Information Collection: Role of Communities in Stewardship Contracting Projects, 76442 [E5-7827]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Forest Service

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 247 (Tuesday, December 27, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 76442]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-7827]


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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 247 / Tuesday, December 27, 2005 / 
Notices

[[Page 76442]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection: Role of Communities in Stewardship 
Contracting Projects

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 new information collection, role of local 
communities in development of agreement or contract plans under 
stewardship contracting.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before February 27, 
2006 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 
Forest Management, Mail Stop 1103, Forest Service, USDA, P.O. Box 
96090, Washington, DC 20090-6090.
    Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to (202) 205-1045 or 
by e-mail to: mroessing@fs.fed.us.
    The public may inspect comments received at 201 14th Street, 
Washington DC 20250, Room 3SW during normal business hours. Visitors 
are encouraged to call ahead to (202) 205-0847 to facilitate entry to 
the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Megan Roessing, Forest Management, 
202-205-0847. 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: Role of communities in the development of stewardship 
contracting projects.
    OMB Number: 0596-New.
    Expiration Date of Approval: N/A.
    Type of Request: New.
    Abstract: Section 323 of Public Law 108-7 (16 U.S.C. 2104 Note) 
requires the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to report to 
Congress annually on the role of local communities in the development 
of agreement or contract plans through stewardship contracting. To meet 
that requirement the Forest Service plans to conduct surveys to gather 
the necessary information for use by both Forest Service and Bureau of 
Land Management. The survey will provide information regarding the 
nature of the local community involved in developing agreement or 
contract plans, the nature of roles played by the entities involved in 
developing agreement or contract plans, the benefits to the community 
and agency by being involved in planning and development of contract 
plans, and the usefulness of stewardship contracting in helping meet 
the needs of local communities.
    The Pinchot Institute for Conservation and its sub-contractors will 
collect information through an annual phone survey. The survey will 
query federal employees, employees of for-profit and not-for-profit 
institutions, employees of state and local agencies, and individual 
citizens who have been involved in stewardship contracting projects 
about their role in the development of agreement or contract plans.
    The information collected through the survey will be analyzed by 
the Pinchot Institute for Conservation and its sub-contractors and used 
to help develop the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management report 
to Congress pursuant to Section 323 of Public Law 108-7. Without the 
information from this annual collection of data, the Forest Service and 
Bureau of Land Management will not be able to provide the required 
annual report to Congress on the role of communities in development of 
agreement or contract plans under stewardship contracting.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: 0.75 hour.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 350.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: One.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 263 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 
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: December 14, 2005.
Frederick Norbury,
Associate Deputy Chief, NFS.
[FR Doc. E5-7827 Filed 12-23-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P