[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 112 (Wednesday, June 11, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34901-34902]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-14627]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Land Exchanges

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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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 renewal, without change, of a previously approved 
information collection. This information collection will provide the 
Forest Service with the necessary information needed to complete an 
Agreement to Initiate and an Exchange Agreement. The Agreement to 
Initiate is a written, nonbinding statement, by both the non-Federal 
party and the Forest Service, of their present intent to initiate and 
pursue a land exchange. The legally binding Exchange Agreement 
documents the conditions that must be met to complete the land 
exchange. Forest Service personnel collect the information from non-
Federal land exchange parties to complete the Agreement to Initiate and 
the Exchange Agreement.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before August 11, 
2003.

ADDRESSES: All comments should be addressed to Jack L. Craven, 
Director, Lands Staff, Mail Stop 1124, Forest Service, USDA, P.O. Box 
96090, Washington, DC 20090-1124 or e-mail: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cynthia Swanson, Lands Specialist, at 
(202) 205-1248 or Kathleen L. Dolge, Realty Specialist, at (202) 205-
1248.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Land exchanges are discretionary, voluntary, real estate 
transactions between the Secretary of Agriculture, acting by and 
through the Forest Service, and a non-Federal exchange party. Land 
exchanges can be initiated by any non-Federal party including a 
landowner, an agent of a landowner, a third party, or a non-Federal 
public agency.
    Each land exchange requires preparation of an Agreement to Initiate 
in accordance with Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), section 
254.4. This document specifies the preliminary and non-binding 
intentions of the non-Federal land exchange party and of the Forest 
Service in pursuing a land exchange. The Agreement to Initiate can 
contain such information as the description of properties being 
considered in the land exchange, an implementation schedule of action 
items, identification of the party responsible for each action item, as 
well as target dates for completion of each action item.
    As the exchange proposal develops, the Forest Service and the non-
Federal land exchange party may enter into a binding Exchange Agreement 
pursuant to 36 CFR 254.14. The Exchange Agreement documents the 
conditions, which must be met to complete the exchange and can contain 
such information as identification of the parties, description of the 
lands and interests to be exchanged, identification of all reserved and 
outstanding interests, and all other terms and conditions necessary to 
complete an exchange.
    The Forest Service collects the information from the non-Federal 
party in order to complete the Agreement to Initiate and the Exchange 
Agreement. Data from this information collection can be unique to each 
land exchange and is not available from other sources.

Description of Information Collection

    1. Title: Agreement to Initiate.
    OMB Number: 0596-0105.
    Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 2003.
    Type of Request: Extension of a previously approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Agreement to Initiate contains such information as 
the description of the properties being considered in the land 
exchange, an implementation schedule of action items, identification of 
the party responsible for each action item, as well as target dates for 
completion of each action item. The information is collected by Forest 
Service personnel by phone or meeting with the exchange party and is 
used to complete the Agreement to Initiate.
    Estimate of Burden: 1 hour.
    Type of Respondents: Non-Federal land exchange party.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 100.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 100 hours.
    Data from this information collection is used to facilitate a 
mutually beneficial land exchange between the Forest Service and a non-
Federal party and is not available from other sources.

Description of Information Collection

    2. Title: Exchange Agreement.
    OMB Number: 0596-0105.
    Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 2003.

[[Page 34902]]

    Type of Request: Extension of a previously approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The Exchange Agreement contains such information as the 
identification of the parties, description of the lands and interests 
to be exchanged, identification of all reserved and outstanding 
interests. This information is collected by Forest Service personnel by 
phone or meeting with the exchange party and used to complete the 
Exchange Agreement.
    Estimate of Burden: 1 hour.
    Type of Respondents: non-Federal land exchange partners.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 100.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 100 hours.
    Data from this information collection is used to facilitate a 
mutually beneficial land exchange between the Forest Service and a non-
Federal party and is not available from other sources.

Comment Is Invited

    The agency invites comments on the following: (a) The necessity of 
the proposed collection of information for the stated purposes and the 
proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether 
the information will have practical or scientific utility; (b) the 
accuracy of the agency's 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 respondents, including 
the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Use of Comment

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

    Dated: June 3, 2003.
Gloria Manning,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 03-14627 Filed 6-10-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P