[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 130 (Monday, July 8, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45075-45076]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-17043]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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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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  Federal Register / Vol. 67, No. 130 / Monday, July 8, 2002 / 
Notices  

[[Page 45075]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-
Determination Act of 2000

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 an extension of an information collection associated 
with the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 
2000 (Public Law 106-393). Annually, each State Treasurer for those 
States containing National Forest System lands is requested to notify 
the Forest Service, by September 30, of the projected payment 
distributions to each county and, when required, each county's elected 
proportion of funds for Title II or for Title III of the act. Every two 
years, these States are also asked to provide the Forest Service with 
information on which counties elect to continue receiving their share 
of the State's payment under the 25 percent fund (16 U.S.C. 500) and 
which counties elect to receive their share of the State's full payment 
amount under the 2000 act.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before September 6, 
2002 to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date 
will be considered to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: Comments concerning this notice should be addressed to the 
Director, Policy Analysis Staff, Forest Service, USDA, Mail Stop 1131, 
1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-1131.
    Comments also may be submitted to the Director via facsimile 
transmission to (202) 205-1074 or by e-mail to [email protected].
    The public may inspect comments received at Forest Service 
headquarters in the Yates Federal Building, 201 14th Street, SW., Room 
1 SW., Washington, DC, during normal business hours. Visitors are 
encouraged to call (202) 205-1775 to facilitate entry to the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Quinn, Policy Analysis Unit, (202) 
205-1775 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 
Standard Time, Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Description of Information Collection

    Title: Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 
2000.
    OMB Number: 0596-0165.
    Expiration Date of Approval: 3/31/2002.
    Type of Request: Extension with no revision.
    Abstract: On May 23, 1908, the U.S. Congress enacted 16 U.S.C. 500, 
which created what is commonly known as the Twenty-Five Percent Fund. 
Under this act, States receive payment from the Federal Government of 
twenty-five percent of the revenues generated from the national forests 
that are located within their borders. On October 30, 2000, the 
Congress enacted the Secure Rural Schools, and Community Self-
Determination Act (Public Law 106-393; hereafter, the act), which is 
intended to restore stability and predictability to the annual payments 
made to States and counties containing National Forest System lands and 
public domain lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Like the 
25 percent fund, the counties may use the proceeds only for the benefit 
of public schools, roads, and other purposes.
    The Secretary of Agriculture is directed to implement the act. 
Under the act, eligible counties and their States need to reach an 
agreement on the distribution of funds authorized by the act and the 
amount that each county will receive as its share of the State's full 
payment amount. Counties will need to determine whether they wish to 
continue to receive their share of the State's twenty-five percent 
payment or whether they choose their share of the State's full payment 
amount through the act. A decision to receive a share of the State's 25 
percent payment is effective for two years; a decision to receive a 
share of the act's full payment amount stays in effect through fiscal 
year 2006.
    Those counties choosing the full payment and receiving more than 
$100,000 under the act are required to make an election regarding the 
proportion of their funds (between fifteen and twenty percent) to be 
applied to Title II or Title III of the act. Title II allows the funds 
paid under the act to be used for special projects on Federal lands 
that meet the requirements described in Title II of the act, and Title 
III allows the funds to be spent on county projects that meet the 
requirements described under Title III of the act. Annually, each State 
Treasurer is requested to notify the Forest Service, by September 30, 
of the projected payment distributions to each county and, when 
required, each county's elected proportion of funds for Title II or for 
Title III.
    Upon receipt, the Forest Service will evaluate the information from 
States in order to properly implement the act. States and counties must 
provide the requested information in order for the Forest Service to 
properly calculate and distribute the State's full payment amount 
authorized by Public Law 106-393 and, by extension, provide counties 
with their commensurate share of that full payment amount. This 
information collection is a vital and integral part of the Forest 
Service's ability to implement the act. Failure to implement the act 
would potentially lead to unnecessary harm to those schools and 
counties that benefit from the funds.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: 30 minutes.
    Type of Respondents: State Treasurers and Counties.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 41.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 22 hours per year.

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

[[Page 45076]]

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 information collection 
submission for Office of Management and Budget approval.

    Dated: July 2, 2002.
Elizabeth Estill,
Deputy Chief, Programs and Legislation.
[FR Doc. 02-17043 Filed 7-5-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P