[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 11 (Wednesday, January 16, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2881-2882]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-604]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Forest Products Removal Permits and 
Contracts

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; Request for comment.

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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 a currently approved information 
collection, Forest Products Removal Permits and Contracts.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before March 17, 2008 
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 Staff, Forest Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Mail Stop 1103, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, 
DC 20250.
    Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to 202-205-1045 or by 
e-mail to [email protected].

[[Page 2882]]

    The public may inspect comments received at the Forest Management 
Staff Office, Third Floor, Southwest Wing, Yates Building, 201 14th 
Street, SW., Washington, DC. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to 
202-205-1766 to facilitate entrance into the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sharon Nygaard-Scott, Forest 
Management Staff, at 202-205-1766, or Richard Fitzgerald, Forest 
Management Staff, at 202-205-1753. 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: Forest Products Removal Permits and Contracts.
    OMB Number: 0596-0085.
    Expiration Date of Current Approval: August 31, 2008.
    Type of Request: Extension.
    Abstract: Under 16 U.S.C. 551, individuals planning to remove 
forest products from the National Forests must obtain a permit. To 
obtain a permit, applicants must meet the criteria at 36 CFR 223.1, 
223.2, and 223.5-223.13, which authorizes free use or sale of timber or 
forest products. Upon receiving a permit, the permittee must comply 
with the terms of the permit (36 CFR 261.6), which designates forest 
products that can be harvested and under what conditions, such a 
limiting harvest to a designated area or permitting harvest of only 
specifically designated material. The collected information will help 
the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management (for form FS-2400-
1) oversee the approval and use of forest products by the public.
    When applying for forest product removal permits, applicants 
(depending on the products) must complete one of the following:
     FS-2400-1, Forest Products Removal Permit and Cash 
Receipt, is used to sell timber or forest products such as fuel wood, 
Christmas trees, or pine cones (36 CFR 223.1, 223.2). The Bureau of 
Land Management (BLM) and the Forest Service share this form, which the 
Bureau of Land Management identifies as BLM-5450-24 (43 U.S.C. 1201, 43 
CFR 5420).
     FS-2400-4, Forest Products Contract and Cash Receipt, is 
used to sell timber products such as saw timber or forest products such 
as fuel wood.
     FS-2400-8, Forest Products Free Use Permit, allows use of 
timber or forest products at no charge to the permittee (36 CFR 223.5-
223.13).

Each form listed above implements different regulations and has 
different provisions for compliance, but collects similar information 
from the applicant for related purposes.
    The Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management will use the 
information collected on form FS-2400-1 to ensure identification of 
permittees in the field by agency personnel. The Forest Service will 
use the information collected on forms FS-2400-4 and FS-2400-8 to:
     Ensure that permittees obtaining free use of timber or 
forest products qualify for the free-use program and do not receive 
product value in excess of that allowed by regulations (36 CFR 223.8).
     Ensure that applicants purchasing timber harvest or forest 
products permits non-competitively do not exceed the authorized limit 
in a fiscal year (16 U.S.C. 472 (a)).
     Ensure identification of permittees in the field by Forest 
Service personnel.
    Applicants may apply for more than one forest products permit or 
contract a year. For example, an applicant may obtain a free use permit 
for a timber product such as pinecones (FS-2400-8) and still purchase 
fuel wood (FS-2400-4).
    Individuals and small business representatives usually request and 
apply for permits and contracts in person at the office issuing the 
permit. Applicants provide the following information:
     Name.
     Address.
     Personal identification number such as tax identification 
number, social security number, driver's license number, or other 
unique number identifying the applicant.
    Agency personnel enter the information into a computerized database 
to use for subsequent requests by individuals and businesses for a 
forest product permit or contract. The information is printed on paper, 
which the applicant signs and dates. Agency personnel discuss the terms 
and conditions of the permit or contract with the applicant.
    The data gathered is not available from other sources. The 
collected data is used to ensure that applicants for free use permits 
meet the criteria for free use of timber or forest products authorized 
by regulations at 36 CFR 223.5-113.13; and that applicants seeking to 
purchase and remove timber of forest products from Agency lands meet 
the criteria under which sale of timber or forest products is 
authorized by regulations at 36 CFR 223.80, and to ensure that 
permittees comply with regulations and terms of the permit at 36 CFR 
261.6.
    The collection of this information is necessary to ensure that 
applicants meet the requirements of the forest products program; those 
obtaining free-use permits for forest products qualify for the program; 
applicants purchasing non-competitive permits to harvest forest 
products do not exceed authorized limits; and that Federal Agency 
employees can identify permittees when in the field.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: 5 minutes.
    Type of Respondents: Individuals and small businesses.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 207,600.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 2.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 34,600.
    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 submission request 
toward Office of Management and Budget approval.

    Dated: January 7, 2008.
Anne J. Zimmerman
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. E8-604 Filed 1-15-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P