Notice of New Fees; Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (Title VIII, Pub. L. 108-447), 59718-59719 [06-8591]
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59718
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 196 / Wednesday, October 11, 2006 / Notices
for debt instruments, loan agreements,
and security, and other material
necessary for prudent credit decisions
and reasonable program monitoring.
Description of Respondents: Not-forprofit institutions; Business or other forprofit.
Number of Respondents: 202.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting:
On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 17,959.
Charlene Parker,
Departmental Information Collection
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. E6–16752 Filed 10–10–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–XT–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Farm Service Agency
Finding of No Significant Impact
Farm Service Agency, USDA.
SUMMARY: The Farm Service Agency
(FSA) is issuing a Finding of No
Significant Impact (FONSI) consistent
with the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969 with respect to the
implementation of the following
Disaster Assistance Programs: (1)
Hurricane Indemnity Program, (2) Feed
Indemnity Program, (3) Livestock
Indemnity Program, (4) Tree Indemnity
Program, and (5) Aquaculture Grant
Program as well as (6) the 2006
Livestock Assistance Grant Program.
DATES: This action is effective
November 13, 2006.
ADDRESSES: The Final Programmatic
Environmental Assessment and FONSI
may be reviewed at https://
www.fsa.usda.gov/dafp/cepd/epb/
assessments.htm. Written comments
should be directed to Mike Linsenbigler,
USDA/FSA/CEPD/Stop 0513, 1400
Independence Ave., SW., Washington,
DC 20250–0513. Electronic comments
may be submitted to
Mike.Linsenbigler@wdc.usda.gov.
Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means for communication
(Braille, large print, audio tape, etc.)
should contact the USDA Target Center
at (202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FSA
prepared a Final Programmatic
Environmental Assessment for disaster
assistance programs supporting
production loss and damage caused by
damaging weather that occurred
between 2005 and 2006. Consistent with
the National Environmental Policy Act
of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321, et
seq.) (NEPA), the Council on
Environmental Quality (CEQ)
Regulations for Implementing the
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AGENCY:
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Procedural Provisions of NEPA (40 CFR
parts 1500–1508), and FSA’s policy and
procedures (7 CFR part 799), FSA is
issuing a Finding of No Significant
Impact (FONSI) with respect to the
implementation of the Proposed Action
under consideration here. These actions
involve 2005–2006 disaster assistance
programs that solely transfer funds to
offset production and disaster related
losses with no site-specific or grounddisturbing actions occurring as an
immediate result of implementing these
programs. These programs include the
following Disaster Assistance Programs:
(1) Hurricane Indemnity Program, (2)
Feed Indemnity Program, (3) Livestock
Indemnity Program, (4) Tree Indemnity
Program, (5) Aquaculture Grant
Program, and (6) the 2006 Livestock
Assistance Grant Program. Because
normal agricultural related production
was hindered by the widespread and
significant destruction caused by the
2005 hurricanes and the severe droughts
occurring from March 7, 2006, to August
31, 2006, the Secretary is responding by
utilizing the equivalent of 30 percent of
annual customs revenues available
under Section 32 to restore purchasing
power to affected eligible producers.
Current disaster programs operated by
USDA and other Federal and State
agencies do not fully cover the types of
loss and destruction experienced by a
majority of producers within the States
affected by these hurricanes and
drought. Without the immediate
financial assistance provided by these
programs, producers would face delays
and experience additional financial
hardships in their efforts to return their
farming or livestock operations to predisaster or pre-drought levels.
Under the Proposed Action
Alternative, FSA would disburse up to
$300 million either through direct
payments to eligible producers or
through grants administered by State
agencies for the grant programs. In
making direct payments, FSA does not
require that payments be used for
specific purposes. These programs
solely provide payments to eligible
producers for weather-related losses.
The direct-payment programs are based
on the producers documenting the type
and amount of the weather-related loss.
Determination: In consideration of the
analysis documented in the Final
Programmatic Environmental
Assessment and the reasons outlined in
this FONSI, the preferred alternative
would not constitute a major State or
Federal action that would significantly
affect the human environment. In
accordance with the National
Environmental Policy Act regulations at
40 CFR part 1502.4, ‘‘Major Federal
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actions requiring the preparation of
Environmental Impact Statements,’’ and
7 CFR Part 799, ‘‘Environmental Quality
and Related Environmental Concerns—
Compliance with NEPA implementing
the regulations of the Council on
Environmental Quality,’’ and 40 CFR
parts 1500–1508, I find that neither the
proposed action nor any of the
alternatives analyzed constitute a major
Federal action significantly affecting the
quality of the human environment.
Therefore, no environmental impact
statement will be prepared.
Signed in Washington DC on October 2,
2006.
