[Federal Register: April 30, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 83)]
[Notices]
[Page 23103-23104]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30ap03-20]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Information Collection; Forest Industries Data Collection System
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 extension of the information collection for two
questionnaires used to evaluate trends in the use of logs and wood
chips, to forecast anticipated levels of logs and wood chips, and to
analyze changes in the harvest of these resources from National Forest
System lands.
DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before June 30, 2003
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 the
USDA Forest Service, Attn: Michael Howell, Forest Inventory and
Analysis, Southern Research Station, 4700 Old Kingston Pike, Knoxville,
TN, 37919-5206. Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to (865)
862-2048 or by e-mail to: mhowell@fs.fed.us. The public may inspect comments received at the Southern Research
Station, 4700 Old Kingston Pike, Resource Use Office, Knoxville,
Tennessee during normal business hours. Visitors are encouraged to call
ahead to (865) 862-2000 to facilitate entry to the building.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Howell, Southern Research
Station, at (865) 862-2054.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Description of Information Collection
1. Title: Pulpwood Received Questionnaire.
OMB Number: 0596-0010.
Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 2003.
Type of Request: Extension.
Abstract: The Forest and Range Renewable Resources Planning Act of
1974 and the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act of
1978 require the Forest Service to evaluate trends in the use of logs
and wood chips, to forecast anticipated levels of logs and wood chips,
and to analyze changes in the harvest of these resources from National
Forest System lands.
To collect this information, Forest Service personnel use the
Pulpwood Received questionnaire. Questions include what type of logs or
wood chips have been received by the mill, from which geographic
locations have the logs or wood chips been harvested, what variety of
tree species have been harvested and received by the mill, how much was
paid by the mill for the logs or wood chips, and what is the volume of
byproducts that have been produced as a result of the manufacturing
process, such as bark, sawdust, and slabs. The questionnaire also
includes the State and the calendar year for which information will be
collected.
The Forest Service mails the questionnaires to primary wood-using
mills, which include small, part-time mills and pulping companies, as
well as large paper companies. Primary wood-using mills are facilities
that use harvested wood in log or chip form, such as sawlogs, veneer
logs, pulpwood, and pulp chips, to manufacture a secondary product,
such as lumber or paper. Respondents return the completed questionnaire
by mail in self-addressed, postage-paid envelopes.
The information is collected by Forest Service personnel at the
following Forest Service research stations: Northeast Research Station
(Radnor, Pa), North Central Research Station (St. Paul, Mn), Southern
Research Station (Asheville, NC), Rocky Mountain Research Station
(Ogden, Ut), and Pacific Northwest Research Station (Portland, Or). The
data collected will be used to provide essential information about the
current drain on the Nation's timber resources for pulpwood industrial
products.
Forest Service personnel will evaluate the information collected
from the pulp mills to monitor the volume, types, species, sources, and
prices of timber products harvested throughout the Nation. The data
from this collection of information is not available from other
sources.
Estimate of Annual Burden: 0.5 hours.
Type of Respondents: Primary users of industrial pulpwood and wood
chips.
Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 225.
Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 113.
2. Title: Logs and Other Roundwood Received Questionnaire.
OMB Number: 0596-0010.
Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 2003.
Type of Request: Extension.
Abstract: The Forest and Range Renewable Resources Planning Act of
1974 and the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act of
1978 require the Forest Service to evaluate trends in the use of logs
and wood chips, to forecast anticipated levels of logs and wood chips,
and to analyze changes in the harvest of these resources from National
Forest System lands.
To collect the information, Forest Service personnel use the Logs
and Other Roundwood Received questionnaire. The questionnaire is mailed
to primary wood-using mills, which include small, part-time mills as
well as large corporate entities. The Logs and Other Roundwood Received
questionnaire includes the State and the calendar year for which
information will be collected. Respondents return the completed
questionnaire by mail in self-addressed, postage-paid envelopes.
The information is to be collected by Forest Service personnel at
the following Forest Service research stations: Northeast Research
Station (Radnor, Pa), North Central Research Station (St. Paul, Mn),
Southern Research Station (Asheville, NC), Rocky Mountain Research
Station (Ogden, Ut), and Pacific Northwest Research Station (Portland,
Or).
Respondents answer questions that include the type of logs or wood
chips that have been received by the mill, the geographic locations
from which the logs or wood chips have been harvested, the variety of
tree species that have been harvested and received by the mill, the
prices the mill has paid for the logs or wood chips, and the volume of
byproducts that have been produced as a result of the manufacturing
process, such as bark, sawdust, and slabs.
[[Page 23104]]
The Forest Service will collect information from primary wood-using
mills, which includes small, part-time mills, as well as large
corporate entities. Primary wood-using mills are facilities that use
harvested wood in log or chip form, such as sawlogs, veneer logs,
pulpwood, and pulp chips, to manufacture a secondary product, such as
lumber or paper. The data collected is used to provide essential
information about the current drain on the Nation's timber resources
for pulpwood industrial products.
Forest Service personnel evaluate the information collected from
the pulp mills to monitor the volume, types, species, sources, and
prices of timber products harvested throughout the Nation. The data
from this collection of information is not available from other
sources.
Estimate of Annual Burden: 0.84 hours.
Type of Respondents: Primary users of industrial roundwood
products.
Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 1885.
Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1583.
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.
Use of Comments
All comments received in response to this notice, including names
and addresses when provided, will be a matter of public record. In
submitting this proposal to the Office of Management and Budget for
approval, the Forest Service will summarize and respond to comments
received.
Dated: April 24, 2003.
Robert Lewis, Jr.,
Deputy Chief, Research and Development.
[FR Doc. 03-10605 Filed 4-29-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P