[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 32 (Thursday, February 16, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8272-8273]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-2281]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Request for Comments; Urgent Removal of 
Timber

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals and 
organizations on the extension of an information collection associated 
with timber sale contract term extensions for urgent removal of salvage 
timber from other than National Forest system lands. Regulations at 36 
CFR 223.53 allow timber sale purchasers to ask for extensions of 
certain National Forest timber sale contracts when the manufacturing 
facilities or logging equipment capacity available to purchasers are 
insufficient to provide for both the rapid harvest of damaged non-
National Forest System timber in need of expeditious removal and the 
continued harvest of undamaged (green) timber under contract with the 
Forest Service. When requesting an urgent removal extension purchasers 
are required to provide documentation supporting the need. The 
collected information is necessary for the contracting officer to make 
a determination whether the purchaser meets the conditions for 
receiving an urgent removal extension on one or more National Forest 
System timber sale contracts.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before April 17, 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 
Director, Forest Management, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Mail Stop 
1103, Washington, DC 20250-0003.
    Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to (202) 205-1045 or 
by e-mail to: [email protected]. In addition, comments may be 
submitted via the World Wide Web/Internet Web site at: http://www.regulations.gov. All comments, including names and addresses when 
provided, are placed in the record and are available for public 
inspection and copying. Conditions that must be met for obtaining an 
Urgent Removal Contract Term Extension are detailed in Title 36 of the 
Code of Federal Regulations, section 223.53, and can be viewed on the 
World Wide Web/Internet site at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_05/36cfr223_05.html. Alternatively, these can be viewed in 
the Office of the Director, Forest Management, Third Floor, Southwest 
Wing, Yates Building, 201 14th Street, SW., Washington, DC. Visitors 
are encouraged to call ahead at (202) 205-1496 to facilitate entry into 
the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lathrop Smith, Forest Management 
Staff, at (202) 205-0858, or Richard Fitzgerald, Forest Management 
Staff, at (202) 205-1753. 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: Urgent Removal of Timber.
    OMB Number: 0596-0167.
    Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 2006.
    Type of Request: Extension of currently approved collection.
    Abstract: In order to facilitate the expeditious removal of timber 
in other ownerships damaged by catastrophic events beyond the 
landowner's control, the Forest Service promulgated a final rule at 
Sec.  223.53 of Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations on January 
2, 2004 (69 FR 29).
    Periodically, catastrophic events such as severe drought 
conditions, insect and disease outbreaks, wildfires, floods, and 
windthrow occur on forested lands within, or near, NFS lands. As a 
result of such catastrophic events, substantial amounts of private and 
other public timber may be severely damaged. This damaged timber must 
be harvested within a relatively short time period to avoid substantial 
losses due to deterioration in both the quantity and quality of the 
timber. The critical time period for harvesting this damaged timber and 
avoiding substantial deterioration varies with the season of the year, 
the species of timber, the damaging agent, and the location of the 
damaged timber. In most cases, substantial deterioration can be avoided 
if the damaged timber is harvested within 1 year of the catastrophic 
event. The number of wildfires, and the extent of damage to public and 
private forested land experienced in recent years resulted in the 
Forest Service adjusting its contracting procedures to support the 
urgent removal of damaged timber on non-NFS lands.
    This information collection provides data to permit the 
discretionary extension of certain National Forest System timber sale 
contracts by the Contracting Officer. Such extensions will allow 
purchasers to divert

[[Page 8273]]

resources to harvesting damaged timber, located on private or non-NFS 
public lands, which is in need of urgent removal. Catastrophic events 
which may result in the need for urgent removal of damaged timber 
include, but are not limited to, fire, flood, insect and disease 
infestations, drought, and windthrow.
    The intended effects of this information collection is to assure 
that extensions of the time allowed to harvest National Forest System 
timber sale contracts are consistent with the requirements of the 
National Forest Management Act (16 U.S.C. 472a), while minimizing the 
loss of National Forest System timber adjacent to other timber infested 
with insects and disease or damaged by fire; reduce the threat to 
public safety and property resulting from such catastrophic events; and 
promote the wise use and conservation of the natural resources.
    The National Forest Management Act (16 U.S.C. 472a) requires that 
extensions of contract time shall not be granted unless ``the purchaser 
has diligently performed in accordance with an approved plan of 
operation or that the substantial overriding public interest justifies 
the extension.'' Regulations at 36 CFR 223.115 mirror the National 
Forest Management Act.
    Regulations at 36 CFR 223.53(b) require the Regional Forester to 
verify in writing that: (1) A specific catastrophe occurred for which 
urgent removal extensions should be granted; and (2) Failure to harvest 
the damaged non-National Forest System timber promptly could result in 
the following: (i) Pose a threat to public safety, (ii) Create a threat 
of an insect or disease epidemic to National Forest System or other 
lands or resources, or (iii) Significant private or other public 
resource loss.
    Following such a determination, to obtain an urgent removal 
extension on a National Forest System timber sale contract, a purchaser 
must make a written request to the contracting officer which includes 
the following: (1) An explanation of why the harvest of undamaged 
(green) National Forest System timber within the term of the existing 
National Forest System contract(s) will prevent or otherwise impede the 
removal of damaged non-National Forest System timber in need of 
expeditious removal; and (2) Documentation that the manufacturing 
facilities or logging equipment capacity available to the purchaser 
would be insufficient to provide for both the rapid salvage of damaged 
non-National Forest System timber in need of expeditious removal and 
continued harvest of undamaged (green) National Forest System timber 
under contract with the Forest Service.
    The contracting officer must obtain the information provided by the 
purchaser to verify that there is a legitimate need to grant the 
request for urgent removal extension(s) in accordance with the 
regulations at 36 CFR 223.53.
    Information will be collected in writing. Electronic technology is 
not appropriate for collecting site-specific, one-time information. 
Facsimile extension applications are acceptable. Each request for an 
urgent removal extension is unique. There is no duplication of 
information and the information is only available from the timber sale 
purchaser. Only the minimum amount of information required to make the 
contracting officer's determination is collected.
    The Forest Service cannot assure that it meets its statutory 
requirements in the National Forest Management Act for extending timber 
sale contracts if the information collection is not conducted or is 
conducted less frequently.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: The public reporting burden to provide 
information when requesting a timber sale contract urgent removal 
extension is estimated to average 6 hours per response.
    Type of Respondents: Individuals, large and small businesses, and 
corporations purchasing National Forest System timber sales.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 25.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1 per year.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 150 hours.

Comment is Invited

    Comment is invited on: (1) Whether the proposed 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 proposed 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 become a matter of public record. 
Comments will be summarized and included in the request for Office of 
Management and Budget approval.

    Dated: February 1, 2006.
Frederick Norbury,
Associate Deputy Chief, NFS.
 [FR Doc. E6-2281 Filed 2-15-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P