[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 136 (Tuesday, July 20, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38266-38268]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-15390]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Timber Sale Contract Operations and 
Administration

AGENCY: Forest Service, Agriculture (USDA).

ACTION: Notice; request for comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals and 
organizations on the extension with revisions of a currently approved 
information collection, Timber Sale Contract Operations and 
Administration.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before September 20, 
2021 to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date 
will be considered to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: Forms may be reviewed and comments submitted at https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public/CommentInput?project=ORMS-2912. 
Comments concerning this notice may also be addressed to:
    Email: [email protected].
    Mail: Director, Forest Management, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, 
Mail Stop 1103, Washington, DC 20250-0003.
    Facsimile: 202-205-1045.
    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 request an electronic copy of the draft supporting 
statement and/or any comments received be sent via return email. 
Requests should be

[[Page 38267]]

emailed to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carl Maass, Forest Management Staff, 
at 970-295-5961. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the 
deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-
800-877-8339 twenty-four 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: September 30, 2021.
    Type of Request: Extension with revisions 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 re-determining contract rates, (7) monitor 
compliance with domestic processing requirements, (8) monitor 
compliance with Small Business Administration requirements, (9) process 
agreements and modifications, (10) inspect and accept work and (11) 
properly process payment bonds.

Forms Associated With This Information Collection

     FS-2400-0076 Pre-Award Waiver, Release, and Limitation of 
Liability Agreement: This form was developed for limited use when the 
apparent high bidder of a sale that is the subject of litigation 
requests to have the sale awarded prior to the litigation being 
resolved.
    The following forms are available for optional use by timber sale 
purchasers and contractors: FS-2400-0077 General Plan of Operation. 
This form may be used to meet the requirements for a general Plan of 
Operations which outlines the Purchaser's planned periods of operation 
and methods for meeting contractual requirements by the contract 
termination date.
     FS-2400-0078 Annual Operating Schedule. This form may be 
used to meet the requirement to provide a written annual Operating 
Schedule outlining anticipated major activities before commencing 
operations.
     FS-2400-0079 Specified Road Schedule of Proposed Progress. 
May be used for sales that have specified road construction or 
reconstruction to fulfill the requirements to annually prepare a 
supplement to the Plan of Operations for road construction activities.
    The following forms are for mandatory use when purchaser requests 
changes to the terms of the contract:
     FS-2400-0009 Agreement to Modify Timber Sale or Integrated 
Resource Timber Contract. This form is required to be used when a 
contract is modified under the terms of the contract.
     FS-2400-0010 Agreement Extend and Modify Timber Sale or 
Integrated Resource Timber Contract. This form is required to be used 
when a contract is extended or modified under the terms of the 
contract.
     FS-2400-0011 Waiver of Time Limit: Required for use when 
additional time is needed for a Purchaser to complete non-timber 
removal work after the contract terminates.
     FS-2400-0012 Third Party Agreement: Required for use when 
a Purchaser requests that another party take over operational 
responsibility for timber sale contract.
     FS-2400-0016 Cooperative Agreement: Required for use when 
a Purchaser requests Forest Service to assume the Purchaser's 
obligation to perform work under the contract.
    The following forms are for mandatory use when purchaser requests 
the use of a Payment Bond or Blanket Payment Bond on the contract:
     FS-6500-12 Payment Bond (for Timber Sales and Integrated 
Resource Timber Contracts). This form is used to guarantee payment by 
way of an acceptable surety bond for an individual timber sale or 
Integrated Resource Timber contract.
     FS-6500-12a Blanket Payment Bond. This form is used to 
guarantee payment by way of an acceptable surety bond for more than one 
timber sale.
    Type of Respondents: Timber sale purchasers and integrated resource 
timber contracts 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: 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

[[Page 38268]]

submission request toward Office of Management and Budget approval.

    Dated: July 15, 2021.
Tina Johna Terrell,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2021-15390 Filed 7-19-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P