[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 110 (Wednesday, June 10, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27505-27506]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-13550]


 ========================================================================
 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
 appearing in this section.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 110 / Wednesday, June 10, 2009 / 
Notices  

[[Page 27505]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection: California Campfire Permit

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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, California Campfire 
Permit.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before August 10, 
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 Jason 
Kirchner, Public Affairs Staff, U.S. Forest Service Pacific Southwest 
Region, 1323 Club Drive, Vallejo, CA 94592.
    Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to 707-562-9053 or by 
e-mail to: [email protected].
    The public may inspect comments received at the Forest Service's 
Pacific Southwest Regional Office, 1323 Club Drive, Vallejo, CA during 
normal business days between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Visitors 
are encouraged to call ahead to 707-562-9014 to facilitate entry to the 
building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jason Kirchner, Pacific Southwest 
Region, 707-562-9014. 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: California Campfire Permit.
    OMB Number: 0596-New.
    Type of Request: New.
    Abstract: The issuance of the California Campfire Permit by Forest 
Service and Bureau of Land Management offices in California is a 
requirement resulting from a formal agreement with the State of 
California. The agreement outlines fire management responsibilities for 
each party and results in enhanced cooperation for fire suppression and 
fire prevention activities across agency boundaries throughout the 
State. California State Law requires individuals to possess a permit to 
light, maintain, or use a campfire on the property of another person 
and also requires individuals to obtain a campfire permit issued under 
Forest Service authority for campfires on National Forest System lands. 
As part of a formal agreement with the State, the Forest Service, 
Bureau of Land Management, and the California Department of Forestry 
and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) have agreed to issue an interagency 
campfire permit that meets the intent of the State law.

    California Public Resources Code 4433: Permits Required. A 
person shall not light, maintain, or use a campfire upon any brush-
covered land, grass-covered land, or forest-covered land which is 
the property of another person unless he first obtains a written 
permit from the owner, lessee, or agent of the owner or lessee of 
the property.
    If, however, campsites and special areas have been established 
by the property owner and posted as areas for camping, a permit is 
not necessary.
    A written campfire permit duly issued by or under the authority 
of the United States Forest Service is necessary for use on land 
under the jurisdiction and control of the United States Forest 
Service.

The California Campfire Permit is issued in every Forest Service, 
Bureau of Land Management, and Cal Fire office in the State that is 
open to the public. The permit is required for any individual that 
intends to make a campfire on National Forest System lands or Bureau of 
Land Management lands. Only one permit is required per year per person. 
The permit requires individuals to provide their printed name and 
signature, which is used by designated law enforcement officials to 
verify that the permit belongs to a responsible individual that is 
present at a campfire. The information is not otherwise used or 
maintained for any purpose by the Forest Service, Bureau of Land 
Management or Cal Fire.
    The California Campfire Permit is a valuable fire prevention tool 
that provides firefighting organizations in California an opportunity 
to educate members of the public on safe and responsible campfire use, 
and allows agencies to personally provide fire prevention messages to 
every individual that intends to build or maintain a campfire in the 
State. Without the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management 
participating in the distribution of this permit, those agencies would 
lose an important fire prevention tool while making it impossible for 
individuals to comply with state law due to the language in the State 
law requiring a campfire permit to be issued under Forest Service 
authority for campfires on National Forest System lands.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: Five minutes.
    Type of Respondents: Individuals who use government facilities and 
services.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 250,000 (per National 
Visitor Use Monitoring or NVUM).
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: One.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 20,833 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.


[[Page 27506]]


    Dated: June 1, 2009.
James Hubbard,
Deputy Chief, State and Private Forestry.
[FR Doc. E9-13550 Filed 6-9-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P