[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 183 (Friday, September 20, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59246-59247]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-23858]


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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. 183 / Friday, September 20, 2002 / 
Notices  

[[Page 59246]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Approval of New Information Collection for Forest Land 
Enhancement Program

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Forest Service announces its intent to seek approval of a new 
information collection to implement the recently enacted Forest Land 
Enhancement Program. This information collection consists of 7 
components: (1) Forest Land Enhancement Program State priority plans; 
(2) State program accomplishment reports; (3) landowner management 
plans; (4) applications for cost-share payments; (5) program assignment 
of payment, (6) IRS income reporting requirements for participants; and 
(7) Power of Attorney forms.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before November 19, 
2002.

ADDRESSES: All comments should be addressed to: Cooperative Forestry 
Staff, Forest Service, USDA, Stop Code 1123, 1400 Independence Avenue, 
SW., Washington, DC 20250-1123.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hal Brockman, Cooperative Forestry 
Staff at (202) 205-1694, or Susan Stein, Cooperative Forestry Staff at 
(202) 205-0837.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Forest Service is seeking approval for a 
new information collection to implement a new landowner assistance 
program recently authorized through the Farm Security and Rural 
Investment Act of 2002. The first two collections (State Priority Plans 
and State Accomplishments Reports) are necessary for the Forest Service 
to manage the Forest Land Enhancement Program (also referred to as the 
Program), which, by law, is implemented through State forestry 
agencies. The third collection (Management Plans) will be used by State 
forestry agencies to assure landowner eligibility for the Program.
    The remainder of the information (Application for Cost-Share 
Payments, Assignment of Payment, Power of Attorney 1, Power of Attorney 
2, and Payment Limitation Requirements) will be collected from 
landowners requesting cost-share funds. Only the first form is 
mandatory for all applicants. In some States, this information may be 
collected by the Farm Services Agency. In other States, this 
information or similar information may be collected through State-
managed or State-contracted services.
    For the purposes of the Program, the term ``State'' includes any of 
the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico, the Virgin Islands of the United States, Guam, American Samoa, 
and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
    Data gathered in this information collection is not available from 
other sources.

Description of Information Collections

    1. Title: State Priority Plan.
    OMB Number: 0596-New.
    Type of request: Approval of a new information collection.
    Abstract: The State priority plan will describe how the Program 
will be implemented in each State. Plans describe (1) how this program 
complements other USDA programs; (2) the distribution of available 
funding for administration, resource management expertise/technical 
assistance, education, and cost-share; (3) how cost-share funds shall 
be made available to eligible participants; (4) ownership and acreage 
limitations; (5) what constitutes a management plan (which is required 
if a landowner is to receive cost-share assistance for practice 
implementation); (6) landowner cost-share payment limitations; (7) 
elegible cost-share practices; (8) how funds may be distributed to 
participants; and (9) program application and reimbursement processes.
    Estimate of burden: 284 hours.
    Type of respondents: Plans are prepared by State forestry staff 
with input from members of State Forest Stewardship Coordination 
Committees (which include representatives of Federal and State 
agencies, private landowners, and forestry/conservation organizations).
    Estimated number of responses per respondent: 1 plan per State.
    Estimated total burden on respondents: 16,756 hours.
    2. Title: State Accomplishment Reports.
    OMB Number: 0596-New.
    Type of request: Approval of a new information collection.
    Abstract: State Program accomplishment reports will provide 
statistics on various aspects of program implementation such as the 
number of acres and ownerships treated, numbers of technical site 
visits provided, and numbers of workshops held.
    Estimate of burden: 40.6 hours.
    Type of respondents: Accomplishments reports are prepared by State 
forestry staff.
    Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 2 per State.
    Estimated total burden on respondents: 4,791 hours.
    3. Title: Landowner Management Plan.
    OMB Number: 0596-New.
    Type of request: Approval of a new information collection.
    Abstract: The landowner management plan is typically prepared by a 
State forestry agency (or a certified forestry consultant hired by a 
State forestry agency), with input from the forest owner. The plan lays 
out management objectives for the forest or stand in question.
    Estimate of burden: 4 hours.
    Type of respondents: Non-industrial private forest owners.
    Estimated number of respondents: 8,300.
    Estimated number of responses per respondent: 1 per plan.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 33,200 hours.
    4. Title: Application for Cost-share Payments.
    OMB Number: 0596-New.
    Type of Request: Approval of a new information collection.
    Abstract: This information is collected from landowners applying 
for cost-share payments as well as from State forestry personnel and is 
used to track the implementation of cost-share practices. The 
information is used to describe the practice to be cost-shared,

