[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 124 (Wednesday, June 27, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 38267]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-15704]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 124 / Wednesday, June 27, 2012 / 
Notices  

[[Page 38267]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Role of Communities in Stewardship 
Contracting Projects

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 with revision of a currently approved 
information collection, Role of Communities in Stewardship Contracting 
Projects.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before August 27, 
2012 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 
Forest Service, USDA, Director, Forest Management Staff, Mail Stop 
1103, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-1103.
    Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to 202-205-1045 or by 
email to: [email protected]. Comments may also be submitted 
via the World Wide Web/Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.
    The public may inspect comments received at the Office of the 
Director, Forest Management Staff, Third Floor NW., Yates Federal 
Building, 201 14th Street SW., Washington, DC during normal business 
hours. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to 202-205-1766 to 
facilitate entry to the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sharon Nygaard-Scott, Forest Service, 
Forest Management Staff, 202-207-1766. 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: Role of Communities in Stewardship Contracting Projects.
    OMB Number: 0596-0201.
    Expiration Date of Approval: January 31, 2013.
    Type of Request: Extension with Revision.
    Abstract: The Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management are 
required to report to Congress annually on the role of local 
communities in the development of agreement or contract plans through 
stewardship contracting, per Section 323 of Public Law 108-7 (16 U.S.C. 
2104 Note). To meet the requirement, the Forest Service conducts 
surveys to gather the necessary information for use by both the Forest 
Service and Bureau of Land Management. The survey provides information 
regarding the:
    (a) Nature of the local community involved in developing agreement 
or contract plans,
    (b) Nature of roles played by the entities involved in developing 
agreement or contract plans,
    (c) Benefits to the community and agency by being involved in 
planning and development of contract plans, and
    (d) Usefulness of stewardship contracting in helping meet the needs 
of local communities.
    The Pinchot Institute for Conservation and its sub-contractors 
collect the information through an annual telephone survey. The survey 
asks Federal employees, employees of for-profit and not-for-profit 
institutions, employees of State and local agencies, and individual 
citizens who have been involved in stewardship contracting projects 
about their role in the development of agreement or contract plans.
    The information collected through the survey is analyzed by the 
Pinchot Institute for Conservation and its sub-contractors and used to 
help develop the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management reports 
to Congress as required by Section 323 of Public Law 108-7.
    Without the information from this annual collection of data, the 
Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management will not be able to 
provide the required annual reports to Congress on the role of 
communities in development of agreement or contract plans under 
stewardship contracting.
    Type of Respondents: Employees of for-profit and non-profit 
businesses and institutions, as well as individuals.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 507.
    Estimate of Burden per Response: 0.75 hours.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 380 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: June 18, 2012.
James M. Pe[ntilde]a,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2012-15704 Filed 6-26-12; 8:45 am]
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