[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 92 (Friday, May 12, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27669-27670]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-7278]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Request for Comment; Forest Industries 
Data Collection System

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 revision of a currently approved information 
collection, Forest Industries Data Collection System.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before July 11, 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: Michael Howell, Forest Inventory and 
Analysis, Southern Research Station, 4700 Old Kingston Pike, Knoxville, 
TN 37919-5206.
    Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to (865) 862-2048 or 
by e-mail to: [email protected].
    The public may inspect comments received at 4700 Old Kingston Pike, 
Resource Use Office, Knoxville, Tennessee during normal business hours. 
Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to (865) 862-2000 to facilitate 
entry to the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Howell, Southern Research 
Station, at (865) 862-2054. 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: Forest Industries Data Collection.
    OMB Number: 0596-0010.
    Expiration Date of Approval: October 31, 2006.
    Type of Request: Extension with Revision.
    Abstract: The Forest and Range Renewable Resources Planning Act of 
1974 and the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act of 
1978 require the Forest Service to evaluate trends in the use of logs 
and wood chips, to forecast anticipated levels of logs and wood chips, 
and to analyze changes in the harvest of these resources from National 
Forest System lands. To collect this information, Forest Service 
personnel use two questionnaires, which respondents return in self-
addressed, postage-paid envelopes.
    Pulpwood Received Questionnaire: Forest Service personnel use this 
questionnaire to collect and evaluate information from pulp mills in 
order to monitor the volume, types, species, sources, and prices of 
timber products harvested throughout the Nation. The data collected 
will be used to provide essential information about the current use of 
the Nation's timber resources for pulpwood industrial products and is 
not available from other sources.
    Logs and Other Roundwood Received: This questionnaire is used by 
Forest Service personnel to collect and evaluate information from 
primary wood-using mills, including small, part-time mills, as well as 
large corporate entities. Primary wood-using mills are facilities that 
use harvested wood in log or chip form, such as sawlogs, veneer logs, 
pulpwood, and pulp chips, to manufacture a secondary product, such as 
lumber or paper. Forest Service

[[Page 27670]]

personnel evaluate the information collected and use it to monitor the 
volume, types, species, sources, and prices of timber products 
harvested throughout the Nation.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        Logs and other
                                   Pulpwood received       roundwood
              Item                   questionnaire         received
                                                         questionnaire
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimate of Annual Burden.......  0.5 hours.........  0.84 hours.
Type of Respondents.............  Primary users of    Primary users of
                                   industrial          industrial
                                   pulpwood.           roundwood
                                                       products.
Estimated Annual Number of        188...............  1628.
 Respondents.
Estimated Number of Responses     1.................  1.
 per Respondent.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on  94................  1368.
 Respondents.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    This information is to be collected by Forest Service personnel at 
the following Forest Service research stations: Northeast Research 
Station (Radnor, Pa), North Central Research Station (St. Paul, MN), 
Southern Research Station (Asheville, NC), Rocky Mountain Research 
Station (Ogden, UT), and Pacific Northwest Research Station (Portland, 
OR).

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 request for Office of 
Management and Budget approval.

Ann M. Bartuska,
Deputy Chief for Research & Development.
[FR Doc. E6-7278 Filed 5-11-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P