[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 55 (Tuesday, March 24, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12303-12304]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-6388]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Urgent Removal of Timber

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 extension of a currently approved information 
collection, Urgent Removal of Timber.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before May 26, 2009 
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 
Director, Forest Management, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Mailstop 
1103, Washington, DC 20250-1103.
    Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to 202-205-1045 or by 
e-mail to: [email protected].
    The public may inspect comments received at the Office of the 
Director, Forest Management, Third Floor, Southwest Wing, Yates 
Building, 201 14th Street, SW., Washington, DC during normal business 
hours. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to 202-205-1496 to 
facilitate entry to the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lathrop Smith, Forest Management 
staff, at 202-205-0858. 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: Urgent Removal of Timber.
    OMB Number: 0596-0167.
    Expiration Date of Approval: July 31, 2009.
    Type of Request: Extension with no revision.
    Abstract: Regulations at 36 CFR 223.53 allow timber sale purchasers 
to ask for extensions of certain National Forest timber sale contracts 
when the manufacturing facilities or logging equipment capacity 
available to purchasers are insufficient to provide for both the rapid 
harvest of damaged non-National Forest System (NFS) timber in need of 
expeditious removal and the continued harvest of undamaged (green) 
timber under contract with the Forest Service. When requesting an 
urgent removal extension, purchasers are required to provide 
documentation supporting the need. The collected information is 
necessary for the contracting officer to make a determination as to 
whether the purchaser meets the conditions for receiving an urgent 
removal extension on one or more NFS timber sale contracts.
    The intent of this information collection is to assure that 
provisions of timber sale contracts allowing extensions of time for 
harvest of NFS timber are consistent with the requirements of the 
National Forest Management Act (16 U.S.C. 472a), while:
     Minimizing loss of NFS timber adjacent to other timber 
infested with insects and disease or damaged by fire;
     Reduce the threat to public safety and property resulting 
from such catastrophic events; and
     Promote the wise use and conservation of natural 
resources.
    The National Forest Management Act requires that extensions of 
contract time shall not be granted unless ``the purchaser has 
diligently performed in accordance with an approved plan of operation 
or that the substantial overriding public interest justifies the 
extension.'' Regulations at 36 CFR 223.115 mirror the National Forest 
Management Act.
    Regulations at 36 CFR 223.53(b) required the Regional Forester to 
verify in writing that: (1) A specific catastrophe occurred for which 
urgent removal extensions should be granted; and (2) Failure to harvest 
the damaged non-NFS timber promptly could result in the following: (i) 
Pose a threat to public safety, (ii) Create a threat of an insect or 
disease epidemic to NFS or other lands or resources, or (iii) 
Significant private or other public resource loss.

[[Page 12304]]

    Following such a determination, to obtain an urgent removal 
extension on a NFS timber sale contract, a purchaser must make a 
written request to the contracting officer and include the following:
     An explanation of why the harvest of undamaged (green) NFS 
timber within the term of the existing NFS contract(s) will prevent or 
otherwise impede the removal of damaged non-NFS timber in need of 
expeditious removal; and
     Documentation that the manufacturing facilities or logging 
equipment capacity available to the purchaser would be insufficient to 
provide for both the rapid salvage of damaged non-NFS timber in need of 
expeditious removal and continued harvest of undamaged (green) NFS 
timber under contract with the Forest Service.
    The information is submitted by the purchaser in writing to the 
Forest Service contracting officer, who then verifies the legitimate 
need for the request of an urgent removal extension(s) in accordance 
with regulations at 36 CFR 223.53.
    No form is designated for the collection of this information. The 
information is collected in hard copy or by facsimile. Each request for 
an urgent removal extension is based upon a unique set of 
circumstances, no two requests are alike. There is no duplication of 
information and the information is only available from the timber sale 
purchaser. The Forest Service collects only the minimum amount of 
information necessary for the contracting officer to make a 
determination. Without the information, and the frequency at which it 
is collected, the Forest Service cannot assure that the statutory 
requirements of the National Forest Management Act are met.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: 6 hours.
    Type of Respondents: Timber sale contractors (individuals, for-
profit businesses, and non-profit entities).
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 25.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 150 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: March 18, 2009.
Richard W. Sowa,
Acting Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. E9-6388 Filed 3-23-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P