[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 237 (Monday, December 11, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71503-71505]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-20947]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

December 5, 2006.
    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13. Comments 
regarding (a) whether the collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including 
whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy 
of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology should be addressed to: Desk 
Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), [email protected] or 
fax (202) 395-5806 and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, 
Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-7602. Comments regarding these 
information collections are best assured of having their full effect if 
received within 30 days of this notification. Copies of the 
submission(s) may be obtained by calling (202) 720-8681.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to 
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not 
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB Control Number.

Forest Service

    Title: Visitor Permit and Visitor Registration Card.
    OMB Control Number: 0596-0019.
    Summary of Collection: The Organic Administration Act (30 stat. 
11), the Wilderness Act (78 stat. 890), the Wild and Scenic River Act 
(82 stat. 906) and Executive Order 11644, all authorize the Forest 
Service (FS) to manage the forests to benefit both land and people. The 
information collected from the Visitor's Permit Form (FS-2300-30) and 
Visitor Registration Card (FS-2300-32) help the Forest Service ensure 
that visitors' use of National Forest System lands is in the public 
interest and compatible with the mission of the agency. The information

[[Page 71504]]

is collected from National Forest System land visitors, who will be 
asked to describe their intended use of the land and the estimated 
duration of their visit.
    Need and Use of the Information: FS will collect the visitor's 
name, address, area to be visited, date of visit, length of stay, 
method of travel, number of people, and number of pack and saddle 
stock. The permit and registration card allows managers to identify 
heavily used areas to prepare restoration and monitoring plans that 
reflect where use is occurring, and in extreme cases, to develop plans 
to move forest users to lesser-impacted areas. The completed forms also 
provide managers with information useful in locating lost forest 
visitors. Not being able to use these forms could result in overuse and 
site deterioration in environmentally sensitive areas.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; business or 
other for-profit; not-for profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 368,400.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (per visit).
    Total Burden Hours: 19,320.

Forest Service

    Title: Youth Conservation Corps Application & Medical History 
Forms.
    OMB Control Number: 0596-0084.
    Summary of Collection: Under Pub. L. 93-408, the Youth Conservation 
Corps Act (YCC), the Forest Service (U.S. Department of Agriculture), 
and agencies within the Department of the Interior (the Fish and 
Wildlife Service, National Park Service, and Bureau of Land Management) 
cooperate to provide seasonal employment for eligible youth 15 to 18 
years old.
    Need and Use of the Information: Youth, ages 15-18, who seek 
training and employment with participating agencies through the YCC 
must complete an application form (FS-1800-18) and once selected for 
employment must complete a medical history form (FS-1800-3). The 
applicant's parents or guardian must sign both forms. The application 
form is used in the random selection process and the medical history 
form provides information needed to determine certification of 
suitability, any special medical or medication needs, and a file record 
for the Federal Government and participants.
    If these forms were not used, the Federal Government's ability to 
oversee the Youth Conservation Corps program would be greatly impaired. 
The organizational and liability issues that would result from 
inability to collect the information needed to manage the program would 
be virtually insurmountable.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households.
    Number of Respondents: 20,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 2,267.

Forest Service

    Title: Agreement to Initiate (ATI) and Exchange Agreement (EA).
    OMB Control Number: 0596-0105.
    Summary of Collection: 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), and agent of a landowners, 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 and Exchange. As the exchange proposal develops, the exchange 
parties may enter into a binding Exchange Agreement, pursuant to Title 
36 CFR part 254, subpart A, section 254.14--Exchange Agreement.
    Need and Use of the Information: The Agreement to Initiate document 
specifies the preliminary and on-biding intentions of the non-Federal 
land exchange party and the Forest Service in pursuing a land exchange. 
The Agreement to Initiate contains information such as the description 
of properties considered for exchange, an implementation schedule of 
action items, identification of the party responsible for each action 
item, and target dates for completion of action items.
    The Exchange Agreement documents the conditions necessary to 
complete the exchange. It contains information identifying 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.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; 
individuals or households; State, local or tribal government.
    Number of Respondents: 120.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 120.

Forest Service

    Title: Objection to New Land Management Plans, Plan Amendments, and 
Plan Revisions.
    OMB Control Number: 0596-0158.
    Summary of Collection: The process for submitting objections to new 
land management plans, plan amendments, and plan revisions is set forth 
in Title 36 CFR 219.13. An objector must provide their name, mailing 
address, telephone number, and identify the specific proposed plan, 
amendment, or revision that is the subject of the objection. This is 
the minimum information needed for a citizen or organization to explain 
the nature of and rational for objections to new land management plans, 
plan amendments, and plan revisions.
    This information must accompany a concise statement explaining how 
the environmental disclosure documents, if any, and proposed plan, 
amendment, or revision are inconsistent with law, regulation, Executive 
Order, or policy and any recommendations for change. The Reviewing 
Officer then reviews the objection(s) and relevant information and 
responds to the objector(s) in writing.
    Need and Use of the Information: The information collected 
(objections to new land management plans, plan amendments, and plan 
revisions) is analyzed and responded to by a Forest Service official. 
At times, this information is used to modify land and resource 
management planning decisions. Forest supervisors and regional forests 
that make decisions on land and resource management planning also use 
the information. Without this information, the agency's decision-making 
will suffer from a reduction in public input and agency relationships 
with the public will deteriorate.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; business or 
other for-profit; not-for-profit institutions; State, local or tribal 
government.
    Number of Respondents: 1,210.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (once).
    Total Burden Hours: 1,210.

Forest Service

    Title: Economic, Social, and Cultural Aspects of Livestock Ranching 
on the Santa Fe and Carson National Forests.
    OMB Control Number: 0596-0171.
    Summary of Collection: Management of federal lands is hampered in 
many cases because land managing agencies lack sufficient information 
to understand and monitor socio-cultural values and changing attitude 
toward land and resource use. The lack of up-to-date information 
impedes efforts of the Forest Service (FS) to work with livestock 
ranchers who graze their cattle

[[Page 71505]]

under permit on FS managed land (permittees). Cultural differences and 
historic problems over land use contribute to disagreements and 
misunderstanding between the permittees and federal land managers. 
Information on the economic, social, and cultural contributions of 
livestock ownership to federal permittees is of interest to land 
managers, policy makers, social scientists, the general public, and the 
permittees themselves. FS will use a questionnaire to collect 
information from livestock permittees from the Santa Fe and Carson 
National Forest.
    Need and Use of the Information: FS will collect data on economic, 
social, and cultural contributions of livestock ownership to the 
permittees of northern New Mexico. The information will help FS 
personnel manage the land more effectively and work more cooperatively 
with the permittees by increasing understanding of the local culture 
and the role of livestock ownership in that culture. If the data is not 
collected, grazing allotment plans and forest plan revisions will not 
be based on the most current and appropriate socio-cultural and 
economic information.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; farms; 
business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 150.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 225.

Charlene Parker,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
 [FR Doc. E6-20947 Filed 12-8-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P