[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 239 (Wednesday, December 12, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73975-73976]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-29928]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection: National Visitor Use Monitoring

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

[[Page 73976]]

collection, OMB 0596-0110, National Visitor Use Monitoring.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before February 11, 
2013 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, USDA Forest Service, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-1125.
    Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to 202-205-1145 or by 
email to: [email protected].
    The public may inspect comments received at Room 400, Rosslyn Plaza 
Building C, 1601 North Kent Street, Arlington, VA 22209 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, 202-205-9595.
    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: National Visitor Use Monitoring.
    OMB Number: 0596-0110.
    Expiration Date of Approval: 06/30/2013.
    Type of Request: Extension with revision of a currently approved 
information collection.

Abstract

    The Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 require Federal 
agencies to 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.
    In addition, the U.S. Department of Interior (USDOI) Bureau of Land 
Management (BLM) anticipates partnering with the Forest Service, 
pending funding availability, to conduct further field testing of the 
National Visitor Use Monitoring (NVUM) survey and estimation protocol 
as a means for estimating the volume of visitation and describing key 
visitor characteristics. BLM lands are often adjacent to Forest Service 
lands, and patterns of visitor access are similar to those of the 
Forest Service. As well, BLM's information and reporting needs closely 
mirror those of the Forest Service.
    At the 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 U.S. Forest 
Service and/or Bureau of Land Management.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 60,900.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: One.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 8,760 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 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 3, 2012.
James M. Pena
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2012-29928 Filed 12-11-12; 8:45 am]
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