[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 167 (Thursday, August 27, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52946-52947]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-18835]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Advertised Timber for Sale

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 with changes of the currently approved 
information collection 0596-0066, Advertised Timber for Sale.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before October 26, 
2020 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 
Director, Forest Management, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Mail Stop 
1103, Washington DC 20250-0003.
    Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to (202) 205-1045 or 
by email to: [email protected].
    All comments, including names and addresses when provided, are 
placed in the record and are available for public inspection and 
copying. The public may view comments received on the World Wide Web/
internet site at: http://www.fs.fed.us/forestmanagement.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carl Maass, Forest Management Staff, 
at (970) 295-5961, or email, [email protected]. 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: Advertised Timber for Sale.
    OMB Number: 0596-0066.
    Expiration Date of Approval: December 31, 2020.
    Type of Request: Extension with Revision.
    Abstract: Pursuant to statutory requirements at 16 U.S.C. 472a, 
unless extraordinary conditions exist as defined by regulation, the 
Secretary of Agriculture must: (1) Advertise sales of all National 
Forest System timber or forest products exceeding $10,000 in appraised 
value; (2) select bidding methods that ensure open and fair 
competition; (3) select bidding methods that ensure that the Federal 
Government receives not less than appraised value of the timber or 
forest product; and (4) monitor bidding patterns for evidence of 
unlawful bidding practices.
    Pursuant to the Forest Service Small Business Timber Sale Set-Aside 
Program, developed in cooperation with the Small Business 
Administration, Forest Service regulations at Title 36 of the Code of 
Federal Regulations, Sec.  223.84 require that the Forest Service bid 
form used by potential timber sale bidders include provisions for small 
business concerns. The data collected will be used by the agency to 
ensure that National Forest System timber will be sold at not less than 
appraised value, that bidders will meet specific criteria when 
submitting a bid, and that anti-trust violations will not occur during 
the bidding process.
    The tax identification number of each bidder is entered into an 
automated bid monitoring system, which is used to determine if 
speculative bidding or unlawful bidding practices are occurring and is 
required to process electronic payments to the purchaser.
    Respondents will be bidders on National Forest System timber sales. 
Forest Service sale officers will mail bid forms to potential bidders, 
and bidders will return the completed forms, dated and signed, to the 
Forest Service sale officer.
    The data gathered in this information collection are not available 
from other sources.

Forms Associated With This Information Collection

    FS-2400-42a--National Forest Timber and Forest Products for Sale 
(Advertisement and Short-Form Bid): This form will be used for 
soliciting and receiving bids on short-notice timber sales advertised 
for less than 30 days for less than $10,000 in advertised value. 
Respondents are bidders on National Forest System timber sales.
    FS-2400-14--Bid for Advertised Timber (3 form versions: FS-2400-
14UR--Unit Rate Bidding; FS-2400-14WA--Weighted Average Bidding; FS-
2400-14TV--Total Value Bidding): These forms implement the same 
statutes, policies, and regulations and collect similar information 
from the same applicants. Respondents are bidders on National Forest 
System timber and forest product sales.
    FS-2400-14BV--Bid For Integrated Resource Timber Contract (2 form 
versions: FS-2400-14BV--Best Value,

[[Page 52947]]

Total Value Bidding; FS-2400-14BVU--Best Value, Unit Rate Bidding): 
These forms will be used for soliciting and receiving bids on contracts 
advertised for 30 days or longer and on contracts greater than $10,000 
in advertised value.
    Forms showing changes to the October 2018 versions currently in use 
can be viewed on the World Wide Web/internet site at: http://www.fs.fed.us/forestmanagement.

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                 Item                        FS-2400-42a               FS 2400-14              FS-2400-14BV
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Estimate of Annual Burden per          3.0 hours..............  14.4 hours.............  34.4 hours.
 Respondent.
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Type of Respondents..................     Individuals, large and small businesses, and corporations bidding on
                                         National Forest timber sales and Integrated Resource Timber Contracts.
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Estimated Annual Number of             316....................  1,712..................  244.
 Respondents.
Average Estimated Number of Responses  1.8....................  3.9....................  1.2.
 per Respondent.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on       1,706 hours............  96,146 hours...........  10,072 hours.
 Respondents.
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Comment Is Invited

    Comment is invited on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the stated purposes or the proper 
performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the 
information shall have practical or scientific utility; (2) the 
accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed 
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 name 
and address when provided, will be summarized and included in the 
request for Office of Management and Budget approval. All comments also 
will become a matter of public record.

Allen Rowley,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2020-18835 Filed 8-26-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P