general terms and to the 
evaluation of the efficiency, effectiveness, and public acceptability 
of public land management.
    This collection of information will include three aspects of public 
preferences, which are: (1) Objectives (comprised of values and desired 
outcomes) and preferences related to public land and public land 
management, (2) land attributes and people's behaviors and perceived 
consequences that can be linked to policy and management alternatives 
(in particular, measurable indicators of changes caused or prevented by 
policy and management actions), and (3) identification of how people 
evaluate the measured indicators of policy and management outcomes and 
consequences.
    Surveys will be administered primarily by mail, although some 
telephone contacts and some very brief in-person contacts may be used 
in particular instances or case studies. Administration of surveys via 
the World Wide Web/Internet will be considered if and when appropriate. 
Respondents will be asked to complete an optional questionnaire 
containing questions about how, why, and where they use public land, 
how they think public land should be managed, and their preferences 
related to management tradeoffs. Both those who use public land and 
members of the general public who do not use these lands will be 
surveyed to provide a broad base of information.
    Forest Service researchers and researchers at cooperating agencies 
and institutions who are specialists in economics, social science, 
outdoor recreation, survey research, and statistics will design and 
develop the surveys and collect and analyze the information.
    This survey is necessary to provide land managers with reliable 
information on the public they serve. With the results of this survey, 
managers and planners will broaden and deepen their understanding of 
the public perceptions of various land management practices and impacts 
of those practices.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: 30 minutes per respondent.
    Type of Respondents: Individuals visiting or using public lands and 
randomly selected members of the general public.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 8,000.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: One.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 4,000 hours.

Comment Is Invited

    Comment is invited on: (1) Whether this 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; (2) the accuracy of the agency's 
estimate of the burden of the collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance 
the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; 
and (4) 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.
    All comments received in response to this notice, including names 
and addresses when provided, will be a matter of public record. 
Comments will be summarized and included in the submission for Office 
of Management and Budget approval.

    Dated: July 30, 2001.
Robert Lewis, Jr.,
Deputy Chief for Research & Development.
[FR Doc. 01-19804 Filed 8-7-01; 8:45 am]
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