[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 205 (Wednesday, October 24, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60314-60315]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-20868]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Social and Cultural Structure of Private 
Forestry

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for comment.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals and 
organizations on the new information collection; Social and Cultural 
Structure of Private Forestry.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before December 24, 
2007 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 John 
Schelhas, Southern Research Station, USDA Forest Service, 112 Campbell 
Hall, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL 36088.
    Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to (334) 724-4451 or 
by e-mail to: [email protected].
    The public may inspect comments received at 204 Campbell Hall, 
Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL during normal business hours. 
Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to (334) 727-8131 to facilitate 
entry to the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Schelhas, Southern Research 
Station, USDA Forest Service, 334-727-8131. Individuals who use 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: Social and Cultural Structure of Private Forestry
    OMB Number: 0596-NEW.
    Expiration Date of Approval:
    Type of Request: New.
    Abstract: Non-industrial private forests constitute the majority of 
the forest in the South, and provide many important public and private 
benefits. These benefits are enhanced when landowners receive 
professional forestry assistance, though very few landowners seek 
assistance or have written management plans for their forests. This 
problem is particularly acute for minority forest landowners. This 
study will use ethnographic methods to learn about social and cultural 
aspects of forest landowner decision-making; in particular, forest 
values and identities, social networks for information flows, and 
actual forest management practices. The information gathered will 
contribute to scientific papers presented at professional meetings and 
in publications. The data will also assist in the development of new 
materials and techniques for outreach to forest managers by government, 
nonprofit, and private forester and natural resource managers.
    Face-to-face interviews with 200 forest landowners (100 per year) 
will occur at three sites in the South. A team of researchers from the 
Southern Research Station, USDA Forest Service and the College of 
Agricultural, Environmental, and Natural Sciences, Tuskegee University 
will conduct the interviews and analyze the data collected. The 
information collected includes: (1) Responses to ``twenty statements 
test'' to measure identity; (2) social networks utilized to acquire 
forest management information; (3) life histories with regard to land 
ownership and forest management; (4) demographic data; and (5) land use 
and forest management practices.
    The information will be collected only once from each landowner. If 
the information is not collected, federal, state, and private efforts 
to promote improved forest management to provide benefits for 
landowners and society will be less successful.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: 2 hours.
    Type of Respondents: Forest landowners.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 100.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: Once.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 200 hours.
    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.


[[Page 60315]]


    Dated: October 16, 2007.
Jimmy L. Reaves,
Associate Deputy Chief, Research & Development.
[FR Doc. E7-20868 Filed 10-23-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P