[[Page 59247]]

record the estimated timing of practice completion, verify practice 
completion, determine landowner eligibility, identify the location of 
the property, record the cost-share amount approved, and several other 
administrative aspects of program management. Landowners also provide 
signatures to verify that they have covered a specified cost of the 
practice. The landowner also signs a statement agreeing to refund all 
or part of the cost-share assistance received if, before the specified 
practice lifespan, the landowner destroys the approved practice, or 
voluntarily relinquishes control over the land and the new owner or 
operator of the land does not agree in writing to properly maintain the 
practice for the remainder of the lifespan.
    Estimate of burden: 15 minutes.
    Type of respondents: Non-industrial private forest owners.
    Estimated number of respondents: 8,300.
    Estimated number of responses per respondent: 1.5 per form.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 3113 hours.
    5. Title: Assignment of Payment.
    OMB Number: 0596-New.
    Type of request: Approval of a new information collection.
    Abstract: This information is collected to assign cost-share 
payment to a third party at the request of a program participant. 
Information includes the payment amount assigned, and the names, 
addresses, and signatures of assignor and assignee.
    Estimate of burden: 10 minutes.
    Type of respondents: Non-industrial private forest owners.
    Estimated number of respondents: 8,300.
    Estimated number of responses per respondent: 1 per form.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 1383 hours.
    6. Title: Power of Attorney, Form 1.
    OMB Number: 0596-New.
    Type of request: Approval of a new information collection.
    Abstract: This information is used to appoint power of attorney for 
the landowner. The landowner indicates whether power of attorney is 
being granted for (1) all actions; (2) the signing of an application; 
(3) the receiving of payments; (4) pledge of agreements; (5) the making 
of reports; or (6) ``other''. It includes a signature by the landowner 
and witnesses.
    Estimate of burden: 5 minutes.
    Type of respondents: Non-industrial private forest owners.
    Estimated number of respondents: 8,300.
    Estimated number of responses per respondent: 1 per form.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 692 hours.
    7. Title: Power of Attorney, Form 2.
    OMB Number: 0596-New.
    Type of request: Approval of a new information collection.
    Abstract: This information is provided by participants who are 
husband and wife and who wish to assign each other power of attorney. 
It includes signatures by the husband and wife.
    Estimate of burden: 5 minutes.
    Type of respondents: Non-industrial private forest owners.
    Estimated number of respondents: 8,300.
    Estimated number of responses per respondent: 1 per form.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 692 hours.
    8. Title: Payment Limitation Requirements.
    OMB Number: 0596-New.
    Type of request: Approval of a new information collection.
    Abstract: This information is used to review payment limitation 
requirements and assure that landowners do not exceed any annual or 
life-of-program caps. It is also used to meet IRS income reporting 
requirements. Program participants provide their names and addresses, 
entity identification numbers, and date the entity formed. They also 
indicate the type of entity (e.g. whether an individual, irrevocable 
trust, revocable trust, corporation, limited partnership, general 
partnership, joint venture, estate, or ``other''). Participants also 
list all stockholders, members, heirs, or beneficiaries having an 
interest in the entity.
    Estimate of burden: 25 minutes.
    Type of respondents: Non-industrial private forest owners.
    Estimated number of respondents: 8,300.
    Estimated number of responses per respondent: 1 per form.
    Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 3,458 hours.

Comment is Invited

    The agency invites comments on the following: (a) Whether the 
proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper 
performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the 
information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the 
agency' 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 the 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 name 
and addresses when provided, will become a matter of public record. 
Comments received in response to this notice will be summarized and 
included in the request to Office of Management and Budget for 
approval.

    Dated: September 12, 2002.
Robin L. Thompson,
Associate Deputy Chief, State and Private Forestry.
[FR Doc. 02-23858 Filed 9-19-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P