[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 238 (Monday, December 14, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 66084]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-29616]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 238 / Monday, December 14, 2009 / 
Notices  

[[Page 66084]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Public Attitudes, Beliefs, and Values 
About National Forest Systems Land Management

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; Public Attitudes, Beliefs, and Values about National Forest 
Systems Land Management.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before February 12, 
2010 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. 
Daniel W. McCollum, Rocky Mountain Research Station, 2150-A Centre 
Ave., Suite 350, Fort Collins, CO 80526.
    Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to 970-295-5959 or by 
e-mail to [email protected].
    The public may inspect comments received at Rocky Mountain Research 
Station, 2150-A Centre Ave., Suite 350, Room 347, Fort Collins, CO, 
during normal business hours. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to 
970-295-5951 to facilitate entry to the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Daniel W. McCollum, Rocky Mountain 
Research Station, 970-295-5962. Individuals who use telecommunication 
devices for the deaf (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: Public Attitudes, Beliefs, and Values about National Forest 
Systems Land Management.
    OMB Number: 0596-0205.
    Expiration Date of Approval: March 31, 2010.
    Type of Request: Renewal.
    Abstract: The intent of this collection is to obtain information on 
public attitudes, beliefs, and values toward public land and public 
land use and how those values are affected by public land management. 
In addition, the information collected helps determine the acceptable 
tradeoffs in developing alternative management plans. Surveys completed 
by the public and specific stakeholder groups assist natural forest 
land managers and planners with scientifically credible information. 
This information is critical to planning and implementing public policy 
related to National forests in the Southwest Region. Renewal of this 
authority will allow the USDA Forest Service to monitor changes in 
public attitudes, beliefs, and values over time.
    Legal authority for this collection comes from the following 
sources: The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the National 
Forest Management Act of 1976, and the NFMA Planning Rule. These 
authorities call for periodic forest plan revision and planning related 
to management policies and actions in the Southwest Region. The data 
collected are analyzed and incorporated into these planning and 
decision making processes. Social science and economic information 
provide qualitative and quantitative metrics to assist natural forest 
land managers in developing alternative processes and in evaluating 
performance.
    Monitoring the public with survey instruments over time provides 
data to compare and evaluate changes in public attitudes, beliefs, and 
values related to national forest use and management.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: 30 minutes for the Mail or Web-based 
survey; 8 minutes for the telephone survey to non-respondents to mail 
and Web-based surveys.
    Type of Respondents: General public within the administrative 
boundaries of the Forest Service Southwest Region, Region 3 (New 
Mexico, Arizona, and a few counties in Texas and Oklahoma).
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 20,200 (up to 20,000 mail 
or Web-based survey; and 200 for telephone survey).
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 10,027 burden hours 
annually.
    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 request for Office of 
Management and Budget approval.

    Dated: December 4, 2009.
Ann Bartuska,
Deputy Chief, Research and Development.
[FR Doc. E9-29616 Filed 12-11-09; 8:45 am]
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