Glen L. Keppy,
Acting Administrator, Farm Service Agency.
[FR Doc. E6–16734 Filed 10–10–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–05–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Notice of New Fees; Federal Lands
Recreation Enhancement Act (Title VIII,
Pub. L. 108–447)
Chugach National Forest,
USDA Forest Service.
ACTION: Notice of new fees.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Chugach National Forest
will begin charging fees for a group
campsite, cabins, individual campsites,
and a backcountry permit for the
Whistle Stop project area. Fees for other
group campsites, cabins, and individual
campsites on the Chugach National
Forest have shown that the public
values the availability of these facilities.
In addition, market research conducted
for the Whistle Stop project shows that
people understand the need for
backcountry permits given the remote
nature of the area. Fees will be
commensurate with the benefits and
services provided. Funds received from
the fees will be used for the continued
operation and maintenance of the
facilities and enhanced services of the
area.
DATES: Backcountry Permits will be
available spring 2007 for the 2007
Whistle Stop season. The group
campsite, individual campsites, and
cabins are expected to be available in
2008.
ADDRESSES: Forest Supervisor, Chugach
National Forest, 3301 C Street,
Anchorage, AK 9503.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Adam McClory, Whistle Stop Project
Manager, 907–754–2352.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Federal Recreation Lands Enhancement
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 196 / Wednesday, October 11, 2006 / Notices
Act (Title VII, Public Law 108–447)
directed the Secretary of Agriculture to
publish a six month advance notice in
the Federal Register whenever new
recreation fee areas are established.
The Whistle Stop project is a
partnership between the Forest Service
and Alaska Railroad that will provide
additional recreation opportunities
using alternative transportation. This
new service will allow the opportunity
for visitors to access National Forest
lands which were previously
inaccessible to the majority of forest
visitors. Market research demonstrates a
demand for these sorts of recreation
opportunities on the Kenai Peninsula.
The Forest Service has identified a goal
of achieving cost recovery through a
combination of revenue sharing with the
Alaska Railroad; fees from public-use
cabin rentals and campsites; and fees
obtained through backcountry permits.
Implementation of backcountry
permits, as described in the Record of
Decision, will provide the Forest
Service with the ability to accurately
track recreation use and ensure that use
levels and numbers of encounters are
not exceeding thresholds established in
the Forest Plan and Recreation
Opportunity Spectrum (ROS)
guidelines. Chugach National Forest
goals include maintaining a backcountry
social experience and protecting the
natural and cultural resources
throughout the area. Backcountry
permits will be required for visitors
utilizing the enhanced amenities
provided through the Whistle Stop
Project area. Amenities include a
developed trail system, backcountry
campsites, interpretive materials, and
Whistle Stop stations that will include
a shelter, restroom facilities and bearproof food storage containers. Issuance
of the backcountry permit will allow for
better public safety and result in
improved visitor education and
information about proper camping
techniques, fir prevention, safety in bear
country, and sanitation. Members of the
public are welcome to comment.
Dated: October 4, 2006.
Joe Meade,
Chugach National Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 06–8591 Filed 10–10–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–M
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Submission for OMB Review;
Comment Request
DOC will submit to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for
clearance the following proposal for
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collection of information under the
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction
Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35).
Agency: U.S. Census Bureau.
Title: American Community Survey,
2007 Methods Panel.
Form Number(s): ACS–1(2005), ACS–
1(X)Seq, ACS–1(X)Pro.
Agency Approval Number: None.
Type of Request: New collection.
Burden: 46,000 hours.
Number of Respondents: Postage
Test—20,000; Grid vs. Sequential Test—
40,000; Degree Test Reinterview—
32,000.
Avg. Hours per Response:
Questionnaires—38 minutes;
Reinterview—15 minutes.
Needs and Uses: The U.S. Census
Bureau requests authorization from the
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) to conduct the American
Community Survey 2007 Methods Panel
tests.
Given the rapid demographic changes
experienced in recent years and the
strong expectation that such changes
will continue and accelerate, the oncea-decade data collection approach of a
census is no longer acceptable as a
source for the housing and socioeconomic data collected on the census
long-form. To meet the needs and
expectations of the country, the Census
Bureau developed the American
Community Survey (ACS). This survey
collects detailed socioeconomic data
every month and provides tabulations of
these data on a yearly basis. The ACS
allows the Census Bureau to provide
more timely and relevant housing and
socio-economic data while also
reducing operational risks in the census
by eliminating the long-form historically
given to one in every six addresses.
Full implementation of the ACS
includes an annual sample of
approximately three million residential
addresses a year in the 50 states and the
District of Columbia, and another 36,000
addresses in Puerto Rico. A sample this
large allows for annual production and
release of single-year estimates for areas
with a population of 65,000 or more.
