[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 62 (Wednesday, March 31, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 16889]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-7160]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 62 / Wednesday, March 31, 2004 / 
Notices  

[[Page 16889]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Request for Comments; Fuelwood and Post 
Assessment in Selected States

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 the information 
collection, Fuelwood and Post Assessment in Selected States. The 
information is collected from residential households and logging 
contractors. Forest Service personnel use this information to evaluate 
trends in the use of logs and wood chips, to forecast anticipated 
demands for logs and wood chips, and to analyze changes in the harvest 
of these resources.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received in writing on or before 
June 1, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Comments concerning this notice should be addressed to 
Michael Howell, Forest Inventory and Analysis, Southern Research 
Station, Forest Service, USDA, 4700 Old Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 
37919-5206.
    Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to (865) 862-2048 or 
by e-mail to [email protected].
    The public may inspect comments received at Resource Use Office, 
Southern Research Station, Forest Service, USDA, 4700 Old Kingston 
Pike, Knoxville, Tennessee, during normal business hours. Visitors are 
encouraged to call ahead to (865) 862-2000 to facilitate entry to the 
building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Howell, Southern Research 
Station, at (865) 862-2054.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Residential Fuelwood and Post Assessment.
    OMB Number: 0596-0009.
    Expiration Date of Approval: March 31, 2004.
    Type of Request: Extension.
    Abstract: The Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resource Research Act 
of 1978 and the Energy Security Act of 1980 require the Forest Service 
to evaluate trends in the use of logs and wood chips, to forecast 
anticipated demands for logs and wood chips, and to analyze changes in 
the harvest of these resources.
    Forest Service personnel collect the information from individual 
households and fuelwood logging firms through telephone interviews and 
through the use of the questionnaire, Residential Fuelwood and Post 
Assessment, which will be mailed to respondents and returned 
voluntarily via surface mail to the agency.
    Respondents answer questions that include the quantity of fuelwood 
burned, the variety of tree species burned for fuelwood, and the 
geographic locations from which the fuelwood was procured. The 
Residential Fuelwood and Post Assessment questionnaire also includes 
the State and calendar year for which information will be collected.
    Forest Service personnel evaluate the information collected to 
monitor the volume, types, species, and sources of fuelwood harvested. 
The collected data will provide essential information about the current 
drain on the Nation's timber resources for fuelwood.
    The information is collected at the following Forest Service 
research stations: Northeast Research Station, Radnor, Pennsylvania; 
North Central Research Station, St. Paul, Minnesota; Southern Research 
Station, Asheville, North Carolina; Rocky Mountain Research Station, 
Ogden, Utah; and Pacific Northwest Research Station, Portland, Oregon.
    Data from this collection of information are not available from 
other sources.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: 0.07 hours.
    Type of Respondents: Residential households and logging 
contractors.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 2,425.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 170 hours.
    Comment is invited on: (1) Whether this 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; (2) the accuracy of the agency's 
estimate of the burden of the 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 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: March 25, 2004.
Barbara C. Weber,
Associate Deputy Chief for Research & Development.
[FR Doc. 04-7160 Filed 3-30-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P