[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 199 (Wednesday, October 15, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 59361]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-26073]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Guidelines for Eligibility and Required 
Documentation for the Golden Access Passport

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, Department of Agriculture; the Bureau of Land 
Management, Bureau of Reclamation, National Park Service, and the Fish 
and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior; and the U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers, Department of Defense are seeking comments from all 
interested individuals and organizations on the new information 
collection, ``Guidelines for Eligibility and Required Documentation for 
the Golden Access Passport.''

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by December 15, 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 
Recreation, Heritage, and Wilderness Resources Staff, Attn: 
Accessibility Program Manager, 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 [email protected]. The public is requested not to send 
duplicate written comments via regular mail.
    The public may inspect comments received in the Office of the 
Director, Recreation, Heritage, and Wilderness Resources Staff, 4th 
Floor-Central, Sidney R. Yates Federal Building, Forest Service, USDA, 
201 14th Street, SW., Washington DC, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 
4 p.m. on business days. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to (202) 
205-1706 to facilitate entry into the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janet Zeller, Accessibility Program 
Manager, Recreation, Heritage and Wilderness Resources Staff, at (202) 
205-9597. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf 
(TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 
twenty-four hours a day, every day of the year, including holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Guidelines for Eligibility and Required Documentation for 
the Golden Access Passport.
    OMB Number: 0596-New.
    Expiration Date of Approval: N/A.
    Type of Request: New.
    Abstract: The Golden Access Passport was created in 1980 by an 
amendment to the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act (LWCFA) of 1965. 
A Golden Access Passport is a free, lifetime permit that is issued 
without charge by the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, 
Bureau of Reclamation, and Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the 
Interior; the Forest Service, Department of Agriculture; and the U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Defense to citizens or persons 
who are domiciled (permanent residents) in the United States, 
regardless of age, and who have a medical determination and 
documentation of blindness or permanent disability. Golden Access 
Passports may be obtained in person and upon proof of blindness or 
medically determined permanent disability in accordance with the 
criteria established in the LWCFA of 1965, as amended.
    The Passport is not transferable and must be signed by the holder. 
This Passport entitles the holder and any persons accompanying the 
holder, such as a care assistant or the holder's spouse and children, 
in a single private, noncommercial vehicle, to general admission to a 
Federal area where an entrance fee is charged. This Passport also 
entitles the holder only to a 50 percent discount on use fees that are 
charged per vehicle, per person, or per single-family unit at outdoor 
recreation sites managed by the Forest Service or concessionaires.
    In order to clarify and simplify the process for persons with 
disabilities to obtain the Golden Access Passport, all of the agencies 
that issue this free, lifetime Passport cooperated in the development 
of the Guidelines for Eligibility and Required Documentation for the 
Golden Access Passport. These Guidelines will be used by each agency 
when assisting customers seeking to obtain the Passport.
    Estimate of Burden: 5 minutes.
    Type of Respondents: Individuals with permanent disabilities, who 
are applying for the free, lifetime Golden Access Passport.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 59,810.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 11,962 hours.

Comment Is Invited

    Comment is invited on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the stated purpose and the proper 
performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the 
information will have practical utility; (2) 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; (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 for Office 
of Management and Budget approval.

    Dated: October 7, 2003.
Gloria Manning,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 03-26073 Filed 10-14-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P