[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 127 (Tuesday, July 5, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38646-38655]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-12998]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Request for Comments; Nonprofit 
Organization Annual Report of Operations and Aid

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Forest Service, as lead agency, in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps 
of Engineers, U.S. Department of Defense, the Bureau of Land 
Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service, 
U.S. Department of the Interior; and the U.S. Geological Survey, 
propose to consolidate several existing, annual, agency-specific, 
cooperating and interpretive financial report forms for several Federal 
land management agencies. The purpose of consolidating the Federal 
financial forms from the cooperating agencies into one form is to 
provide a standard format and consistent reporting requirements for 
non-profit cooperators that may have agreements with several Federal 
agencies.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before September 6, 
2005, 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 
Kristen Nelson, Recreation and Heritage Resources Staff, Mail Stop 
1125, Forest Service, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, 
DC 20250-1125.
    Due to potential delays in the Forest Service receiving and 
processing of mail sent through the U.S. Postal Service, respondents 
are encouraged to submit comments electronically to ensure timely 
receipt. We cannot guarantee that comments mailed will be received 
before the comment closing date.
    Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to (202) 205-1145 or 
by e-mail to [email protected].
    The public may inspect comments received at the Office of the 
Director, Recreation and Heritage Resources Staff, Yates Building, 
Forest Service, USDA, 201 14th Street, SW., 4th Floor Central, 
Washington, DC 20250, during normal business hours. Visitors are 
encouraged to call ahead to (202) 205-1706 to facilitate entry to the 
building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristen Nelson, Recreation and 
Heritage Resources Staff, at (202) 205-1406. 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: Nonprofit Organization Annual Report of Operations and Aid.
    OMB Number: 0596-New.
    Expiration Date of Approval: N/A.
    Type of Request: New.
    Abstract: For over 25 years, Federal agencies, such as the Forest 
Service, Bureau of Land Management, and the National Park Service, have 
entered into agreements with non-profit organizations to serve visitors 
and meet their needs for quality guides, maps, and other education or 
interpretive literature. These non-profit organizations are frequently 
referred to as cooperating or interpretive associations and are 
mission-driven, private, non-profit organizations established under 
state law and adhering to applicable laws governing Federal tax-exempt 
501(1)(3)(c) organizations. They assist Federal agencies primarily 
through selling educational and interpretive materials, providing 
information services, conducting educational programs and field 
institutes, and raising contributions to support the educational 
mission of these Federal land management agencies.
    This notice addresses issues raised by the associations and some of 
those noted in the 2002 GAO audit of the National Park Service. The 
Executive Directors of the associations identified the need for 
improving and streamlining the annual operational, aid and financial 
reporting requirements of the Federal agencies. They also noted that 
the use of a single form by all of the agencies would increase 
consistency in reporting by the associations and would alleviate 
duplicative efforts and the time burden for filing independent agency-
specific financial reports.

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    The Internal Revenue Service tax form (Form 990-OMB 1545-0047) was 
analyzed and compared to annual reporting forms of the Forest Service 
(OMB 0596-0097) and the National Park Service to determine the data 
elements common to the multiple forms and the data elements unique to 
any single form. Consolidation of these data elements is intended to 
reduce the reporting burden placed on the associations and to 
streamline the data collection process.
    The immediate use of this proposed form will be in paper format. 
However, the data elements included in the paper form are intended for 
electronic submission sometime in the near future. We welcome comments 
on aspects of the proposed new Nonprofit Organization Annual Report of 
Operations and Aid. Questions you may wish to address include:
    1. Is the format of the form easy to understand and complete?
    2. Do you have suggestions for improvements in the appearance of 
the form?
    3. Are the line items instructions understandable?
    4. Have we sufficiently defined the terms?
    5. Are there any data elements that could be eliminated from the 
form? (If you recommend eliminating a line, please explain your 
recommendation.)
    6. Is there any additional information that would be useful to the 
users of the form?
    Estimate of Annual Burden: 1 hour.
    Type of Respondents: Executive Directors of Cooperating or 
Interpretive Associations and/or their accountants.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 500.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 500 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.
    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: June 24, 2005.
Gloria Manning,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
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[FR Doc. 05-12998 Filed 7-1-05; 8:45 am]
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