[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 109 (Monday, June 7, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31784-31785]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-12812]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Evaluation of the Environmental 
Intervention Handbook

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 new information collection, Evaluation of the 
Environmental Intervention Handbook.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before August 6, 2004 
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 
Patricia L. Winter, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, 
USDA, 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 4955 Canyon Crest 
Drive, Riverside, CA 92507; building one reception during normal 
business hours. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to (909) 680-1500 
to facilitate entry to the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia L. Winter, Pacific Southwest 
Research Station, USDA FS, (909) 680-1557.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Evaluation of the Environmental 
Intervention Handbook.
    OMB Number: 0596--New.
    Expiration Date of Approval: New.
    Type of Request: New.
    Abstract: Forest Service and university researchers will contact 
recipients of a handbook designed to help resource managers reduce 
depreciative activities. Through those contacts they will evaluate the 
uses of the handbook, barriers to usage, and the need for revision of 
the handbook or creation of supplementary materials. This will help the 
researchers improve their ability to provide information to natural 
resource managers on reducing activities like littering, vandalism, and

[[Page 31785]]

other activities that cause damage. To gather the information, a mini-
survey will be sent through the mail to all handbook recipients. Those 
agreeing to participate further will participate in a more in-depth 
survey, conducted by e-mail, telephone or mail, based on respondent 
preference. Follow-up telephone contacts may occur if we need to 
clarify responses to the in-depth survey.
    The information will be collected and analyzed by a Forest Service 
researcher and analyst/technicians, and a researcher at a cooperating 
university. Both researchers are experts in applied social psychology 
and survey research.
    1. Respondents to the mini survey will be asked about recollection 
of the handbook, about the role of depreciative activities in their own 
work settings, and about their willingness to participate in the in-
depth survey. Respondents to the in-depth survey will be asked to 
assess the impact of depreciative activities in natural resource 
settings, their opinion of availability of materials to assist resource 
managers in addressing depreciative activities, to rate a series of 
aspects of the intervention handbook, and to provide some basic 
soiodemographic information for purposes of comparison to other 
respondents.
    2. All recipients of the Environmental Intervention Handbook will 
be contacted. Responses will be voluntary and confidential.
    3. Responses will be used to evaluate the application and uses of 
the handbook, the need for revision of the handbook, and the need for 
additional tools or supplementary information to be used with handbook.
    Without the proposed information collection, assessment of how the 
Handbook was used, how well it worked, whether or not we need to revise 
it, and if we need to provide additional tools will not be known. This 
information will help the researchers supply information to natural 
resource managers on methods to decrease depreciative activities. The 
information can also be shared with other researchers who are 
developing methods for reducing depreciative activities.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: The average annual burden estimated per 
respondent is 32 minutes, based on 50 respondents at 8 minutes for the 
mini-survey, 45 respondents at 20 minutes for the in-depth survey, and 
20 respondents at 15 minutes for the follow-up.
    Type of Respondents: Respondents include natural resource managers 
in State, Regional, and county agencies, academicians, environmental 
educators, consultants, and researchers.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: Fifty respondents will be 
contacted.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: A maximum of 
three responses per year will be requested.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: The annual burden on 
respondents that is estimated for this information collection is 26.7 
hours.
    Comment is Invited:
    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.
    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: May 28, 2004.
Ann M. Bartuska,
Deputy Chief for Research and Development.
[FR Doc. 04-12812 Filed 6-4-04; 8:45 am]
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