[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 165 (Tuesday, August 26, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51234-51235]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-21778]


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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 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 165 / Tuesday, August 26, 2003 / 
Notices  

[[Page 51234]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection: Visitor's Permit Form FS-2300-30 and 
Visitor Registration Card Form FS-2300-32

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 a previously approved information 
collection, for the Visitor's Permit Form (FS-2300-30) and the Visitor 
Registration Card Form (FS-2300-32). Moreover, the Organic 
Administration Act (16 U.S.C. 473), the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 
1131), Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1271) and Executive Order 
11644 (Use of Off-Road Vehicles in the Public Lands), require the 
Forest Service to manage the forests to benefit both land and people. 
To this end, the information collected from the Visitor's Permit Form 
and Visitor Registration Card Form will help the Forest Service ensure 
that visitors' use of National Forest System lands is in the public 
interest and is compatible with the mission of the agency. Information 
will be collected from National Forest System land visitors, who will 
be asked to describe their intended use of the land and their estimated 
duration of use.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before October 27, 
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 
Wilderness Program Manager; Recreation, Heritage, and Wilderness 
Resources Staff, Mail Stop 1125, Forest Service, USDA, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20090-1125.
    Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to (202) 205-1145 or 
by e-mail to dfisher/[email protected].
    The public may inspect comments received at the Office of the 
Director, Recreation, Heritage, and Wilderness Resources Staff, 201 
14th Street, SW., Washington, DC during normal business hours. Visitors 
are encouraged to call ahead to (202) 205-0818 to facilitate entry to 
the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Don Fisher, Wilderness Program 
Manager, Recreation, Heritage, and Wilderness Resources Staff at (202) 
205-1414. 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:

Description of Collection

    1. Title: Visitor's Permit Form (FS-2300-30).
    OMB Number: 0596-0019.
    Expiration Date of Approval: 11/30/2003.
    Type of Request: This is a request for extension of an information 
collection previously approved by the Office of Management and Budget.
    Abstract: The Visitor's Permit Form is required for visitors to 
enter many special management areas on National Forest System Lands, 
including Wilderness Areas, Scenic Rivers, restricted off-road vehicle 
areas, and campgrounds where use is controlled through reservation and 
permit systems. The permit is only used where public use levels must be 
managed and monitored to prevent resource damage, to preserve the 
quality of the experience, or to maintain public safety. The 
information collected from the Visitor's Permit Form can also be used 
to respond to indicators or standards in a Forest plan or Wilderness 
Area plan.
    Forest Service employees collect and analyze the information from 
the Visitor's Permit Form. The personal contact generated by issuance 
of the permit results in improved visitor education and information 
about proper camping techniques, fire prevention, safety, and 
sanitation. The Visitor's Permit Form also allows managers to identify 
heavily used areas and move use to lesser-impacted areas; and helps 
managers locate lost forest visitors. Not having the Visitor's Permit 
Form could result in overuse and site deterioration in some 
environmentally sensitive areas. Furthermore, without the permit, the 
Forest Service would be required to undertake special studies to 
collect use data, and could be pressed to make management decisions 
based on insufficient or inaccurate data.
    The Visitor's Permit Form captures the visitor's name and address, 
area to be visited, dates of visit, length of stay, method of travel, 
number of people, and number of pack and saddle stock (that is, the 
number of animals either carrying people or their gear) in the group.

Method of Collection

    The Visitor's Permit Form is generally issued by Forest Service 
employees at an office location and requires visitors to obtain the 
permit in person, or to call ahead and provide the required information 
over the phone. The information collection does not involve the use of 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques. The information collected will not be shared with other 
organizations inside or outside the government.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: 3 minutes per permit.
    Type of Respondents: Individuals and groups requesting use of 
National Forest System wilderness and special management areas.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 126,500 per year.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 6,325 hours.

Description of Collection

    2. Title: Visitor Registration Card (FS-2300-32).
    OMB Number: 0596-0019.
    Expiration Date of Approval: 11/30/2003.
    Type of Request: This request for extension of an information 
collection previously approved by the Office of Management and Budget.
    Abstract: The Visitor Registration Card Form is a voluntary 
registration card, which provides Forest Service managers with an 
inexpensive means of gathering visitor use information required by 
management plans, without imposing mandatory visitor permit 
regulations. Moreover, the information

[[Page 51235]]

collected can be used to respond to indicators or standards in a Forest 
plan or Wilderness Area plan without requiring a mandatory permit 
system to gather and record the data. Use of the Visitor Registration 
Card Form is one of the most efficient means of collecting data from 
visitors. It allows the Forest Service to collect data in remote 
locations, where it is not feasible to have permanent staffing.
    The Visitor Registration Card Form allows managers to identify 
heavily used areas, to prepare restoration and monitoring plans that 
reflect where use is occurring, and in extreme cases, to develop plans 
to move forest users to lesser impacted areas. It also provides 
managers with information useful in locating lost forest visitors. Not 
having the Visitor's Registration Card Form could result in overuse and 
site deterioration in some environmentally sensitive areas. 
Furthermore, without the registration card, the Forest Service would be 
required to undertake special studies to collect use data, and could be 
pressed to make management decisions based on insufficient or 
inaccurate data.
    The Visitor Registration Card Form provides information from 
wilderness and special management area visitors including name and 
address, area to be visited, dates of visit, length of stay, method of 
travel, number of people, and number of pack and saddle stock (that is, 
the number of animals either carrying people or their gear) in the 
group, and number of watercraft or vehicles.

Method of Collection

    The Visitor Registration Card Form (FS-2300-32) is normally made 
available at un-staffed entry locations such as trailheads, and is 
completed by the visitor without Forest Service assistance. The 
information is collected once from visitors during their visit, by 
Forest Service employees who then analyze the information. The 
information collected will not be shared with other organizations 
inside or outside the Government.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: 3 minutes per card.
    Type of Respondents: Individuals and groups requesting use of 
National Forest System wilderness and special management areas.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 241,500 per year.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 12,075 hours.

Comment Is Invited

    Comment is invited on: (1) The necessity of the information for the 
stated purposes and the proper performance of agency functions, 
including the practical or scientific utility of the information; (2) 
the accuracy of the agency's estimated burden of the information 
collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (3) the enhancement of the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (4) the minimization of the 
information collection burden 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 19, 2003.
Gloria Manning,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 03-21778 Filed 8-25-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P