[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 99 (Wednesday, May 21, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29478-29479]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-11356]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

May 16, 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: Airplane Pilot Qualifications and Approval Record, 
Helicopter Pilot Qualifications and Approval Record, Airplane Data 
Record, and Helicopter Data Record.
    OMB Control Number: 0596-0015.
    Summary of Collection: The Forest Service (FS) is the largest owner 
and operator of aircraft in the federal government outside of the 
Department of Defense. In conducting the Forest Service Land management 
mission they use 44 owned aircraft with 315 aircraft on loan to 18 
States for fire suppression activities. The majority of FS flying is in 
support of wildland fire suppression. In addition to the agency owned 
aircraft, the FS contracts with approximately 400 vendors for aviation 
services used in resource protection and administrative projects. 
Contractor aircraft and pilots are used to place water and chemical 
retardants on fires, provide aerial delivery of firefighters to fires, 
perform reconnaissance, resource surveys, search for lost personnel, 
and fire detection. Contracts for such services established rigorous 
qualification requirements for pilots and specific condition/equipment/
performance requirements for aircraft. The authority is granted under 
the Federal Aviation Administration Regulations in Title 14 
(Aeronautics and Space) of the Code of Federal Regulations.
    Need and Use of the Information: FS will collect information using 
FS forms to document the basis for approval of contract pilot and 
aircraft for use in specific FS aviation missions. The information 
collected from contract pilots in face to face meetings (such as name, 
age, pilots license number, number of hours flown in type of aircraft, 
etc.) is based on the length and type of contract but is usually done 
on a reoccurring annual basis. Without the information supplied on 
these forms, FS contracting officers and pilot/aircraft inspectors 
cannot determine if pilots and aircraft meet the detailed 
qualification, equipment, and condition requirements essential to safe, 
efficient accomplishment of FS specified flying

[[Page 29479]]

missions and which are included in contract specifications.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; Business or 
other for-profit; State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 2,700.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 1,226.

Forest Service

    Title: 36 CFR Part 228, Subpart A--Locatable Minerals.
    OMB Control Number: 0596-0022.
    Summary of Collection: The United States Mining Law of 1982, as 
amended, governs the prospecting for and appropriation of metallic and 
most nonmetallic minerals on 192 millions acres of National Forest set 
up by proclamation from the public domain. It gives individuals the 
right to search for and extract valuable mineral deposits of locatable 
minerals and secure title to the lands involved. Recording that claim 
in the local courthouse and with the appropriate BLM State Office 
affords protection to the mining claimant from subsequent locators. A 
mining claimant is entitled to reasonable access to claim for further 
prospecting, mining or necessary related activities, subject to the 
other laws and applicable regulations. The purpose of the regulations 
at 36 CFR part 228, subpart A, is to set some specific rules and 
procedures through which use of the surface of National Forest System 
lands in connection with mineral operations authorized by the United 
States mining laws shall be conducted so as to minimize adverse 
environmental impacts on surface resources. The Forest Service (FS) 
will collect information using form FS 2800-5, Plan of Operations for 
Mining Activities on National Forest System Lands.
    Need and Use of the Information: FS will collect information 
requirements for a Notice of Intent to include the name, address, and 
telephone number of the operator; the area involved; the nature of the 
proposed operations; the route of access to the area of operations and 
the method of transport. The information requirements for a Plan of 
Operations includes: The name and legal mailing address of the 
operators; a description of the type of operations proposed; a 
description of how it would be conducted; a description of the type and 
standard of existing/proposed roads/access route; a description of the 
means of transportation to be used; a description of the period during 
which the proposed activity will take place; and measures to meet the 
environmental protection requirements. The information requirements for 
a cessation of operation include: verification to maintain the 
structures, equipment and other facilities; expected reopening date; 
estimate of extended duration of operations; and maintenance of the 
site, structure, equipment and other facilities during nonoperating 
periods.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 737.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (approved for a given 
period).
    Total Burden Hours: 4,661.

Forest Service

    Title: Social and Cultural Structure of Private Forestry.
    OMB Control Number: 0596-NEW.
    Summary of Collection: Non-industrial Private Forest (NIPF) land 
represents about 95 percent of the private forest owners and 63 percent 
of the private forestland in the southern United States. NIPF lands 
provide many important public and private benefits including timber 
supply, forest health, watershed protection, biodiversity, aesthetics, 
wildlife, recreation, income, and investment. These benefits are 
enhanced when landowners receive professional forestry assistance, 
though very few landowners seek assistance or have written management 
plans for their forests. Forest Service along with a team of 
researchers from the Southern Research Station, and the College of 
Agricultural, Environmental, and Natural Sciences, Tuskegee University 
will conduct a study of minority forest landowners at three sites in 
the South.
    Need and Use of the Information: This study will provide guidance 
for (a) reaching underserved landowners, (b) motivating a wider range 
of forest landowners to take action to meet their objectives, and (c) 
developing new survey questions for use in NIPF studies nationwide. The 
information collected during face-to-face interviews with forest 
landowners includes responses to ``twenty statements test'' to measure 
identity, identification of social networks utilized to acquire forest 
management information, demographic data, life history regarding land 
ownership and forest management. Learning how diverse forest landowners 
operate within social and cultural contexts will produce practical and 
theoretical benefits. The information gathered will contribute to 
scientific presentations and publications and will assist in developing 
new approaches for delivery of assistance to forest landowners.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or Households.
    Number of Respondents: 100.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 200.

Charlene Parker,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. E8-11356 Filed 5-20-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P