[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 63 (Tuesday, April 1, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 17294]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-6647]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
 appearing in this section.
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  Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 63 / Tuesday, April 1, 2008 / 
Notices  

[[Page 17294]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

March 27, 2008.
    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, Public Law 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: State Petitions for Roadless Management.
    OMB Control Number: 0596-0178.
    Summary of Collection: The Forest Service (FS) has the authority to 
collect relevant information pertinent to the management of national 
forests. The current United States Code outlines these authorities in 
U.S.C. Title 16 (Sections 475 and 511) derived from the National Forest 
Organic Act of 1897 and the U.S.C. Title 16 (Sections 1600-1604, 1608-
1610, and 1611-1613) based on the Forest and Rangeland Renewable 
Resources Planning Act of 1974 and the National Forest Management Act 
of 1976. On January 12, 2001, the USDA promulgated the Roadless Rule at 
36 CFR 294. The Rule changed the FS's longstanding approach to 
management of inventoried roadless areas by establishing nationwide 
prohibitions limiting, with some exceptions, timber harvest, road 
construction, and road reconstruction within inventoried roadless areas 
on National Forest System (NFS) lands. Prior to the Roadless Rule, 
management direction for these areas was developed for each individual 
NFS unit through the local land management planning process. During the 
development of the Roadless Rule, several western state governors 
requested and were denied cooperating agency status to assist with the 
preparation of the rule and accompanying environmental impact 
statement. After the decision, the FS established an individual state 
petitioning process in 36 CFR Part 294. State and territorial governors 
use the petitioning process to seek establishment of management 
requirements for NFS inventoried roadless areas with their states.
    Need and Use of the Information: FS will collect information from 
the petition that shall include the following: (1) The location and 
description of the particular lands for which the petition is being 
made; (2) the particular management requirements sought and any 
exceptions; (3) the identification of the circumstances and needs 
intended to be addressed by the petition; (4) a description of how the 
management requirements identified in (2) differ from the existing 
applicable land management; (5) a description of how the management 
requirements identified in item (2) compare to existing state land 
conservation policies and direction set forth in any applicable state 
land and resource management plan; (6) a description of how the 
recommended management requirements identified in item (2) would affect 
fish and wildlife that utilize the particular lands in question; and 
(7) a description of any public involvement efforts undertaken by the 
state during development of the petition, including efforts to engage 
local governments, and: persons with expertise in fish and wildlife 
biology, fish and wildlife management, forest management outdoor 
recreation, and other important disciplines.
    Description of Respondents: State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 12.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
    Total Burden Hours: 12,000.

Charlene Parker,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. E8-6647 Filed 3-31-08; 8:45 am]
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