[Federal Register: August 8, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 153)]
[Notices]
[Page 41494]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08au01-22]
========================================================================
Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
========================================================================
[[Page 41494]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Information Collection; Public Land Uses and Values
AGENCY: Forest Service, 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 a new information collection associated with an agency
research project to study social and economic impacts of public land
and resource management in general terms. This study requires
administration of a survey to a statistical sample of the general
public.
DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before October 9,
2001 to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date
will be considered to the extent practicable.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Dr. Daniel W. McCollum, USDA
Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, 2150-A Centre Ave.,
Suite 350, Fort Collins, CO 80526-1891. Comments also may be submitted
by e-mail to dmccollum@fs.fed.us or by facsimile to (970) 295-5959. The
public may inspect comments received at the address given previously.
Visitors are urged to call ahead to (970) 295-5962 to facilitate
entrance into the office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Daniel W. McCollum, Rocky Mountain
Research Station at (970) 295-5962, dmccollum@fs.fed.us or Mary Ann
Ball, Forest Service Information Collection Coordinator at (703) 605-
4572, or maryball@fs.fed.us. Individuals who use telecommunication
devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay
Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern
Daylight Time, Monday through Friday.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Public Land Uses and Values.
OMB Number: 0596-New.
Type of Request: New.
Abstract: As part of a continuing research effort to develop and
evaluate alternative approaches and methods for obtaining and
incorporating public input into land and resource management decisions,
this information collection will be focused mainly on people and their
use of public lands. The information collected will help Forest Service
and public land managers better understand how and why members of the
general public do or do not use public lands for recreation or other
purposes. It will contribute to the assessment of economic and social
impacts of public land management in general terms and to the
evaluation of the efficiency, effectiveness, and public acceptability
of public land management.
This collection of information will include three aspects of public
preferences, which are: (1) Objectives (comprised of values and desired
outcomes) and preferences related to public land and public land
management, (2) land attributes and people's behaviors and perceived
consequences that can be linked to policy and management alternatives
(in particular, measurable indicators of changes caused or prevented by
policy and management actions), and (3) identification of how people
evaluate the measured indicators of policy and management outcomes and
consequences.
Surveys will be administered primarily by mail, although some
telephone contacts and some very brief in-person contacts may be used
in particular instances or case studies. Administration of surveys via
the World Wide Web/Internet will be considered if and when appropriate.
Respondents will be asked to complete an optional questionnaire
containing questions about how, why, and where they use public land,
how they think public land should be managed, and their preferences
related to management tradeoffs. Both those who use public land and
members of the general public who do not use these lands will be
surveyed to provide a broad base of information.
Forest Service researchers and researchers at cooperating agencies
and institutions who are specialists in economics, social science,
outdoor recreation, survey research, and statistics will design and
develop the surveys and collect and analyze the information.
This survey is necessary to provide land managers with reliable
information on the public they serve. With the results of this survey,
managers and planners will broaden and deepen their understanding of
the public perceptions of various land management practices and impacts
of those practices.
Estimate of Annual Burden: 30 minutes per respondent.
Type of Respondents: Individuals visiting or using public lands and
randomly selected members of the general public.
Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 8,000.
Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: One.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 4,000 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 for Office
of Management and Budget approval.
Dated: July 30, 2001.
Robert Lewis, Jr.,
Deputy Chief for Research & Development.
[FR Doc. 01-19804 Filed 8-7-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P