[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 152 (Thursday, August 7, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47017-47018]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-20142]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Interpretive Services at Ancient 
Bristlecone Pine Forest in the Inyo National Forest

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 a new information collection, Interpretive Services at 
Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest in the Inyo National Forest. This study 
requires administration of a survey to a statistical sample of site 
visitors.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before October 6, 
2003 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 Dr. 
James Absher, USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, 
4955 Canyon Crest Drive, Riverside, CA 92507. Comments also may be 
submitted via facsimile to (909) 680-1501 or by e-mail to 
[email protected]. The public may inspect comments received at the 
address given previously during normal business hours. Visitors are 
encouraged to call ahead to (909) 680-1559 to facilitate entry to the 
building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. James Absher, Pacific Southwest 
Research Station, at (909) 680-1501.

[[Page 47018]]

Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may 
call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 24 hours a day, 
every day of the year, including holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Interpretive Services at Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest.
    OMB Number: 0596-New.
    Type of Request: New.
    Abstract: As part of a continuing research effort to develop and 
try alternative approaches for evaluating recreational services on 
public lands, this information collection will focus entirely on 
visitors to the Ancient Bristlecone Forest in the Inyo National Forest 
of California, which is an important tourist destination. The 
information collected will help forest managers better understand how 
and why visitors use the interpretive opportunities provided and ways 
to improve service delivery. It will contribute to the assessment of 
recreational opportunities and to the forest's public programs in 
general. Researchers will use three methods to collect the information: 
(1) On-site observation of site use--for example, time spent on an 
interpretive trail or inside the visitor center, (2) an interview, or 
(3) a self-administered, written questionnaire. Both the interview and 
questionnaire are voluntary and will contain questions about how, why, 
and when visitors used interpretive services at Ancient Bristlecone 
Pine Forest, whether these services meet their needs, and how they 
think the interpretive services might be improved.
    Experts in recreation, social science and interpretive services 
from the Forest Service and cooperating universities, in consultation 
with the Inyo National Forest staff, will develop the surveys. The 
researchers will then administer the surveys to a random sample of 
visitors at Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, analyze the information 
and incorporate the results and recommendations into reports for use by 
managers and other researchers. This survey is necessary to provide 
land managers with reliable information about site visitors and to 
improve customer and information services.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: 20 minutes per respondent.
    Type of Respondents: Randomly selected individuals visiting the 
interpretive services at Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, Inyo National 
Forest, California.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 1,000.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: One.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 333 hours.

Comment is Invited

    Comment is invited on: (1) The necessity of the information 
collection 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 information collection burden, 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.

Use of Comments

    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 submission request 
toward Office of Management and Budget approval.

    Dated: August 1, 2003.
Robert Lewis, Jr.,
Deputy Chief for Research and Development.
[FR Doc. 03-20142 Filed 8-6-03; 8:45 am]
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