[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 138 (Thursday, July 17, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41027-41028]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-16361]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Subsistence Harvest Patterns in Prince 
William Sound

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: Subsistence Harvest 
Patterns in Prince William Sound.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before September 15, 
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 Aaron 
Poe, Glacier Ranger District, Chugach National Forest, Forest Service, 
USDA, P.O. Box 129, Forest Station Road, Girdwood, AK 99587.
    Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to 907-783-2094 or by 
e-mail to: [email protected].
    The public may inspect comments received at Glacier Ranger 
District, 145 Forest Station Road, Girdwood, Alaska during normal 
business hours; 0800-1700 Monday through Friday. Visitors are 
encouraged to call ahead to 907-783-3242 to facilitate entry to the 
building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Aaron Poe at (907) 783-3242. 
Individuals who use 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: Subsistence Harvest Patterns in Prince William Sound.
    OMB Number: 0596-New.
    Type of Request: New.
    Abstract: In 1989, Prince William Sound (PWS), the heart of the 
Chugach National Forest (CNF), was severely impacted by the Exxon 
Valdez Oil Spill (EVOS). In the aftermath of the spill, Federal and 
state trustees were awarded criminal and civil restitution funds to 
help with the recovery (and the evaluation of the recovery) of injured 
resources and human services, including traditional practices of 
subsistence harvest, which is still listed as ``recovering.'' For the 
current list of injured resources and services, please visit the Exxon 
Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council's Web site at http://www.evostc.state.ak.us/Publications/injuredresources.cfm.
    The CNF, as the major land-owning Federal trustee in PWS, plays an 
important role in the recovery process. One area of critical importance 
to CNF managers, which has received less attention by researchers, is 
the distribution, behavior, and experience of human users throughout 
the Sound and the impact of these users on EVOS recovering resources 
and services. Recreation use is increasing in the Sound, and there is 
concern that increased competition and rapid growth in commercial and 
independent recreation may be negatively impacting subsistence 
activities through direct competition for resources from sport fishers 
and hunters, but also indirectly by displacing subsistence harvesters 
from traditional harvest areas.
    Understanding the subsistence harvest patterns in the Sound will 
add critical depth to the few existing PWS human use studies by:
    (1) Describing the exact nature of overlap between subsistence and 
recreation use in Sound,
    (2) Helping managers better understand the dynamics around the 
resulting interactions between these two important user groups, and
    (3) Allowing managers to anticipate potential conflicts.
    Conflicts between user groups have significant implications for 
EVOS impacted resources and services. Conflicts can diminish quality of 
life/experience for both subsistence and recreation groups (each 
already harmed by the spill) and push harvest and recreation activities 
into previously unused areas, potentially negatively affecting the 25 
impacted and recovering resources.
    The results of this survey (funded by EVOS criminal restitution 
dollars) will provide information on recovery and restoration 
activities undertaken by both the EVOS trustees and local resource 
managers relative to current and projected levels of human use. The 
study provides an excellent opportunity to assess the recovery of the 
subsistence human service injured and redistributed by the EVOS, as 
well as how CNF managers can further enhance recovery.
    Residents from the four communities of PWS who are subsistence 
eligible (Chenega, Cordova, Tatitlek, and Whittier) will be consulted 
through individual household interviews conducted by current community 
institutions (that is, Tribal or community councils). Respondents will 
describe harvest practices and any recent changes in such activities 
due to other users or changes in species availability.
    Researchers from the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture 
and University of Arizona will collect and analyze the data collected, 
then compare the data to information on recreation activities to 
identify the location and timing of potential interactions between 
subsistence harvesters and recreation users. Forest Service managers 
will use the resulting analysis to define baseline harvest patterns for 
the Prince William Sound, giving decision makers insight into the 
recovery of this important human

[[Page 41028]]

service (redistributed around the Sound in the aftermath of EVOS). This 
information will allow managers to mitigate potential conflicts. 
Further, study results may assist in the identification of potential 
changing resource harvest dynamics during a time of increasing human 
use in the Prince William Sound.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: 30 minutes.
    Type of Respondents: Individuals--(heads of households).
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 250.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: One.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 125 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.

    Dated: July 11, 2008.
Gloria Manning,
Associate Deputy Chief.
[FR Doc. E8-16361 Filed 7-16-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P