[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 224 (Tuesday, November 22, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70578-70579]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-23050]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 224 / Tuesday, November 22, 2005 / 
Notices  

[[Page 70578]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Request for Comments; Grazing Permit 
Administration Forms

AGENCY: USDA, Forest Service.

ACTION: Notice; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 
the Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals 
and organizations on extension of the currently approved collection for 
seven grazing permit administration forms that assist in administering 
grazing permits. These Office of Management and Budget approved forms 
include (1) FS-2200-1 Refund, Credit or Transfer Application; (2) FS-
2200-2 Application for Temporary Grazing or Livestock Use Permit; (3) 
FS-2200-12 Waiver of Term Grazing Permit; (4) FS-2200-13 Escrow Waiver 
of Term Grazing Permit Privileges; (5) FS-2200-16 Application for Term 
Grazing Permit; (6) FS-2200-17 Application for Term Private Land 
Grazing Permit; and (7) FS-2200-25 Ownership Statement by Corporation 
or Partnership. The proposed information collection authorization would 
cover existing forms without revision. The current authorization for 
the forms covered by Information Collection Number 0596-0003 expires on 
April 30, 2006.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before January 23, 
2006 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 the 
USDA Forest Service, Attn: Director, Rangeland Management Staff, Mail 
Stop 1103, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-1153. To 
ensure timely delivery, review and consideration, it may be preferable 
to submit comments by electronic mail to [email protected] (Subject: 
Grazing Forms); or by facsimile to (202) 205-1096. If comments are sent 
by electronic means or by facsimile, the public is requested not to 
send duplicate comments via regular mail.
    All comments, including names and addresses when provided, are 
placed in the record and available for public inspection and copying. 
The agency cannot confirm receipt of comments.
    The public may inspect comments received on these grazing permit 
administration forms in the Rangeland Management Staff, 3rd Floor, 
South Wing, Yates Building, 14th and Independence Avenues, Southwest, 
Washington, DC, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Those wishing 
to inspect comments are encouraged to call ahead to (202) 205-1460 to 
facilitate entry into the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Perry, Rangeland Management 
Staff, USDA Forest Service, (202) 205-1454. Individuals who use 
telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay 
Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339, 24 hours a day, every day of the year, 
including holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Grazing Permit Administration Forms.
    OMB Number: 0596-0003.
    Expiration Date of Approval: April 30, 2006.
    Type of Request: Extension with no revisions.
    Abstract: Domestic livestock grazing occurs on approximately 90 
million acres of National Forest System (NFS) lands. The Forest Service 
(FS) issues approximately 7,100 grazing permits. This information 
collection is required to allow proper administration of the livestock 
grazing program on NFS lands. This grazing is subject to authorization 
and administrative oversight by the Forest Service. The information is 
required for the issuance and administration of grazing permits, 
including fee collections, as authorized by the Federal Land Policy and 
Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976, as amended, 43 U.S.C. 1700 et seq. and 
USDA regulations at 36 CFR 222, subparts A and C. This information must 
be collected on an individual basis, and similar information is not 
available from any other source.
    The information collected on these seven forms is used by the 
Forest Service in administering the grazing program on NFS lands. Each 
of these forms is designed to address a unique management circumstance.
    FS-2200-1: Refund, Credit, or Transfer Application. This form 
collects information provided by grazing permittees when requesting a 
refund, credit, or transfer of any unused portion of previously paid 
grazing fees. The agency uses the information to determine the 
appropriate response to the permittee's request, as well as determine 
the amount of refund, credit, or transfer of the grazing fee. Authority 
for the request of this information is 36 CFR 222.50(i).
    FS-2200-2: Application for Temporary Grazing or Livestock Use 
Permit; FS-2200-16: Application for Term Grazing Permit; and FS-2200-
17: Application for Term Private Land Grazing Permit. These forms are 
similar in that much of the same information is requested, but each 
form is specifically designed for a different type of grazing permit as 
authorized in 36 CFR 222.3(c). Use of a specific form is based on the 
type of permit being requested. The appropriate forms are completed by 
the applicant. Information from the completed forms is used to 
determine qualifications and eligibility of an applicant for a permit, 
to issue the appropriate permit, and to bill the permittee for grazing 
fees.
    FS-2200-12: Waiver of Term Grazing Permit. This form is completed 
when a permittee waives his/her grazing privileges back to the United 
States and also identifies the purchaser of the permitted livestock 
and/or base property associated with the permit. The Forest service 
uses this information to cancel an existing grazing permit, to identify 
the preferred permit applicant based on the purchase of permitted 
livestock and/or base property, and to issue a subsequent grazing 
permit. This information is requested under the authority of 36 CFR 
222.3(c)(1)(vi)(F).
    FS-2200-13: Escrow Waiver of Term Grazing Permit Privileges. This 
form is completed when a permittee requests the use of permitted 
livestock or base property associated with a grazing permit as 
collateral security for a loan. The agency uses this information to

[[Page 70579]]

identify a lien holder so that in the event of default on the loan the 
grazing permit can be transferred to the lien holder. Escrow waiver 
provisions and procedures are acknowledged in the February 10, 1938, 
Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Agriculture and 
the Farm Credit Administration and the subsequent December 21, 1990, 
Memorandum of Understanding between the Forest Service and the Farm 
Credit Banks. Authority for requesting this information is 36 CFR 
222.3(c)(1)(vi)(F).
    FS-2200-25: Ownership Statement by Corporation or Partnership. This 
information is provided by the permittee and used by the Forest Service 
to identify the corporate or partnership interest in a grazing permit. 
This information allows the Forest Service to issue grazing permits in 
consideration of the permitttee's corporate and partnership interests. 
Authority for this information request is 36 CFR 222.3(c).
    The forms will be completed by new applicants requesting grazing 
use, existing permit holders (permittees) requesting a specific program 
administration action, or prior permit holders requesting a new permit. 
Respondents include individuals, partnerships, corporations, 
associations, and other private entities. These forms will be obtained 
from agency offices in person or by mail and will be completed in 
situations of both face to face settings with agency personnel, as well 
as the applicant completing the forms alone. Frequency of use for each 
form would be annually or less. Without the information supplied, the 
Forest Service can not determine if applicants are eligible for grazing 
permits and properly administer the grazing program, including fee 
collection. The completed forms are maintained in Forest Service 
District offices under the care of the range program administrator.
    Estimate of Annual Burden:
    (1) FS-2200-1 Refund, Credit or Transfer Application: 20 minutes.
    (2) FS-2200-2 Application for Temporary Grazing or Livestock Use 
Permit: 20 minutes.
    (3) FS-2200-12 Waiver of Term Grazing Permit: 20 minutes.
    (4) FS-2200-13 Escrow Waiver of Term Grazing Permit Privileges: 20 
minutes.
    (5) FS-2200-16 Application for Term Grazing Permit: 30 minutes.
    (6) FS-2200-17 Application for Term Private Land Grazing Permit: 20 
minutes.
    (7) FS-2200-25 Ownership Statement by Corporation or Partnership: 
20 minutes.
    Type of Respondents: Grazing permittees; applicants seeking short-
term grazing privileges; grazing permittees seeking to relinquish their 
grazing permits in favor of individuals who have acquired their base 
property and/or permitted livestock; individual grazing permittees who 
mortgage their base property and/or permitted livestock; individuals 
applying for a term grazing permit or term private land grazing permit; 
or corporations or partnerships applying for a grazing permit.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 4,920.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2300 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.

    Dated: November 11, 2005.
Frederick Norbury,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 05-23050 Filed 11-21-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P