[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 26 (Monday, February 9, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5947-5948]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-2664]



[[Page 5947]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Request for Comments; Timber Purchasers' 
Costs and Sales Data

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Forest Service announces its intention to extend an information 
collection. The collected information will help the Forest Service 
facilitate the appraisal and sale of timber. Information will be 
collected from purchasers of timber from National Forest System lands. 
This information is used to assist the Forest Service in updating the 
selling values and costs for the appraisal system.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received in writing on or before 
April 9, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Comments concerning this notice should be sent via the U.S. 
Postal Service to Director, Forest and Rangeland Management, MAIL STOP 
1105, Forest Service, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, 
DC 20250-1105.
    Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to (202) 205-1045 or 
e-mail to [email protected].
    The public may inspect comments received in the Office of the 
Director of Forest and Rangeland Management, Third Floor, Northwest 
Wing, Yates Building, 201 14th Street SW., Washington, DC. Visitors are 
encouraged to call ahead to (202) 205-0893 to facilitate entry into the 
building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rex Baumback, Timber Sale Contract 
Administration Specialist, Forest Management at (202) 205-0855.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Timber and other forest products on national forest lands are sold 
for the purpose of achieving the policies set forth in the Multiple-Use 
Sustained Yield Act of 1960, and the Forest Rangeland Renewable 
Resources Planning Act of 1974. Timber must not be sold for less than 
the advertised price pursuant to Public Law 94-588. This statutory 
language also requires the Forest Service not to sell timber below a 
minimum stumpage rate established by the Chief. This minimum value 
provides a way for the Forest Service to ensure that timber sales 
recover at least some of the variable costs associated with preparing 
and administering a timber sale.
    Forest Service timber appraisals develop advertised prices using a 
transaction evidence or residual value form of appraisal. Transaction 
evidence appraisals begin with an average of past successful bids for 
timber on the stump adjusted to the timber sale and market conditions 
of the sale being appraised. Residual value appraisals subtract 
operating costs from the value of products sold.
    The following costs and values are needed for the transaction 
evidence and residual value appraisal systems in the Forest Service: 
(1) Product value, (2) manufacturing cost, (3) falling and bucking, (4) 
skidding and loading, and (5) hauling. These costs can be provided by 
mail from purchasers, subject to verification.
    The Forest Service collects product value and cost data from its 
timber purchasers to develop average value and cost information for 
appraisals. In many areas, lumber product values are purchased from the 
Western Wood Products Association. These average costs help appraisers 
estimate fair market value and develop advertised prices for national 
forest timber. Timber purchasers furnish cost and product value data in 
accordance with standard timber sale contract Forms FS-2400-6 and FS-
2400-6T. These standard timber sale contracts contain the following 
standard contract provision:

    B(T)6.9 Records. Upon request, Purchaser shall provide access to 
appropriate annual records in Purchaser's books and accounts to 
enable Forest Service to obtain and analyze accurate operating costs 
and selling price data for appropriate use in appraising Federal 
timber. However, upon receiving such a request from Contracting 
Officer, Purchaser may make written notice that such data shall be 
provided through an independent certified public accountant approved 
by Contracting Officer. Purchaser agrees that the certified public 
accountant shall do such work in accordance with specifications 
provided by Contracting Officer. Purchaser shall pay cost of such 
services. Data so provided shall be subject to acceptance by Forest 
Service and subject to review and adjustment, where needed, by 
Forest Service.
    Operating cost and selling price data shall include that 
applicable for appraising timber obtained from Federal sources in or 
processed in the Region. Purchaser shall provide access to such data 
on behalf of subsidiary entities owned or controlled by Purchaser to 
the extent they participate in harvesting, manufacturing, or 
marketing said timber into products recognized in National Forest 
timber appraisals in the area. To a like extent, Purchaser shall 
request in writing Purchaser's contractors and subcontractors to 
make such data available to Forest Service.
    Information so obtained shall be treated as confidential, as 
provided in regulations issued by the Secretary of Agriculture (7 
CFR 1.12), and shall be available for review by parties from whom 
such data are obtained.

    This standard contract provision was developed in consultation with 
timber industry groups, including but not limited to: Western Wood 
Products Association, National Forest Products Association, Western 
Forest Industries Association, and Industrial Forestry Association. 
Cost data are used towards the development of advertised rates for the 
sale of National Forest timber. Cost information is used by State and 
other agencies in their appraisals. Timber purchasers also rely upon 
cost collections to help them independently appraise the value of 
Federal timber and to estimate the cost of subcontracting certain 
aspects of harvesting Federal timber.
    The Contracting Officer requests data from the timber sale 
purchasers; the Regional Office Forest Management Staff will analyyze 
the data.

Description of Information Collection

    The following describes the information collection to be extended:
    Title: Timber Purchasers' Costs and Sales Data.
    OMB Number: 0596-0017.
    Expiration Date of Approval: April 30, 2004.
    Type of Request: Extension.
    Abstract: Contracting Officers will collect and the Regional Office 
Forest Management Staff will evaluate the cost data, as provided by 
timber sale purchasers. Such data will remain confidential between the 
Forest Service and the timber sale purchaser who provided the 
information. Cost data are collected in several formats ranging from 
paper to electronic media. Some firms mail cost data to Regional 
Offices, others provide table space and copying facilities, still 
others provide on site access to electronic data. Data gathered in this 
information collection are not available from other sources.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: 1 hour.
    Type of Respondents: Timber sale purchasers.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 20.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 20 hours.
    Comment is Invited: Comment is invited on: (a) Whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary 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,

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including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) 
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clairity 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 Comments

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

    Dated: January 8, 2004.
Gloria Manning,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 04-2664 Filed 2-6-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P