[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 92 (Friday, May 12, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27670-27671]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-7279]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Request for Comments; Advertised Timber 
for Sale

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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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 revision with changes of the currently approved 
information collection for Advertised Timber for Sale.

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 
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. The public may inspect comments received at 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. 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: Advertised Timber for Sale.
    OMB Number: 0596-0066.
    Expiration Date of Approval: October 31, 2006.
    Type of Request: Extension with Revision.
    Abstract: Pursuant to statutory requirements at 16 U.S.C. 472a, 
unless extraordinary conditions exist as defined by regulation, the 
Secretary of Agriculture must (1) advertise sales of all National 
Forest System timber or forest products exceeding $10,000 in appraised 
value, (2) select bidding methods that ensure open and fair 
competition; (3) select bidding methods that ensure that the Federal 
Government receives not less than appraised value of the timber or 
forest product; and (4) monitor bidding patterns for evidence of 
unlawful bidding practices.
    Pursuant to the Forest Service Small Business Timber Sale Set-Aside 
Program, developed in cooperation with the Small Business 
Administration, Forest Service regulations at Title 36 of the Code of 
Federal Regulations, Sec.  223.84 require that the Forest Service bid 
form used by potential timber sale bidders include provisions for small 
business concerns. The data collected will be used by the agency to 
ensure that National Forest System timber will be sold at not less than 
appraised value, that bidders will meet specific criteria when 
submitting a bid, and that anti-trust violations will not occur during 
the bidding process.
    The tax identification number of each bidder is entered into an 
automated bid monitoring system, which is used to determine if 
speculative bidding or unlawful bidding practices are occurring and is 
required to process electronic payments to the purchaser.
    Respondents will be bidders on National Forest System timber sales. 
Forest Service sale officers will mail bid forms to potential bidders, 
and bidders will return the completed forms, dated and signed, to the 
Forest Service sale officer.
    The data gathered in this information collection are not available 
from other sources.

Forms Associated With This Information Collection

    FS-2400-42a--National Forest Timber and Forest Products for Sale 
(Advertisement and Short-Form Bid): This form will be used for 
soliciting and receiving bids on short-notice timber sales advertised 
for less than 30 days for

[[Page 27671]]

less than $10,000 in advertised value. Respondents are bidders on 
National Forest System timber sales.
    FS-2400-14--Bid for Advertised Timber (3 form versions: FS-2400-
14UR--Bid for Advertised Timber, Unit Rate Bidding; FS-2400-14WA--Bid 
For Advertised Timber, Weighted Average Bidding; FS-2400-14TV--Bid For 
Advertised Timber, Total Value Bidding): These forms implement the same 
statutes, policies, and regulations and collect similar information 
from the same applicants. Respondents are bidders on National Forest 
System timber and forest product sales.
    FS-2400-14BV--Bid For Integrated Resource Contract (2 form 
versions:--FS-2400-14BV--Bid For Integrated Resource Contract, Best 
Value, Total Value Bidding; FS-2400-14BVU--Bid For Integrated Resource 
Contract, Best Value, Unit Rate Bidding): These are new versions of the 
Best Value bid form and will be used for soliciting and receiving bids 
on contracts advertised for 30 days or longer and on contracts greater 
than $10,000 in advertised value.
    Forms can be viewed on the World Wide Web/Internet site at: http://www.fs.fed.us/forestmanagement/infocenter and 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.

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                 Item                        FS-2400-42a               FS 2400-14              FS-2400-14BV
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Estimate of Annual Burden............  3.0 hours..............  14.4 hours.............  34.4 hours.
Type of Respondents..................     Individuals, large and small businesses, and corporations bidding on
                                             National Forest timber sales and Integrated Resource Contracts.
Estimated Annual Number of             445....................  825....................  115.
 Respondents.
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Estimated Number of Responses per      1.8....................  3.9....................  1.2.
 Respondent.
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Estimated Total Annual Burden on       2400 hours.............  39,880 hours...........  4747 hours.
 Respondents.
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Comment Is Invited

    Comment is invited on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the stated purposes or the proper 
performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the 
information shall 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 name 
and address when provided, will be summarized and included in the 
request for Office of Management and Budget approval. All comments also 
will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: May 2, 2006.
Frederick Norbury,
Associate Deputy Chief.
[FR Doc. E6-7279 Filed 5-11-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P