[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 229 (Wednesday, November 27, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70923-70924]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-30017]



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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Baseline and Trend Information on 
Wilderness Use and Users

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 the extension of an existing information collection 
that has, since 1990, collected data about wilderness recreation users 
in the United States. The information is necessary to help the Forest 
Service and other Federal wilderness management agencies meet the needs 
and expectations of visitors, who look to the National Wilderness 
Preservation System for recreational experiences that are dependent 
upon natural wilderness conditions away from human development and 
devoid of crowds. Respondents will be visitors, or potential visitors, 
to the National Wilderness Preservation System.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before January 27, 
2003.

ADDRESSES: Written comments concerning this notice should be addressed 
to Forest Service, USDA, Attn: Alan Watson, Aldo Leopold Wilderness 
Research Institute, P.O. Box 8089, Missoula, Montana 59807. Comments 
may also be sent via e-mail to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alan Watson, Aldo Leopold Wilderness 
Research Institute, (406) 542-4197.
    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: The Forest Service is seeking an extension 
of an existing information collection authorized under Office of 
Management and Budget Control Number 0596-0108. This information 
collection approval allows the Forest Service to collect information 
from visitors, or potential visitors, to the lands of the National 
Wilderness Preservation System.
    The Wilderness Act of 1964 directs that the National Wilderness 
Preservation System be managed to protect natural wilderness conditions 
and to provide outstanding opportunities for the public to find 
solitude or primitive and unconfined types of recreational experiences.
    To meet the requirements of the Wilderness Act of 1964 and to help 
the Forest Service enhance visitors' recreational experiences, the 
agency monitors trends of visitor recreational activities. Forest 
Service personnel also want to ensure that visitors' recreational 
activities do not harm the natural resources of the National Wilderness 
Preservation System. The agency is expanding the scope of the survey to 
include wilderness areas about which the agency has little information 
in regard to visitor recreational trends.
    The Forest Service will use information from this collection to: 
(1) Establish visitor recreational use baselines; (2) monitor visitor 
recreational use trends; (3) gain an understanding of how the agency's 
management of the National Wilderness Preservation System influences a 
visitor's wilderness experience; and (4) help understand how to educate 
visitors, so that they may enjoy their wilderness experience without 
leaving permanent reminders of their visits, such as damaged 
vegetation, litter, and polluted streams. The information also will be 
used for planning management direction for various wilderness areas 
managed by the agencies in the Departments of Agriculture and Interior.
    Data from this information collection are not available from other 
sources and will be maintained at the interagency (Agriculture and 
Interior) Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute in Missoula, 
Montana.

Description of Information Collection

    The following describes the information collection to be extended:
    Title: Baseline and Trend Information on Wilderness Use and Users.
    OMB Number: 0596-0108.
    Expiration Date of Approval: January 31, 2003.
    Type of request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: Respondents will be visitors, or potential visitors, to 
the National Wilderness Preservation System (System). Forest Service 
personnel will conduct face-to-face, on-site interviews with visitors 
as they enter the System or will send mailback survey forms to visitors 
at their homes using addresses that visitors provide when visiting the 
System. Forest Service personnel will contact visitors at nonwilderness 
sites to ask if they have plans to visit the System. When unable to 
conduct face-to-face interviews with potential visitors, the agency 
will send mailback survey forms to the homes of those who visited 
nonwilderness areas, using addresses provided by them as they entered 
the nonwilderness sites. In some cases, the agency forms will be made 
available on a self-service basis to visitors in trailhead displays.
    Respondents will be asked questions that include how many times 
they visit, when they plan their next visit, or if they plan to visit 
at all. Respondents will be asked, when visiting, if they come in 
groups and, if so, the size of those groups. Respondents will be asked 
how long they stay when visiting. Do they use equipment, such as 
stoves, or use wood for fires while visiting? Do they have preferences 
for social conditions? For example, do they like or will they accept 
crowded conditions, such as crowded camping areas and areas designed to 
limit the negative effects of visitor use on natural resources, such as 
soil compaction, damage to tree roots, and negative impacts to water 
quality? Do respondents support various wilderness management 
strategies (such as limiting visitor use of wilderness areas) to lessen 
negative effects to the wilderness environment? Do they support 
separating uses (such as designating some campsites for use only by 
groups with pack animals) to avoid conflict?
    Estimate of Annual Burden: 15 minutes.
    Types of Respondents: Visitors or potential visitors to the 
National Wilderness Preservation System.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 3,000.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 750 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.

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Use of Comments

    All comments received in response to this notice, including name 
and address when provided, will become a matter of public record. 
Comments received in response to this notice will be summarized and 
included in the request for Office of Management and Budget approval.

    Dated: November 20, 2002.
Robert Lewis, Jr.,
Deputy Chief, Research and Development.
[FR Doc. 02-30017 Filed 11-26-02; 8:45 am]
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