[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 49 (Tuesday, March 13, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10827-10828]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-05003]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection: Generic Clearance for Social Science and 
Economics Data Collections on Natural Resource Planning and 
Collaborative Conservation

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 a new generic information collection request, Social 
Science and Economics Data Collections on Natural Resource Planning and 
Collaborative Conservation.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before May 14, 2018 
to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date will 
be considered to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Kenli Kim, National Program Leader 
for Social Science Research, Forest Service, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, 
Mailstop 1114, Washington, DC 20250-1114,or by electronic mail to 
[email protected], with ``PRA comment on planning and collaborative 
conservation'' in the subject line. If comments are sent by electronic 
mail, the public is requested not to send duplicate written comments 
via regular mail. Please confine written comments to issues pertinent 
to the information collection request, explain the reasons for any 
recommended changes, and, where possible, reference the specific 
section or paragraph being addressed.
    All timely submitted comments, including names and addresses when 
provided, are placed in the record and are available for public 
inspection and copying. The public may inspect comments received on 
this information collection at the USDA--Forest Service headquarters, 
201 14th St. SW, Washington, DC 20250 between the hours of 10:00 a.m. 
to 5:00 p.m. on business days. Those wishing to inspect comments should 
contact Kenli Kim ([email protected]) to facilitate an appointment and 
entrance to the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenli Kim, National Program Leader for 
Social Science Research at the Forest Service ([email protected]). 
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.

[[Page 10828]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Generic Clearance for Social Science Research on Natural 
Resource Planning and Collaborative Conservation.
    OMB Number: 0596--NEW.
    Expiration Date of Approval: NEW.
    Type of Request: NEW.
    Abstract: The USDA Forest Service's mission is ``Caring for the 
Land and Serving People.'' This includes directly managing National 
Forest and Grassland units and providing science-based guidelines for 
the management of forests, grasslands, and other natural resources in 
cities and towns as well as those under management by land trusts, 
neighborhood groups, states, and other entities. In order to fulfill 
this mission, the Agency needs an accurate understanding of the range 
of views and preferences held by stakeholders regarding the management 
and conservation of forests and other natural resources.
    Collaborative conservation is the process of creating and executing 
land and resource management decisions informed by local knowledge, 
community participation, and science. Collaborative conservation aims 
to improve the health, resilience, and sustainability of natural 
resources and human communities and to maximize the benefits that 
forests, grasslands, and other natural resources provide to society. 
This includes environmental benefits such as clean air and water and 
carbon storage; economic benefits such as energy savings and timber and 
other forest products; and social benefits such as improved physical 
health, aesthetic beauty, and stress reduction. A collaborative 
conservation approach to land management amendments and planning 
revisions for forests, grasslands, and other natural resources may also 
help ensure environmental justice for groups and individuals whose 
views and concerns have not historically been taken into account in 
land management planning.
    Managing forests, grasslands, and natural areas in a collaborative 
and sustainable way requires detailed, scientifically-based information 
about people's views on both conservation in general and about specific 
forests or other natural places that are important in their lives. A 
collaborative conservation approach to land management amendments and 
planning takes in-depth understanding of how groups and individuals 
work effectively together, how information and knowledge are shared, 
and how to incorporate multiple viewpoints in resource planning while 
effectively managing conflict.
    Taking all of this into account, the Forest Service and other 
public and private land managers need to collect information from a 
wide range of stakeholders in order to make informed decisions about 
natural resource conservation, restoration and management, land 
management amendments and planning revisions. To ensure that the Forest 
Service can meet its statutory and regulatory responsibilities and is 
able to inform management of forests and other natural areas, the 
Forest Service is seeking OMB approval to collect information from 
people who use, live near, manage, make policies for, or otherwise have 
a stake in the management of forests and other natural resources.
    Estimate of Annual Burden on Respondents: 32,183 hours/year.
    Type of Respondents: Participants/respondents will be individuals, 
not specific entities.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 251,050 year.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1 response/
respondent is anticipated.

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. The Forest Service will consider the comments received and 
amend the ICR as appropriate. The final ICR package will then be 
submitted to OMB for review and approval.
    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 for 
final Office of Management and Budget approval.

    Dated: February 15, 2018
Monica Lear,
Associate Deputy Chief, Research & Development.
[FR Doc. 2018-05003 Filed 3-12-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3411-15-P