[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 53 (Wednesday, March 18, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15494-15495]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-05527]



[[Page 15494]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-VRP-WS-NPS0028013; PPWOVPADW0, PPMPRLE1Y.LB0000 (200); OMB 
Control Number 1024-0022]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Backcountry/Wilderness 
Use Permit

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, 
the National Park Service (NPS) are proposing to renew an information 
collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
May 18, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments on this information collection request 
(ICR) by mail to Phadrea Ponds, Acting Information Collection Clearance 
Officer, National Park Service, 1201 Oakridge Drive Fort Collins, CO 
80525; or by email to [email protected]. Please reference Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) Control Number 1024-0022 in the subject 
line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR contact Roger Semler, Chief, Wilderness Stewardship 
Division, Visitor & Resource Protection Directorate by email at 
[email protected], or by telephone at 202-513-7220.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the PRA and 5 CFR 
1320.8(d)(1), all information collections require approval under the 
PRA. We may not conduct or sponsor and you are not required to respond 
to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB 
control number.
    As part of our continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent 
burdens, we invite the public and other Federal agencies to comment on 
new, proposed, revised, and continuing collections of information. This 
helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements 
and minimize the public's reporting burden. It also helps the public 
understand our information collection requirements and provide the 
requested data in the desired format.
    We are especially interested in public comment addressing the 
following:
    (1) Whether or not the collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including 
whether or not the information will have practical utility;
    (2) The accuracy of our estimate of the burden for this 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) How might the agency minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on those who are to respond, including through the use of 
appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., 
permitting electronic submission of response.
    Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request 
to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone 
number, email address, or other personal identifying information in 
your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including 
your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available 
at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your 
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.
    Abstract: The Backcountry/Wilderness Use Permit is an extension of 
the NPS statutory authority and responsibility to protect the park 
areas it administers and to manage the public use thereof (54 U.S.C. 
100101, 100751, 3210102). NPS regulations codified in 36 CFR parts 1 
through 7, 12 and 13 are designated to implement statutory mandates 
that provide for resource protection and pubic enjoyment. In 1976, the 
NPS initiated a backcountry registration system in accordance with the 
regulations codified in 36 CFR 1.5, 1.6 and 2.10. The objective of the 
registration system is to provide users access to backcountry and 
wilderness areas of national parks with continuing opportunities for 
solitude. These areas provide primitive and unconfined recreation, 
while enhancing protection of natural and cultural resources and 
providing a means of disseminating public safety and outdoor ethics 
messages regarding backcountry/wilderness travel and camping. The 
objectives of the permit system are to ensure:
    (1) That backcountry user requests are evaluated by park managers 
in accordance with applicable statutes and NPS regulations;
    (2) the consistent use of standards and permitting criteria 
throughout the agency; and
    (3) to the extent possible, the use of a single and efficient 
permitting document.
    By designating access, travel routes and camping locations NPS 
backcountry/wilderness program managers can redistribute backcountry/
wilderness users in response to closures and as a means to manage 
adverse impacts to natural and cultural resources. The system also 
facilitates redistribution of backcountry/wilderness users due to 
public safety hazards related to high fire danger, flood, wind, snow or 
ice hazards, bear activity, or other situations that may temporarily 
close or restrict access to a portion of the backcountry/wilderness.
    The NPS uses the registration system to:
     Ensure backcountry/wilderness users receive up-to-date 
information on outdoor ethics,
     serve as an information source for first responders or 
search and rescue personnel in the event of an emergency in 
backcountry/wilderness areas.
     monitor the spatial distribution and demographics 
associated with backcountry/wilderness visitor use.
     inform backcountry and wilderness management, stewardship 
planning, decision making, and operations.
    NPS Forms 10-404, ``Backcountry/Wilderness Use Permit Application'' 
and 10-404A, ``Backcountry/Wilderness Use Permit Hangtag'' are used to 
provide access into NPS backcountry areas, including areas that require 
a reservation to enter in accordance with other NPS regulations.
    Title of Collection: Backcountry/Wilderness Use Permit, 36 CFR 1.5, 
1.6, and 2.10.
    OMB Control Number: 1024-0022.
    Form Number: NPS Forms 10-404, ``Backcountry/Wilderness Use 
Permit'' and 10-404A, ``Backcountry/Wilderness Use Permit Hangtag.''
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Anyone using backcountry and 
wilderness areas within units of the national park system.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None.

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----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                   Avg. time per   Total annual
                                                                   Annual number     response      burden hours
                                                                  of respondents     (minutes)       (rounded)
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Form 10-404, Backcountry/Wilderness Use Application.............         179,200               8          23,893
Form 10-404A, Backcountry/Wilderness Use Permit Hangtag.........         140,000               5          11,666
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................................         319,200  ..............          35,559
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    An agency may not conduct or sponsor nor is a person required to 
respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently 
valid OMB control number.
    The authority for this action is the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

 Phadrea Ponds,
Acting Information Collection Clearance Officer, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-05527 Filed 3-17-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4312-52-P