[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 105 (Friday, May 31, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38062-38063]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-13692]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Day Use on the National Forests of 
Southern California

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for comment.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals and 
organizations on extending the agency's information collection 
regarding day use on the national forests of southern California.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before July 30, 2002. 
Comments received after that date will be considered to the extent 
practicable.

ADDRESSES: Comments concerning this notice should be addressed to Dr. 
Deborah J. Chavez, Pacific Southwest Research Station, 4955 Canyon 
Crest Drive, Riverside, CA 92507. Comments also may be submitted via 
facsimile to (909) 680-1501 or send an e-mail to [email protected].
    The public may inspect comments received at the Pacific Southwest 
Research Station's Riverside Fire Lab at 4955 Canyon Crest Drive, 
Riverside, CA, during normal business hours (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 
Pacific Standard Time, Monday through Friday). Visitors are encouraged 
to call (909) 680-1500 to facilitate entry to the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Deborah J. Chavez, Pacific 
Southwest Research Station, (909) 680-1558 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 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through 
Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Description of Information Collection

    Title: Day Use on the National Forests of Southern California.
    OMB Number: 0596-0129.
    Expiration Date of Approval: 10/31/2002.
    Type of Request: Extension.
    Abstract: Users of national forests near urban areas in southern 
California come from a variety of ethnic/racial, income, age, 
educational, and other socio-demographic backgrounds. These socio-
demographic differences affect the activities people pursue on national 
forest lands, the sources of information about national forests people 
utilize, and the site attributes people prefer. Past studies completed 
through the previously approved collection of information have provided 
baseline information from which managers have made decisions, revised 
forest plans, and renovated/redesigned recreation sites. Additional 
information is needed for the managers of national forests in southern 
California to validate previous results and to address the continuously 
changing profile of the visitor population recreating on the national

[[Page 38063]]

forests of southern California. In the absence of the information 
potentially gained from the proposed information collection, the Forest 
Service will be ill-equipped to implement management changes required 
to respond to the needs and preferences of day-use visitors.
    Data will be collected from visitors at outdoor recreation day-use 
sites (these include developed picnic areas, general forest day-use 
sites, off-road staging areas, trails, etc.) on national forests in 
southern California. Sites, dates of data collection, and individuals 
participating in the study will be randomly selected for inclusion in 
the study. Survey instruments will be available in English and Spanish 
and bilingual research teams will collect the data. Participation in 
this study is voluntary. The amount of time for completion of a survey 
is estimated at approximately 15 minutes or less. Participants will 
answer questions on the following topics: socio-demographic profile, 
national forest visitation history and patterns, activity patterns, 
information and communication, site amenities/characteristics, 
knowledge of place, sense of place/perceptions of place, and general 
comments. In addition to adjusting management of forests in southern 
California, results have been presented at local, national, and 
international meetings. If the Forest Service continues to gather this 
information, it will be utilized in a similar manner as in previous 
studies. In addition, the information collected will provide 
opportunities for comparisons of visitor profiles and use over time. 
Data will be evaluated and analyzed at the Pacific Southwest Research 
Station. The consequences of not collecting this data would be: (1) 
Decreased service delivery due to decreased quality and breadth of 
information provided to resource managers on the socio-demographic 
profile of visitors, visitation history and patterns, information and 
communication, site amenities/characteristics, knowledge of place, and 
sense of place/perceptions of place; (2) decreased ability of the 
research unit to continue and expand approved and assigned study topics 
such as understanding visitor profiles; (3) an increase in the amount 
of time the research unit needs to answer inquiries from managers and 
university contacts; (4) increased dependency on cooperator 
availability to carry out the research unit mission; and (5) loss of 
information represented in follow-up longitudinal studies.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: 15 minutes per respondent.
    Type of Respondents: Recreation visitors to national forests near 
urban areas in southern California.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 600 per year.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1 per year.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 150 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 Department's submission 
to the Office of Management and Budget for approval.

    Dated: May 24, 2002.
Robert Lewis, Jr.,
Deputy Chief, Research & Development.
[FR Doc. 02-13692 Filed 5-30-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P