[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 122 (Monday, June 26, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36354-36355]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-5658]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


60-Day Notice of Intention To Request Clearance of Information; 
Opportunity for Public Comment

AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C., Chapter 3507) and 5 CFR Part 1320, 
Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements, the National Park Service 
(NPS) invites public comments on a new collection (OMB  1024-
XXXX).

DATES: Public comments on this notice will be accepted on or before 
August 25, 2006 to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to: Cherri Espersen, Outdoor Recreation 
Planner, Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program, National 
Park Service, 1849 C Street, NW., (Org Code 2235), Washington, DC 
20240. E-mail: [email protected]. Phone: (202) 354-6900, Fax: 
(202) 371-5179.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charlie Stockman, Acting Chief, 
Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program, National Park 
Service, 1849 C Street, NW. (Org Code 2235), Washington, DC 20240. E-
mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Application Guidelines for the 
Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program.
    OMB Number: To be requested.
    Expiration Date: To be requested.
    Type of Request: New collection.
    Description of Need: The National Park Service (NPS) provides 
assistance to communities to conserve their local natural resources and 
develop new close-to-home outdoor recreation opportunities through the 
Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) Program. RTCA staff 
work in urban, rural, and suburban communities to help applicants to 
conserve rivers, preserve open space, and develop trails and greenways. 
This notice is provided to make potential applicants aware of the RTCA 
Program and how they can apply for technical assistance through the 
program. RTCA provides a variety of assistance, but does not provide 
direct grants.
    The proposed information collections impose no data collection or 
recordkeeping burden on the potential respondents. Responding to the 
proposed collections is voluntary and is based on data that the 
respondents already collect and/or personal opinion. Public comments 
are invited on this new collection.

Application Guidelines

    It is recommended that potential applicants contact our regional 
program staff to discuss their interests and seek guidance before 
applying. Applications for RTCA assistance are competitively evaluated 
by our regional offices. Projects are locally-requested and led and 
should include significant public involvement and outreach. Projects 
should also include the commitment, cooperation and cost-sharing of all 
partners. RTCA assistance is for one year and may be renewed for a 
second year if warranted.

Application Letters (One to Three Pages) Should Include the Following 
Information

1. Contact Information
    Please provide information about the initial project partner(s), 
including name of a primary contact, organization, address, phone, fax, 
and e-mail. Designate a lead project partner.
2. Project Description and Anticipated Results
     Provide the name of the project and project location.
     Identify what populations in your community will be served 
by the project.
     Describe briefly the anticipated results of the project 
and why the project is important.
     Identify anticipated on-the-ground results: For example, 
resources created, conserved, enhanced or made available to the 
public--the number of river miles improved by restoration projects; the 
number of river miles conserved with enhanced protection status; the 
number of multi-use trail miles created; the number of acres of 
parkland created; the number of acres of wildlife habitat restored.
     Describe the related important natural, cultural, 
historic, scenic, and recreational resources within the project area.
     Describe other expected accomplishments: For example, an 
increased community commitment to stewardship, a new conservation 
organization, or the development of a concept plan for a trail.
     Outline background or prior activity on the project (if 
any), the current status, and a proposed schedule for completion.
3. Commitment for Public Involvement
    Describe the type and level of public involvement you anticipate 
during the development of this project.
4. Roles, Resources, and Contributions
     Describe the kind of technical assistance or role you are 
seeking from the RTCA program.
     Describe the roles and contributions of all project 
partners listed in part 1 above.
     Identify other types of resources available for the 
implementation of your project.
5. Support for the Project
     Describe the support you anticipate from interested 
stakeholders, such as public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and 
landowners.
     Support letters from elected officials, community leaders, 
and cooperating organizations are strongly recommended.
Related Strategic Initiative (optional)
Describe how the project:

--Provides physical connections among resources;
--Includes an NPS area as an actively involved project partner;

[[Page 36355]]

--Includes both natural resource conservation and outdoor recreation;
--Partners with a health organization.

    The national deadline for projects set to start the following 
fiscal year (which runs from October 1 to September 30) is August 1. 
Final project selection is generally completed in early November after 
passage of the Federal budget.
    For more information on the RTCA Program and how to apply for 
assistance, please visit our national Web site at http://www.nps.gov/rtca or call us at 202-354-6900. Contact information for all of our 
regional offices is available on the RTCA Web site under ``Contact 
Us.'' NPS specifically requests comments on: (1) The need for 
information including whether the information has practical utility; 
(2) the accuracy of the reporting burden hour estimate; (3) ways to 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information being 
collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of information 
collection on respondents, including the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Description of Respondents: This is a notice to any federal, state 
or local agency, tribe, non-profit organization, or citizens' group 
that might be interested in receiving assistance from the RTCA program.
    Estimated Average Number of Respondents: 250.
    Estimated Average Number of Responses: 250.
    Estimated Average Burden Hours per Response: 4 hours.
    Frequency of Response: One time per request for assistance.
    Estimated Annual Reporting Burden: 1,000 hrs.

    Dated: May 23, 2006.
Leonard E. Stowe,
NPS, Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 06-5658 Filed 6-23-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-M