[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 137 (Tuesday, July 17, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33194-33195]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-15228]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection: Forest Industries and Logging Operations 
Data Collection Systems

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
USDA Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals 
and organizations on the renewal of a currently approved information 
collection, Forest Industries and Logging Operations Data Collection 
Systems (0596-0010), with a revision for a new sampling approach.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before September 17, 
2018 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: 
USDA, Forest Service, Attn: James Bentley, Southern Research Station, 
Forest Inventory and Analysis, 4700 Old Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 
37919. Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to 865-862-0262 or 
by email to: [email protected].
    Comments submitted in response to this notice may be made available 
to the public through relevant websites and upon request. For this 
reason, please do not include in your comments information of a 
confidential nature, such as sensitive personal information or 
proprietary information. If you send an email comment, your email 
address will be automatically captured and included as part of the 
comment that is placed in the public docket and made available on the 
internet. Please note that responses to this public comment request 
containing any routine notice about the confidentiality of the 
communication will be treated as public comments that may be made 
available to the public notwithstanding the inclusion of the routine 
notice.
    The public may inspect comments received at the Southern Research 
Station, 4700 Old Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN, during normal business 
hours. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to 865-862-2000 to 
facilitate entry to the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Bentley, Southern Research 
Station, at 865-862-2056. 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: Forest Industries and Logging Operations Data Collection 
Systems.
    OMB Number: 0596-0010.
    Expiration Date of Approval: December 31, 2019.
    Type of Request: Renewal with Revision.
    Abstract: The Forest and Range Renewable Resources Planning Act of 
1974 and the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act of 
1978 require the Forest Service to evaluate trends in the use of logs 
and wood chips, to forecast anticipated levels of logs and wood chips, 
and to analyze changes in the harvest of these resources from the 
Nation's forest resource. This important survey has been conducted 
since the 1940s, with various adjustments along the ways to accommodate 
new questions or data collection needs. Information provided in this 
data collection can be used to:
     Describe the timber resource and its use in detail;
     Evaluate trends in resource use;
     Forecast future anticipated level of demand on the 
resource; and
     Analyze the ramifications of any changes in timber demand.
    For this renewal, we are proposing a new sample design to guide the 
annual collection of information from primary wood-using mills, 
replacing the periodic approach. This new approach is more efficient 
and cost-effective, and ultimately will generate more accurate, 
comprehensive, and timely information.
    To collect this information, USDA Forest Service or state natural 
resource agency personnel will use three questionnaires. Two 
questionnaires, the Pulpwood Questionnaire and the Logs and Other 
Roundwood Questionnaire, will be paper or electronic. Paper 
questionnaires will be returned in pre-paid postage envelopes, and 
electronic questionnaires returned via email. The third questionnaire, 
the Logging Operations Questionnaire, will be administered in person by 
field personnel collecting tree utilization data at sampled logging 
sites.
    Pulpwood Received Questionnaire: USDA Forest Service personnel will 
use this questionnaire to collect and evaluate information from pulp 
mills in order to monitor the volume, types, species, sources, and 
prices of timber products harvested throughout the United States. The 
data collected will be used to provide essential information about the 
current use of the Nation's timber resources for pulpwood industrial 
products and is not available from other sources.
    Logs and Other Roundwood Received Questionnaire: This questionnaire 
is used by USDA Forest Service or state natural resource agency 
personnel to collect and evaluate information from the other, non-pulp, 
primary wood-using mills, including small, part-time mills, as well as 
large corporate entities. Primary wood-using mills are facilities that 
use harvested wood in log or chip form, such as sawlogs, veneer logs, 
composite panel, posts, and poles, to manufacture a secondary product, 
such as lumber or veneer. USDA Forest Service personnel evaluate the 
information collected and use it to monitor the volume types, species, 
sources, and prices of timber products harvested throughout the United 
States.
    Logging Operations Questionnaire: This questionnaire is used by 
USDA Forest Service and/or state natural resource agency personnel to 
collect and evaluate information from logging operations, to help 
characterize the logging industry and its response to outside 
influences. The information will be used to measure the `health' of the 
logging industry, as well as to provide background information for 
decision-making.
    Affected Public: Individuals and the Private Sector (Businesses and 
Non-Profit Organizations), in particular mill owners, procurement 
foresters, logging operations owners, and loggers will be affected.

[[Page 33195]]

    Estimate of Burden per Response: An average of 30 minutes for the 
Pulpwood Questionnaire for 132 respondents (estimated); an average of 
42 minutes for the Logs and Other Roundwood Questionnaire for 2,875 
respondents (estimated); an average of 11 minutes for the Logging 
Operations Questionnaire for 435 respondents (estimated).
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 3,442.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2,147 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 29, 2108.
Carlos Rodriguez-Franco,
Deputy Chief for Research and Development.
[FR Doc. 2018-15228 Filed 7-16-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3411-15-P