[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 236 (Monday, December 9, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 73818]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-29236]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Timber Sale Contract Operations and 
Administration

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 revision of a currently approved Information 
Collection 0596-0225, Timber Sale Contract Operations and 
Administration.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before February 7, 
2014 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 
Lathrop Smith, Natural Resources Research Center, 2150 Centre Avenue, 
Building A, Suite 316, Fort Collins, CO 80526-8121. Comments also may 
be submitted by email to [email protected].
    The public may inspect comments received at the Natural Resources 
Research Center, 2150 Centre Avenue, Building A, Suite 316, Fort 
Collins, CO 80526-8121 during normal business hours. Visitors are 
encouraged to call ahead to 970-295-5020 to facilitate entry to the 
building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lathrop Smith, 970-295-5961. 
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: Timber Sale Contract Operations and Administration.
    OMB Number: 0596-0225.
    Expiration Date of Approval: 05/31/2014.
    Type of Request: Revision of a Currently Approved Information 
Collection.
    Abstract: Forest Service contracts for the sale of timber and other 
forest products are bilateral contracts in which both contracting 
parties are bound to fulfill obligations reciprocally. By their nature, 
bilateral contracts require both parties to routinely share information 
and enter into agreements pertaining to operations and performance. 
Some information collected under Forest Service contracts is required 
by laws, regulations, and/or timber sale policies. Each contract 
specifies information the contractor will be required to provide, 
including the timing and frequency of the information collection.
    The type and amount of information collected varies depending on 
the size, complexity, and length of each contract, and external factors 
such as weather and market conditions. The information collected 
includes plans, requests, agreements, and notices necessary for 
operations under the terms of the contracts. Forest Service officers 
collect the information from contractors who may be individuals, 
private sector businesses, or other government entities. The 
information is submitted in a variety of formats including Forest 
Service forms, Government Standard and/or Common Forms, forms developed 
by individual contractors, charts, maps, email messages, facsimiles, 
and letters. Also, to assist small contractors and lessen their burden, 
individual Contracting Officers may provide optional forms for some of 
the information collected. Depending on the purpose of the specific 
information collection, the information may be submitted by electronic 
mail, facsimile, conventional mail, or hand delivery.
    The information is needed by the Agency for a variety of uses 
associated with the operations and administration of contracts for the 
sale of timber and other forest products, in order to: (1) Plan and 
schedule contract administration workloads, (2) plan and schedule the 
delivery of government furnished materials needed by contractors, (3) 
assure the safety of the public in the vicinity of contract work, (4) 
identify contractor resources that may be used in emergency fire-
fighting situations, (5) determine contractor eligibility for 
additional contract time, (6) determine contractor eligibility for 
redetermining contract rates, (7) monitor compliance with domestic 
processing requirements, (8) monitor compliance with Small Business 
Administration requirements, (9) process agreements and modifications, 
and (10) inspect and accept work.
    Type of Respondents: Timber sale and forest products contractors.
    Estimated Annual Number of Contracts: 3,400.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 1,370.
    Estimated Annual Responses: 128,100.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 93.5.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 40,700 hours.
    Estimate of Average Burden per Response: 0.32 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 2, 2013.
James M. Pena,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2013-29236 Filed 12-6-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P