Information Collection; Request for Comment; National Visitor Use Monitoring, 46184-46185 [E6-13192]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Forest Service

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 155 (Friday, August 11, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46184-46185]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-13192]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Request for Comment; National Visitor Use 
Monitoring

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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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 revision of a currently approved information 
collection, National Visitor Use Monitoring.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before October 10, 
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 Dr. 
Donald B.K. English, Recreation and Heritage Resources, Mailstop 1125, 
Forest Service, USDA, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 
20250.

[[Page 46185]]

    Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to (202) 205-1145 or 
by E-mail to: denglish@fs.fed.us.
    The public may inspect comments received at Room 4 Central, Yates 
Building, Recreation and Heritage Resources Staff, 1400 Independence 
Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250 during normal business hours. Visitors 
are encouraged to call ahead to (202) 205-9595 to facilitate entry to 
the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donald B.K. English, Recreation and 
Heritage Resources staff, at (202) 205-9595. Individuals who use TDD 
may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339, 24 hours a 
day, every day of the year, including holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: National Visitor Use Monitoring.
    OMB Number: 0596-0110.
    Expiration Date of Approval: January 31, 2007.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: The Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 
requires that Federal agencies establish measurable goals and monitor 
their success at meeting those goals. Two of the items the Forest 
Service must measure are: (1) The number of visits that occur on the 
national forest lands for recreation and other purposes, and (2) the 
views and satisfaction levels of recreational visitors to National 
Forest System lands about the services, facilities, and settings. The 
agency receives requests for this kind of information from a variety of 
organizations, including Congressional staffs, newspapers, magazines, 
and recreational trade organizations.
    The data from this collection provides vital information for 
strategic planning efforts, decisions regarding allocation of 
resources, and revisions of land and resource management plans for 
national forests. It provides managers with reliable estimates of the 
number of recreational visitors to a national forest, activities of 
those visitors (including outdoor physical activities), customer 
satisfaction, and visitor values. The knowledge gained from this effort 
helps identify recreational markets as well as the economic impact 
visitors have on an area. The information collected is also used by the 
Office of Management and Budget as part of the Program Analysis 
Reporting Tool measures for the Forest Service recreation program. For 
the Forest Service, the collection is designed for a five-year cycle of 
coverage across all national forests. Conducting the collection less 
frequently puts information updates out of cycle with forest planning 
and other data preparation activities.
    To conform to the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act 
(SNPLMA), the Bureau of Land Management, and Fish and Wildlife Service 
(all United States Department of Interior (USDI) agencies) will be 
utilizing this collection to obtain credible and mutually comparable 
estimates of recreational use on lands they administer in Clarke 
County, Nevada. This collection helps ensure a timely response to 
SNPLMA requirements.
    At recreation sites or access points, agency personnel or 
contractors will conduct on-site interviews of visitors as they 
complete their visit. Interviewers will ask about the purpose and 
length of the visit; the trip origin; activities; annual visitation 
rates; trip-related spending patterns; use of recreation facilities; 
satisfaction with agency services and facilities; and the composition 
of the visiting party. Primary analysis of the information for the 
Forest Service and partnering agencies will be performed by Forest 
Service staff in the Washington Office and by scientists in one or more 
of the agency's research stations.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: 9 minutes (average).
    Type of Respondents: Visitors to lands managed by the USDA--Forest 
Service and within Clarke County, Nevada to lands managed by the USDI--
Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Park 
Service.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 65,400.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: One.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 9,425.
    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 request for Office of 
Management and Budget approval.

    Dated: August 1, 2006.
Gloria Manning,
Associate Deputy Chief.
 [FR Doc. E6-13192 Filed 8-10-06; 8:45 am]
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