[Federal Register: May 1, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 84)] [Notices] [Page 24188-24189] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr01my98-99] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [OR-958-6310-01; GP8-0167; Form OR-2812-6] Extension of Approved Information Collection, OMB Number 1004- 0168; and Request for Comments AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces its intention to request renewal of an existing approval to collect certain information from private landowners which will allow BLM to determine road use and maintenance fees for logging road right-of-way permits issued under the O&C Logging Road Right-of-Way regulations (43 CFR 2812). EFFECTIVE DATE: Comments on the proposed information collection must be receive by BLM by June 30, 1998 to assure consideration. ADDRESSES: Mail comments to: John Styduhar (OR958.1), Bureau of Land Management, Oregon State Office, P.O. Box 2965, Portland, OR 97208. Send comments via Internet to: jstyduha@or.blm.gov. Please include ``ATTN: 1004-0168'' and your name and return address in your Internet message. You may hand-deliver comments to the Bureau of Land Management, Oregon State Office, 1515 S.W. 5th Ave., Portland, OR 97201. BLM will make comments available for public review at the 5th Street address during regular business hours (8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.), Monday through Friday. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Styduhar, BLM Oregon State Office (503)-952-6454. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with 5 CFR 1320.12(a), BLM is required to provide 60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning a collection of information contained in BLM Form OR-2812-6 to solicit comments on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) 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; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology. BLM will receive and analyze any comments sent in response to this notice and include them with its request for approval from the OMB under 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. Private landowners in western Oregon obtain authorization to transport their timber over BLM-controlled roads under Title V of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1761). Logging road right-of-way permits issued by the BLM are subject to the requirements of the O&C Logging Road Right-of-Way regulations (43 CFR 2812). As a condition of each right-of-way permit, a permittee must provide BLM with a certified statement of the amount of timber hauled, the lands from which the timber was hauled, and the BLM roads over which the timber was hauled. This information is collected on a quarterly basis and provided to BLM using Form OR-2812-6, Report of Road Use. When a Report of Road Use is received in the BLM office, it is noted in a register and routed through the appropriate staff for verification, calculation of road use and maintenance fees, and subsequent billing and payment from the permittee. Monies received for road use contribute to the recovery of costs incurred by BLM in the construction of forest access roads. Fees collected for road maintenance are reimbursements for services provided by BLM in the maintenance of roads used by the permittee. If BLM did not [[Page 24189]] require the collection of information included in the Report of Road Use, it would not be possible to determine payment amounts, ledger account status, or monitor a permittee's compliance with the terms of the permit. The costs for services provided by BLM would not be collected in a timely manner if the frequency of reporting is reduced. This would have a direct effect on the ability of BLM to properly maintain it's road system, protect the road investment, and provide safe and efficient access to the public lands. Based on BLM's experience administering the activities described above, the public reporting burden for the information collected is estimated to average 1 hour per response. The respondents include individuals, partnerships, and corporations engaged in the removal and transportation of timber and other forest products. The frequency of response is quarterly. The number of responses per year is estimated to total 400. The estimated total annual burden on respondents is about 1600 hours. BLM is specifically requesting your comments on its estimate of the amount of time that it takes to prepare a response. BLM will summarize all responses to this notice and include them in the request for Office of Management and Budget approval. All comments will also become a matter of public record. Dated: April 23, 1998. Robert D. DeViney, Jr., Chief, Branch of Realty and Records Services. [FR Doc. 98-11652 Filed 4-30-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-33-P