[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 207 (Thursday, October 25, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65166-65167]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-26246]
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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.
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 207 / Thursday, October 25, 2012 /
Notices
[[Page 65166]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Information Collection; Request for Comment; Visitor Permit and
Visitor Registration Card
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 with no revision of a currently approved
information collection, 0596-0019 (Visitor Permit and Visitor
Registration Card).
DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before December 24,
2012 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
Wilderness Program Manager; USDA Forest Service, Wilderness and Wild
and Scenic River Staff; 1601 N. Kent Street, Arlington, VA 22209.
Comments also may be submitted via email to: [email protected].
The public may inspect comments received at the Office of the
Director, Wilderness and Wild and Scenic River Staff, 1601 N. Kent
Street, Arlington, VA during normal business hours. Visitors are
encouraged to call ahead to 202-205-9530 to facilitate entry to the
building.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven Boutcher, Wilderness and Wild
and Scenic River Staff at 802 656-1718 or [email protected].
Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may
call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 twenty-four
hours a day, every day of the year, including holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Request for Comment; Visitor Permit and Visitor Registration
Card.
OMB Number: 0596-0019.
Expiration Date of Approval: 05/31/2013.
Type of Request: Extension with No Revision.
Abstract: The Organic Administration Act (16 U.S.C. 473), the
Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131), and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16
U.S.C. 1271) require the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture
manage the forests to benefit both land and people. The information
collected from the Visitor's Permit (FS-2300-30) and Visitor
Registration Card (FS-2300-32) help the Forest Service ensure that
visitors' use of National Forest System lands is in the public interest
and is compatible with the mission of the Agency. Information will be
collected from National Forest System land visitors, who will be asked
to describe the location of their visit and their estimated duration of
use.
The Visitor's Permit, Form FS-2300-3, is required for visitors to
enter many special management areas on National Forest System Lands,
including Wilderness Areas, Wild and Scenic Rivers, and restricted off-
road vehicle areas. The permit is only used where public use levels
must be managed and monitored to prevent resource damage, to preserve
the quality of the experience, or to maintain public safety. The
personal contact generated by issuance of the permit results in
improved visitor education and information about proper camping
techniques, fire prevention, safety, and sanitation. The information
collected from the Visitor's Permit may also be used to respond to
indicators or standards in a Forest Plan or Wilderness Management Plan.
The Visitor's Permit captures the visitor's name and address, area to
be visited, dates of visit, length of stay, method of travel, number of
people, number of dogs and number of pack and saddle stock (that is,
the number of animals either carrying people or their gear) in the
group. The Visitor's Permit is usually issued by Forest Service
employees at an office location. Visitors may obtain the permit in
person or call ahead and provide the required information over the
phone. The information collection does not involve the use of
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection
techniques.
The Visitor Registration Card, Form FS-2300-32, is a voluntary
registration card, which provides Forest Service managers with an
inexpensive means of gathering visitor use information required by
management plans, without imposing mandatory visitor permit
regulations. Moreover, the information collected can be used to respond
to indicators or standards in a Forest Plan or Wilderness Management
Plan without requiring a mandatory permit system to gather and record
the data. Use of the Visitor Registration Card is one of the most
efficient means of collecting data from visitors. It allows the Forest
Service to collect data in remote locations, where it is not feasible
to have permanent staffing. The Visitor Registration Card is normally
made available at un-staffed entry locations such as trailheads, and is
completed by the visitor without Forest Service assistance. The Visitor
Registration Card provides information from wilderness and special
management area visitors including name and address, area to be
visited, dates of visit, length of stay, method of travel, number of
people, number of dogs, number of pack and saddle stock (that is, the
number of animals either carrying people or their gear) in the group,
and number of watercraft or vehicles. The information is collected once
from visitors during their visit and later gathered by Forest Service
employees who then analyze the information.
The use of these two forms allows managers to identify heavily used
areas, to prepare restoration, and to monitor plans that reflect where
use is occurring, and in extreme cases, to develop plans to move forest
users to lesser impacted areas. They also provide managers and search
and rescue personnel with information useful in locating lost forest
visitors. The inability to use these forms could result in overuse and
site deterioration in some environmentally sensitive areas.
Furthermore, without these forms, the Forest Service would be required
to undertake special studies to collect use data and could be pressed
to make management decisions based on insufficient or inaccurate data.
The information collected will not be shared with other organizations
inside or outside the government.
Please note the Forest Service is exploring the possibility of
merging the burden associated with this OMB
[[Page 65167]]
control number, 0596-0019, into the extension with revision Information
Collection Request for OMB 0596-0106, Recreation Administration Permit
and Fee Envelope, currently under OMB review.
Estimate of Annual Burden: 3 minutes (FS-2300-30), 3 minutes (FS-
2300-32).
Type of Respondents: Individuals and groups requesting use of
National Forest System Wilderness and special management areas.
Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 517,500 respondents.
Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 25,875 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 request
toward Office of Management and Budget approval.
Dated: October 15, 2012.
James M. Pe[ntilde]a,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2012-26246 Filed 10-24-12; 8:45 am]
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