[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 134 (Friday, July 11, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 39985]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-15592]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


60-Day Notice of Intention To Request Clearance of Collection of 
Information; Opportunity for Public Comment

AGENCY: The Department of the Interior, National Park Service.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
and 5 CFR part 1320, the National Park Service (NPS) invites public 
comments on an extension of a currently approved collection of 
information (OMB 1024-0126).

DATES: Public comments on this Information Collection Request (ICR) 
will be accepted on or before September 9, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to: Jo A. Pendry, NPS Concession Program 
Manager, 1849 C Street, NW. (2410), Washington, DC 20240; or via phone 
at 202/513-7156; or via fax at 202/371-2090; or via e-mail at [email protected]. Also, you may send comments to Leonard E. Stowe, NPS 
Information Collection Clearance Officer, 1849 C St., NW. (2605), 
Washington, DC 20240; or via e-mail at [email protected]. All 
responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request 
for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval. All comments 
will become a matter of public record.
    To Request a Draft of Proposed Collection of Information Contact: 
Jo A. Pendry, NPS Concession Program Manager, 1849 C St., NW. (2410), 
Washington, DC 20240; or via phone at 202/513-7156; or via fax at 202/
371-2090; or via email at [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erica Chavis, NPS Concessions 
Specialist, 1849 C St., NW (2410), Washington, DC 20240; or via phone 
at 202/513-7144; or via e-mail at [email protected]. You are 
entitled to a copy of the entire ICR package free of charge once the 
package is submitted to OMB for review. You can access this ICR at 
http://www.reginfo.gov/public/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Proposed Sale of Concession Operations (36 CFR part 51, 
subpart J).
    Bureau Form Number (s): None.
    OMB Control Number: 1024-0126.
    Expiration Date: April 30, 2009.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection of 
information.
    Description of Need: The National Park Service (NPS) authorizes 
private businesses known as concessioners to provide necessary and 
appropriate visitor facilities and services in areas of the National 
Park System. Concession authorizations may be assigned, sold, 
transferred or encumbered by the concessioner subject to prior written 
approval of the NPS. The NPS requires that certain information be 
submitted for review prior to the consummation of any sale, transfer, 
assignment, or encumbrance.
    16 U.S.C. 3 provides that no contract, lease, permit or privilege 
granted for the purpose of providing accommodations for visitors to the 
national parks shall be assigned or transferred by such grantees, 
permittees, or licenses without the approval of the NPS, first obtained 
in writing. It further provides that the NPS may authorize 
concessioners to execute mortgages and issue bonds, shares of stock, 
and other evidences or interest in or indebtedness upon their rights, 
properties and franchises, for the purposes of installing, enlarging, 
or improving plants and equipment and extending facilities for the 
accommodation of the public within national parks and monuments. 16 
U.S.C. 20(3) also provides that the possessory interest of a 
concessioner may be assigned, transferred, encumbered, or relinquished. 
Regulations at 36 CFR, part 51, require that certain information be 
submitted for review by the NPS prior to the consummation of any sale, 
transfer, assignment or encumbrance.
    The information requested is used to determine whether or not the 
proposed transaction will result in decreased services to the public, 
the lack of a reasonable opportunity for profit over the remaining term 
of the authorization, or rates in excess of existing approved rates to 
the public. In addition, pursuant to the regulations at 36 CFR, Part 
51, the value of rights for intangible assets such as the concession 
contract, right of preference in renewal, user days, or low fees belong 
to the Government. If any portion of the purchase price is attributable 
either directly or indirectly to such assets, the transaction may not 
be approved. The amount and type of information to be submitted varies 
with the type and complexity of the proposed transaction. Without such 
information, the NPS would be unable to determine whether approval of 
the proposed transaction would be adequate. Concessioners' obligation 
to respond is required to retain or obtain benefits.
    Automated data collection: No automated data collection will take 
place.
    Description of respondents: Businesses or other for-profit, 
individuals or households, not-for-profit institutions.
    Estimate average number of respondents: 20.
    Estimated average time burden per respondent: 80 hours.
    Estimated average number of responses: 20.
    Frequency of response: Once per respondent.
    Estimated total annual reporting burden: 1,600 hours.
    Comments are invited on: (1) The practical utility of the 
information being gathered; (2) the accuracy of the burden hour 
estimate; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information being collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden to 
respondents, including use of automated information collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology. Before including 
your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal 
identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your 
entire comment--including your personal identifying information--may be 
made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your 
comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public 
review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

    Dated: June 10, 2008.
Leonard E. Stowe,
NPS, Information Collection Clearance Officer.
 [FR Doc. E8-15592 Filed 7-10-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-53-M