[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 55 (Tuesday, March 24, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12303-12304]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-6388]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Information Collection; Urgent Removal of Timber
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 a currently approved information
collection, Urgent Removal of Timber.
DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before May 26, 2009
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
Director, Forest Management, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Mailstop
1103, Washington, DC 20250-1103.
Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to 202-205-1045 or by
e-mail to: [email protected].
The public may inspect comments received at the Office of the
Director, Forest Management, Third Floor, Southwest Wing, Yates
Building, 201 14th Street, SW., Washington, DC during normal business
hours. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to 202-205-1496 to
facilitate entry to the building.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lathrop Smith, Forest Management
staff, at 202-205-0858. 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: Urgent Removal of Timber.
OMB Number: 0596-0167.
Expiration Date of Approval: July 31, 2009.
Type of Request: Extension with no revision.
Abstract: Regulations at 36 CFR 223.53 allow timber sale purchasers
to ask for extensions of certain National Forest timber sale contracts
when the manufacturing facilities or logging equipment capacity
available to purchasers are insufficient to provide for both the rapid
harvest of damaged non-National Forest System (NFS) timber in need of
expeditious removal and the continued harvest of undamaged (green)
timber under contract with the Forest Service. When requesting an
urgent removal extension, purchasers are required to provide
documentation supporting the need. The collected information is
necessary for the contracting officer to make a determination as to
whether the purchaser meets the conditions for receiving an urgent
removal extension on one or more NFS timber sale contracts.
The intent of this information collection is to assure that
provisions of timber sale contracts allowing extensions of time for
harvest of NFS timber are consistent with the requirements of the
National Forest Management Act (16 U.S.C. 472a), while:
Minimizing loss of NFS timber adjacent to other timber
infested with insects and disease or damaged by fire;
Reduce the threat to public safety and property resulting
from such catastrophic events; and
Promote the wise use and conservation of natural
resources.
The National Forest Management Act requires that extensions of
contract time shall not be granted unless ``the purchaser has
diligently performed in accordance with an approved plan of operation
or that the substantial overriding public interest justifies the
extension.'' Regulations at 36 CFR 223.115 mirror the National Forest
Management Act.
Regulations at 36 CFR 223.53(b) required the Regional Forester to
verify in writing that: (1) A specific catastrophe occurred for which
urgent removal extensions should be granted; and (2) Failure to harvest
the damaged non-NFS timber promptly could result in the following: (i)
Pose a threat to public safety, (ii) Create a threat of an insect or
disease epidemic to NFS or other lands or resources, or (iii)
Significant private or other public resource loss.
[[Page 12304]]
Following such a determination, to obtain an urgent removal
extension on a NFS timber sale contract, a purchaser must make a
written request to the contracting officer and include the following:
An explanation of why the harvest of undamaged (green) NFS
timber within the term of the existing NFS contract(s) will prevent or
otherwise impede the removal of damaged non-NFS timber in need of
expeditious removal; and
Documentation that the manufacturing facilities or logging
equipment capacity available to the purchaser would be insufficient to
provide for both the rapid salvage of damaged non-NFS timber in need of
expeditious removal and continued harvest of undamaged (green) NFS
timber under contract with the Forest Service.
The information is submitted by the purchaser in writing to the
Forest Service contracting officer, who then verifies the legitimate
need for the request of an urgent removal extension(s) in accordance
with regulations at 36 CFR 223.53.
No form is designated for the collection of this information. The
information is collected in hard copy or by facsimile. Each request for
an urgent removal extension is based upon a unique set of
circumstances, no two requests are alike. There is no duplication of
information and the information is only available from the timber sale
purchaser. The Forest Service collects only the minimum amount of
information necessary for the contracting officer to make a
determination. Without the information, and the frequency at which it
is collected, the Forest Service cannot assure that the statutory
requirements of the National Forest Management Act are met.
Estimate of Annual Burden: 6 hours.
Type of Respondents: Timber sale contractors (individuals, for-
profit businesses, and non-profit entities).
Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 25.
Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 150 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: March 18, 2009.
Richard W. Sowa,
Acting Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. E9-6388 Filed 3-23-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P