[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 59 (Wednesday, March 26, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15965-15966]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-6039]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Campfire Permit

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 new information collection, Campfire Permit.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before May 27, 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 Jason 
Kirchner, Public Affairs Staff, U.S. Forest Service Pacific Southwest 
Region, 1323 Club Drive, Vallejo, CA 94592.
    Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to (707) 562-9053 or 
by e-mail to: [email protected].
    The public may inspect comments received at the Forest Service's 
Pacific Southwest Regional Office during normal business hours. 
Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to (707) 562-9014 to facilitate 
entry to the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jason Kirchner, Pacific Southwest 
Region, (707) 562-9014. Individuals who use telecommunication devices 
for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-
877-8339 twenty-four hours a day, every day of the year, including 
holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: California Campfire Permit.
    OMB Number: 0596-New.
    Type of Request: New.
    Abstract: The issuance of the California Campfire Permit by Forest 
Service and Bureau of Land Management offices in California is a 
requirement resulting from a formal agreement with the State of 
California. The agreement outlines fire management responsibilities for 
each party and results in enhanced cooperation for fire suppression and 
fire prevention activities across agency boundaries throughout the 
state. California State law requires individuals to possess a permit to 
light, maintain, or

[[Page 15966]]

use a campfire on the property of another person and also requires 
individuals to obtain a campfire permit issued under U.S. Forest 
Service authority for campfires on National Forest System lands. As 
part of a formal agreement with the State, the U.S. Forest Service, 
Bureau of Land Management, and the California Department of Forestry 
and Fire Protection have agreed to issue an interagency campfire permit 
that meets the intent of the State law.

    California Public Resources Code 4433:

    Permits Required. A person shall not light, maintain, or use a 
campfire upon any brush-covered land, grass-covered land, or forest-
covered land which is the property of another person unless he first 
obtains a written permit from the owner, lessee, or agent of the 
owner or lessee of the property.
    If, however, campsites and special areas have been established 
by the property owner and posted as areas for camping, a permit is 
not necessary.
    A written campfire permit duly issued by or under the authority 
of the United States Forest Service is necessary for use on land 
under the jurisdiction and control of the United States Forest 
Service.

Issuance of the California Campfire Permit will occur in every Forest 
Service, Bureau of Land Management, and CAL FIRE office in the State 
that is open to the public. The permit is required for any individual 
that intends to make a campfire on National Forest System lands or 
Bureau of Land Management lands. Only one permit is required per year 
per person. The permit requires individuals to provide their name and 
address, which is used by designated law enforcement officials to 
verify that the permit belongs to a responsible individual that is 
present at a campfire. The information is not otherwise used or 
maintained for any purpose by the Forest Service or Bureau of Land 
Management.
    The California Campfire Permit is a valuable fire prevention tool 
that provides firefighting organizations in California an opportunity 
to educate members of the public on safe and responsible campfire use, 
and allows agencies to personally provide fire prevention messages to 
every individual that intends to build or maintain a campfire in the 
state. Without the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management 
participating in the distribution of this permit, those agencies would 
lose an important fire prevention tool while making it impossible for 
individuals to comply with state law due to the language in the state 
law requiring a campfire permit to be issued under U.S. Forest Service 
authority for campfires on National Forest System lands.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: 5 minutes.
    Type of Respondents: Individuals.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 250,000.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 20,833 hours.

Comment Is Invited

    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.

    March 20, 2008.
Robin L. Thompson,
Associate Deputy Chief, State & Private Forestry.
 [FR Doc. E8-6039 Filed 3-25-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P