[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 187 (Tuesday, September 29, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49848-49849]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-23385]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Land Exchanges

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 extension with no revision of a currently approved 
information collection, OMB 0596-0105, Land Exchanges.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before November 30, 
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 
Jeffrey Vail, Assistant Director, Lands, Mail Stop 1124, Forest 
Service, USDA, P.O. Box 96090, Washington, DC 20090-6090.
    Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to (202) 205-1604 or 
by e-mail to: [email protected].
    The public may inspect comments received at Office of the Assistant 
Director--Lands Staff, Yates Building, 201 14th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC during normal business hours. Visitors are encouraged to 
call ahead to 202-205-1248 to facilitate entry to the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey Vail, Assistant Director, 
Lands Staff, 202-205-2818 or Kim Berns, Land

[[Page 49849]]

Adjustment Program Manager, at 202-205-1248. 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: Land Exchanges.
    OMB Number: 0596-0105.
    Expiration Date of Approval: Three years from date of OMB approval.
    Type of Request: Extension with no revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: Land exchanges are discretionary, voluntary real estate 
transactions between the Secretary of Agriculture (acting by and 
through the Forest Service) and a non-Federal exchange party (or 
parties). Land exchanges can be initiated by a non-Federal party (or 
parties), an agent of a landowner, a broker, a third party, or a non-
Federal public agency.
    Each land exchange requires preparation of an Agreement to 
Initiate, as required by Title 36 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), 
part 254, subpart C, 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 name 
and address when provided, will become a matter of public record. 
Comments will be summarized and included in the request section 254.4--
Agreement to Initiate an Exchange. This document specifies the 
preliminary and non-binding intentions of the non-Federal land exchange 
party and the Forest Service in pursuing a land exchange. The Agreement 
to Initiate can contain such information as the description of 
properties being considered in the land exchange, an implementation 
schedule of action items, identification of the party responsible for 
each action item, as well as target dates for completion of each action 
item.
    As the exchange proposal develops, the Forest Service and the non-
Federal land exchange party may enter into binding Exchange Agreement, 
pursuant to Title 36 CFR part 254, subpart A, section 254.14--Exchange 
Agreement. The Exchange Agreement documents the conditions that must be 
met to complete the exchange. The Exchange Agreement can contain 
information such as identification of parties, description of lands and 
interests to be exchanged, identification of all reserved and 
outstanding interest, and all other terms and conditions necessary to 
complete the exchange.
    The Forest Service collects the information from the non-Federal 
party (or parties) necessary to complete the Agreement to Initiate and 
the Exchange Agreement. The information is collected by Forest Service 
personnel from parties involved in the exchange via telephone or in 
person. Data from this information collection is unique to each land 
exchange and is not available from other sources. No standardized forms 
are associated with this information collection.
    Estimate of Annual Burden:
    Agreement to Initiate: 1.
    Exchange agreement: 1.
    Type of Respondents: Non-Federal party (or parties) that can 
include landowners, agents of landowners, brokers, a third party or a 
non-Federal public agency.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 60.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 60.

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.

    September 22, 2009.
Gloria Manning,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest Systems.
[FR Doc. E9-23385 Filed 9-28-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P