[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 116 (Friday, June 16, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 34879]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-9422]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Request for Comments; Land Exchanges

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 extension of the currently approved information 
collection 0596-0105--Land Exchanges.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before August 15, 
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 
Cynthia R. Swanson, Assistant Director, Lands, 1400 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Mail Stop 1124, Washington, DC 20250-1124.
    Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to (202) 205-1604 or 
by e-mail to: lands/[email protected].
    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 
Assistant Director--Lands Staff, Yates Building, 201 14th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead at (202) 205-1248 
to facilitate entry into the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cynthia R. Swanson, Assistant 
Director--Lands Staff, at (202) 205-1248 or Kathleen L. Dolge, Realty 
Specialist, at (202) 205-1248. Individuals who use telecommunications 
devices for the deaf may call the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-
8339, 24 hours a day, every day of the year, including holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Land Exchanges.
    OMB Number: 0596-0105.
    Expiration Date of Approval: December 31, 2006.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: Land exchanges are discretionary, voluntary real estate 
transactions between the Secretary of Agriculture (acting by and 
through the Forest Service) and a non-Federal exchange party (or 
parties). Land exchanges can be initiated by a non-Federal party (or 
parties), an agent of a landowner, a broker, a third party, or a non-
Federal public agency.
    Each land exchange requires preparation of an Agreement to 
Initiate, as required by Title 36 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), 
part 254, subpart C, section 254.4--Agreement to Initiate an Exchange. 
This document specifies the preliminary and non-binding intentions of 
the non-Federal land exchange party and the Forest Service in pursuing 
a land exchange. The Agreement to Initiate can contain such information 
as the description of properties being considered in the land exchange, 
an implementation schedule of action items, identification of the party 
responsible for each action item, as well as target dates for 
completion of each action item.
    As the exchange proposal develops, the Forest Service and the non-
Federal land exchange party may enter into a binding Exchange 
Agreement, pursuant to Title 36 CFR part 254, subpart A, section 
254.14--Exchange Agreement. The Exchange Agreement documents the 
conditions that must be met to complete the exchange. The Exchange 
Agreement can contain information such as identification of parties, 
description of lands and interests to be exchanged, identification of 
all reserved and outstanding interests, and all other terms and 
conditions necessary to complete the exchange.
    The Forest Service collects the information from the non-Federal 
party (or parties) necessary to complete the Agreement to Initiate and 
the Exchange Agreement. The information is collected by Forest Service 
personnel from parties involved in the exchange via telephone or in 
person. Data from this information collection is unique to each land 
exchange and is not available from other sources. No standardized forms 
are associated with this information collection.

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                                           Agreement to      Exchange
                  Item                       initiate        agreement
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Estimate of Annual Burden Hours.........               1               1
Type of Respondents.....................             (*)             (*)
Estimated Annual Number of Respondents..              60              60
Estimated Number of Responses per                      1               1
 Respondent.............................
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours on                60              60
 Respondents............................
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*Non-Federal Land Exchange Party.

    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 become a matter of public record. 
Comments will be summarized and included in the request for Office of 
Management and Budget approval.

    June 7, 2006.
Frederick R. Norbury,
Associate Deputy Chief,National Forest System.
 [FR Doc. E6-9422 Filed 6-15-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P