[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 28 (Tuesday, February 11, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6942-6943]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-3328]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[OR-958-6310-PF-24 1A]


Extension of Approved Information Collection, OMB Control Number 
1004-0168

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is requesting the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) to extend an existing approval to collect certain 
information from private landowners. BLM uses Form OR 2812-6, Report 
and Road Use, to collect this information. This information allows the 
BLM to determine road use and maintenance fees for logging road right-
of-way permits issued under the O&C Logging Road Right-of-Way 
regulations (43 CFR part 2812).

DATES: You must submit your comments to BLM at the address below on or 
before April 14, 2003. BLM will not necessarily consider any comments 
received after the above date.

ADDRESSES: You may mail comments to: Bureau of Land Management, (WO-
630), Eastern States Office, 7450 Boston Blvd., Springfield, Virginia 
22153.
    You may send comments via Internet to: [email protected]. Please 
include ``ATTN: 1004-0168'' and your name and return address in your 
Internet message.
    You may deliver comments to the Bureau of Land Management, 
Administrative Record, Room 401, 1620 L Street, NW., Washington, DC.
    All comments will be available for public review at the L Street 
address during regular business hours (7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.), Monday 
through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: You may contact John Styduhar, BLM 
Oregon State Office, on (503) 952-6454 (Commercial or FTS). Persons who 
use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8330, 24 hours a day, 
seven days a week, to contact Mr. Styduhar.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 5 CFR 1320.12(a) requires that we provide a 
60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning a collection of 
information to solicit comments on:
    (a) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the 
proper functioning of the agency, including whether the information 
will have practical utility;
    (b) The accuracy of our estimates of the burden of the proposed 
collection of information, including the validity of the methodology 
and assumptions we use;
    (c) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information collected; and
    (d) Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.
    BLM may authorize private landowners in western Oregon to transport 
their timber over BLM-controlled roads under Title V of the Federal 
Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1761). The logging 
road right-of-way permits that BLM issues are subject to the 
requirements of the O&C Logging Road Right-of-Way regulations (43 CFR 
part 2812). As a condition of each right-of-way permit, a permittee 
must provide us with a certified statement containing the amount of 
timber removed, the lands from which the timber was removed, and the 
BLM roads used to transport the timber. Permittees must submit this 
information on a quarterly basis using the Form OR-2812-6, Report of 
Road Use.
    The monies we receive for road use contributes to the recovery of 
costs incurred in the construction of forest access roads. The fees we 
collect for road maintenance are reimbursements for services we provide 
to maintain roads the permittee's use. If we did not require the 
collection of information included in the Report of Road Use Form, it 
would not be possible to

[[Page 6943]]

determine payment amounts, ledger account status, or monitor a 
permittee's compliance with the terms and conditions of the permit. The 
cost for services we provide would not be collected in a timely manner 
if we reduce the frequency of reporting. This has a direct effect on 
the ability of BLM to properly maintain its road system, protect the 
road investment, and provide safe and efficient access to the public 
lands.
    Based on our experience administering the activities described 
above, we estimate the public reporting burden for the information 
collected is 1 hour per response. The 400 respondents include 
individuals, partnerships, and corporations engaged in removing and 
transporting timber and other forest products. The frequency of 
response is quarterly. We estimate 1,600 responses per year and a total 
annual burden of 1,600 hours.
    BLM will summarize all responses to this notice and include them in 
the request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of 
public record.

    Dated: February 5, 2003.
Michael H. Schwartz,
Bureau of Land Management, Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-3328 Filed 2-10-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-M