[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 68 (Friday, April 10, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16349-16350]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-8188]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Request for Comment; National Visitor Use 
Monitoring

AGENCY: US 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, National Visitor Use Monitoring (0596-0110).

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before June 9, 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 Dr. 
Donald B.K. English, Recreation, Heritage, and Volunteer Resources, 
Mailstop 1125, Forest Service, USDA, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-1125.
    Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to 202-205-1145 or by 
e-mail to: [email protected].
    The public may inspect comments received at Room 4 Central, Yates 
Building, Recreation, Heritage and Volunteer Resources Staff, 1400 
Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250 during normal business 
hours. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to (202) 205-9595 to 
facilitate entry to the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donald B.K. English, Recreation, 
Heritage, and Volunteer Resources staff, at 202-205-9595. 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: National Visitor Use Monitoring.
    OMB Number: 0596-0110.
    Expiration Date of Approval: April 30, 2010.
    Type of Request: Extension with no revision.
    Abstract: The Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 
requires that Federal agencies establish measurable goals and monitor 
their success at meeting those goals. Two of the items the Forest 
Service must measure are: (1) The number of visits that occur on the 
National Forest System lands for recreation and other purposes, and (2) 
the views and satisfaction levels of recreational visitors to National 
Forest System lands about the services, facilities, and settings. The 
agency receives requests for this kind of information from a variety of 
organizations, including Congressional staffs, newspapers, magazines, 
and recreational trade organizations.
    The data from this collection provides vital information for 
strategic planning efforts, decisions regarding allocation of 
resources, and revisions of land and resource management plans for 
national forests. It provides managers with reliable estimates of the 
number of recreational visitors to a national forest, activities of 
those visitors (including outdoor physical activities), customer 
satisfaction, and visitor values. The knowledge gained from this effort 
helps identify recreational markets as well as the economic impact 
visitors have on an area. The information collected is also used by the 
Office of Management and Budget as part of the Program Analysis 
Reporting Tool measures for the Forest Service recreation program. For 
the Forest Service, the collection is designed for a five-year cycle of 
coverage across all national forests. Conducting the collection less 
frequently puts information updates out of cycle with forest planning 
and other data preparation activities.
    To conform to the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act 
(SNPLMA), the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, and 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (all United States Department of 
Interior (USDI) agencies) will be utilizing this collection once every 
five years to obtain credible and mutually comparable estimates of 
recreational use on lands they administer in Clarke County, Nevada. 
This collection helps ensure a timely

[[Page 16350]]

response to SNPLMA requirements. In addition, the Bureau of Land 
Management intends to partner with the Forest Service to use the NVUM 
program as its means for estimating the volume of visitation and 
describing key visitor characteristics.
    At recreation sites or access points, agency personnel or 
contractors will conduct onsite interviews of visitors as they complete 
their visit. Interviewers will ask about the purpose and length of the 
visit, the trip origin, activities, annual visitation rates, trip-
related spending patterns, use of recreation facilities, satisfaction 
with agency services and facilities, and the composition of the 
visiting party. Primary analysis of the information for the Forest 
Service and partnering agencies will be performed by Forest Service 
staff in the Washington Office and by scientists in one or more of the 
agency's research stations.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: 9 minutes (average).
    Type of Respondents: Visitors to lands managed by the US Forest 
Service, USDI Bureau of Land Management, and within Clarke County, 
Nevada to lands managed by the USDI--Fish and Wildlife Service, and 
National Park Service.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 69,000.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: One.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 9,900 hours.
    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 lead agency, including whether the information will 
have practical or scientific utility; (2) the accuracy of the lead 
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 request for Office of 
Management and Budget approval.

    April 6, 2009.
Richard W. Sowa,
Acting Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. E9-8188 Filed 4-9-09; 8:45 am]
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