[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 201 (Thursday, October 21, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58249-58250]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-22971]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

October 18, 2021.
    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments 
are requested regarding: Whether the collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility; the 
accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of 
the methodology and assumptions used; ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to 
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 
and other forms of information technology.
    Comments regarding this information collection received by November 
22, 2021 will be considered. Written comments and recommendations for 
the proposed information collection should be submitted within 30 days 
of the publication of this notice on the following website 
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information 
collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--Open for 
Public Comments'' or by using the search function. An agency may not 
conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless the collection of 
information displays a currently valid OMB control number and the 
agency informs potential persons who are to respond to the collection 
of information that such persons are not required to respond to the 
collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB 
control number.

Forest Service

    Title: National Woodland Owner Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 0596-0078.
    Summary of Collection: The Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources 
Planning Act of 1974 (Pub. L. 93-278 Sec. 3) and the Forest and 
Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978 (Pub. L. 307 Sec. 3) 
are the legal authorities for conducting the National Woodland Owner 
Survey. There are an estimated 823 million acres of forestland across 
the United States. Of this forestland, over half is owned by millions 
of corporations, families, individuals, and other private groups. 
Understanding the attitudes and behaviors of these private ownerships 
is critical for understanding the current and future state of the 
nation's forests. The Forest Service conducts the National Woodland 
Owner Survey (NWOS) to increase our understanding of:
     Who owns and manages the forestland of the United States;
     Why they own/manage it;
     How they have used it; and
     How they intend to use it.
    This information is used by policy analysts, foresters, educators, 
and researchers to facilitate planning and implementation of forest 
policies and programs.
    The Forest Service's direction and authority to conduct the NWOS is 
from the Resources Planning Act of 1974 and the Forest and Rangeland 
Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978. These acts assign 
responsibility for inventory and assessment of forest and related 
renewable resources to the Secretary of Agriculture, and these 
responsibilities are subsequently delegated to the Forest Service. 
Additionally, the importance of an ownership survey in this inventory 
and assessment process has been highlighted in the 2014 Farm Bill, the 
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998, and 
the recommendations of the 1998 Second Blue Ribbon Panel on the Forest 
Inventory and Analysis program. Previous iterations of the NWOS were 
conducted in 1978, 1993, 2002-2006, 2011-2013, and 2017-2018. Data 
collection for the current iteration is planned for 2019-2023. Initial 
approval for the current data collection cycle of the NWOS expires on 
October 31, 2021. If renewed, the current NWOS data collection cycle 
will be completed in 2023.
    Need and Use of the Information: The NWOS will utilize a mixed-mode 
survey technique involving cognitive interviews, focus groups, self-
administered questionnaires, and telephone interviews. Cognitive 
interviews will be used to test specific questions. Focus groups will 
be used to provide more in-depth understanding of the responses and to 
explore new areas of inquiry. This information collection will generate 
scientifically-based, statistically-reliable, up-to-date information 
about the owners of forestland in the United States. Results of these 
efforts will provide more reliable information on this important and 
dynamic segment of the United States population, thus facilitating more 
complete assessments of the country's

[[Page 58250]]

forestland resources and improved planning and implementation of 
forestry programs on state, regional, and national levels.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; Business or 
other for-profit; State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 3,558.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annual.
    Total Burden Hours: 2,118.

Forest Service

    Title: Volunteer Application and Agreement for Natural and Cultural 
Resource Agencies.
    OMB Control Number: 0596-0080.
    Summary of Collection: The Volunteer Act of 1972, (Pub. L. 92-300), 
as amended, authorizes Federal land management agencies to use 
volunteers and volunteer organizations to plan, develop, maintain and 
manage, where appropriate, trails and campground facilities, improve 
wildlife habitat, and perform other useful and important conservation 
services throughout the Nation. Participating agencies in Department of 
Agriculture: Forest Service and National Resources Conservation 
Service; Department of the Interior: National Park Service, Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, 
Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and 
Enforcement, and U.S. Geological Survey; Department of Defense: U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers and Department of Commerce: National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric; Administration--Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. 
Agencies will collect information using Common Forms OF 301--Volunteer 
Service Application; OF 301a Volunteer Service Agreement and OF 301b 
Volunteer Service Agreement and Sign-up Form for Groups.
    Need and Use of the Information: Agencies will collect the names, 
addresses, and certain information about individuals who are interested 
in public service as volunteers. The information is used by the 
agencies as a position application, to review and determine if a 
potential volunteer is a good fit for a particular volunteer position. 
The OF-301a is used to enroll volunteers, collect contact information, 
parent or guardian approval, describe duties, project locations, 
schedules and any reimbursements, describe safety requirements and 
delineate any other terms of service. The OF-301b form is used to 
record the name and contact information of the volunteer group, and the 
names and signatures of volunteers participating in a project. If the 
information is not collected, participating natural resource agencies 
will be unable to recruit and/or screen volunteer applicants or 
administer/run volunteer programs that are crucial to assisting these 
agencies in fulfilling their missions.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households.
    Number of Respondents: 125,000.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 500,000.

Levi S. Harrell,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-22971 Filed 10-20-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P