[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 241 (Friday, December 16, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74760-74761]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-7457]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


New Information Collection for Special Use Administration

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent; request for comments.

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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 established pursuant to 
the Cabin User Fee Fairness Act (CUFFA) of 2000.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before February 14, 
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: 
USDA, Forest Service, Attention: Rita Staton, Lands Staff (2720), 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., Stop 1124, Washington, DC 20250-1124 or by 
facsimile to Rita Staton at 202-205-1604 or by e-mail to: [email protected]. Comments may also be submitted by the following 
instructions at the federal eRulemaking portal at: http://www.regulation.gov. If comments are sent by e-mail or facsimile, the 
public is requested not to send duplicate comments via mail. Please 
confine comments to issues pertinent to the proposed information 
collection, explain the reasons for any recommended changes, and where 
possible, reference the specific wording being addressed.
    All comments, including names and addresses when provided, will be 
placed in the record and will be available for public inspection and 
copying. The public may inspect comments received in the Office of the 
Director, Lands Staff, 4th Floor South, Sidney R. Yates Federal 
Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC on business 
days between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Those wishing to inspect 
comments are encouraged to call ahead at (202) 205-1248 to facilitate 
entry to the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rita Staton, Lands Staff, at (202) 
205-1390. 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: Request for New Appraisal and Peer Review Pursuant to the 
Cabin User Fee Fairness Act of 2000.
    OMB Number: 0596-New.
    Expiration Date of Approval: N/A.
    Type of Request: New.
    Abstract: The Cabin User Fee Fairness Act (CUFFA) of 2000 (16 
U.S.C. 6201-13) directs the Forest Service to promulgate regulations 
and adopt policies for assessing a base cabin user fee for recreation 
residences on National Forest System lands. Section 614 of CUFFA 
establishes a ``transition period'', defines how long the transition 
period will last, and provides guidelines on how the annual cabin user 
fees should be assessed and adjusted during the transition period. The 
transition period is that period of time between the date of the 
enactment of CUFFA (Oct. 11, 2000) and the date upon which the base 
cabin user fee for a recreation residence is established as a result of 
implementing the final regulations and agency directives.
    Upon adoption of the final regulations and agency directives, 
recreation residence permit holders will have 2 years to request that 
the Forest Service take one of the following actions to establish a new 
base cabin user fee:
    (1) Conduct a new appraisal pursuant to the final regulations and 
policies (permit holder's request for new appraisal);
    (2) Commission a peer review of an existing appraisal report for 
the typical lot completed after September 30, 1995 (permit holder's 
request for peer review); or
    (3) Establish a new fee based on the market value of the typical 
lot identified in an existing appraisal report that was completed and 
approved after September 30, 1995 (permit holder's request to use the 
value established in the existing appraisal).

A request to act on one of the three options in the 2-year transition 
period must be submitted in writing to the authorized officer and must 
be signed by a majority of the recreation residence holders within the 
group of the recreation residence lots represented by the typical lot 
to be appraised. There is no specific form or format required for 
permit holders to use when requesting a new appraisal, a peer review, 
or that the Forest Service use an existing appraisal. However, the 
Forest Service is proposing to use standard forms (``Statement from 
Holders Requesting a New Appraisal'' and ``Statement from Holders 
Requesting a Peer Review'') when a new appraisal or peer review is 
requested, and the base fee of the previous appraisal increases more 
than $3,000.00 from the annual fee assessed on October 1, 1996, and the 
new base cabin user fee established by either the new appraisal or the 
peer review is 90% or more of the fee determined by the previous 
appraisal (October 1996). Permit holders are required to document that 
they agree to pay the United States the additional fees, pursuant to 
the phase-in provisions of CUFFA. The forms would facilitate 
documenting the request and agreement by the permit holder.
    The information request is necessary for the Forest Service to 
collect the permit holder's request, agreement, and accompanying 
signatures. Such information is necessary to assist the Forest Service 
in establishing an accurate base cabin user fee during the

[[Page 74761]]

transition period prescribed by CUFFA. Failure to collect this 
information could prevent the Forest Service from complying with the 
provisions of CUFFA and deny holders the opportunity to exercise one of 
the three options provided under CUFFA--seek a new appraisal; 
commission a peer review of the existing appraisal; or accept the 
existing appraisal during the 2-year transition period.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: 30 minutes.
    Type of Respondents: Recreation Residence Permit Holders.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 20.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 10 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 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: December 9, 2005.
Gloria Manning,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
 [FR Doc. E5-7457 Filed 12-15-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P