Lower levels of geography require
aggregates of three and five years’ worth
of data in order to produce estimates of
comparable reliability to the census
long-form. However, an ongoing data
collection effort with an annual sample
of this magnitude requires that the ACS
continue to research possible methods
for maintaining if not reducing data
collection costs. If costs increase, the
ACS would have to consider reductions
in sample thus reducing the reliability
of the data as compared to the reliability
of the census long-form, especially at
lower levels of geography.
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59719
One of the tests included in the 2007
Methods Panel addresses a method for
potentially reducing data collection
costs. In this test, we will implement the
same mailing strategy as ACS
production and send each sampled
address a prenotice letter, an initial
questionnaire (ACS–1(2005)) packet,
and a reminder postcard and for those
who haven’t responded by a certain
date, we will send a second
questionnaire packet. However, for this
test we will send the prenotice letter
using standard postage. Current ACS
production procedures send all mail
pieces using a first-class postage rate.
Using standard postage rather than firstclass postage for this mail piece can
potentially save the ACS approximately
two hundred and thirty thousand
dollars in data collection costs each
year. The test will evaluate whether the
use of standard mailing for the prenotice
letter impacts mail response rates.
A second test included in the 2007
Methods Panel addresses another aspect
of ACS data collection relative to the
census. Both the ACS and the census
collect a core set of basic demographic
questions (age and date of birth, gender,
relationship, Hispanic origin and race).
However, the 2010 Census will use a
different format (similar to the format
for the 2000 Census) from the format
used by the ACS for collecting this
information on the mail questionnaire.
The census format, referred to as a
sequential person design, creates a
column for each person that includes
each question and associated response
categories. The ACS format, referred to
as the grid design, lists the names of all
persons down the left side of the form,
the questions across the top of the page,
and the response categories fall in the
‘cells’ created by crossing the person
names by question.
This second test will compare the
sequential person (ACS–1(X)Seq) and
grid (ACS–1(X)Pro) formats for
collecting the basic demographic
information to measure the impact on
data quality, specifically unit and item
non-response rates, response
distributions, and within household
coverage. The outcome of the test will
determine whether the different formats
might contribute to differences in the
estimates for the basic demographic
questions. If the format does influence
how people respond to these basic
demographic questions, the Census
Bureau will decide whether the ACS
should alter its format of the collection
of these data items to more closely
reflect the census style format prior to
the 2010 Census.
The 2007 Methods Panel may also
include a third test contingent on the
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 196 (Wednesday, October 11, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59718-59719]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-8591]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Notice of New Fees; Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act
(Title VIII, Pub. L. 108-447)
AGENCY: Chugach National Forest, USDA Forest Service.
ACTION: Notice of new fees.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Chugach National Forest will begin charging fees for a
group campsite, cabins, individual campsites, and a backcountry permit
for the Whistle Stop project area. Fees for other group campsites,
cabins, and individual campsites on the Chugach National Forest have
shown that the public values the availability of these facilities. In
addition, market research conducted for the Whistle Stop project shows
that people understand the need for backcountry permits given the
remote nature of the area. Fees will be commensurate with the benefits
and services provided. Funds received from the fees will be used for
the continued operation and maintenance of the facilities and enhanced
services of the area.
DATES: Backcountry Permits will be available spring 2007 for the 2007
Whistle Stop season. The group campsite, individual campsites, and
cabins are expected to be available in 2008.
ADDRESSES: Forest Supervisor, Chugach National Forest, 3301 C Street,
Anchorage, AK 9503.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Adam McClory, Whistle Stop Project
Manager, 907-754-2352.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Recreation Lands Enhancement
[[Page 59719]]
Act (Title VII, Public Law 108-447) directed the Secretary of
Agriculture to publish a six month advance notice in the Federal
Register whenever new recreation fee areas are established.
The Whistle Stop project is a partnership between the Forest
Service and Alaska Railroad that will provide additional recreation
opportunities using alternative transportation. This new service will
allow the opportunity for visitors to access National Forest lands
which were previously inaccessible to the majority of forest visitors.
Market research demonstrates a demand for these sorts of recreation
opportunities on the Kenai Peninsula. The Forest Service has identified
a goal of achieving cost recovery through a combination of revenue
sharing with the Alaska Railroad; fees from public-use cabin rentals
and campsites; and fees obtained through backcountry permits.
Implementation of backcountry permits, as described in the Record
of Decision, will provide the Forest Service with the ability to
accurately track recreation use and ensure that use levels and numbers
of encounters are not exceeding thresholds established in the Forest
Plan and Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) guidelines. Chugach
National Forest goals include maintaining a backcountry social
experience and protecting the natural and cultural resources throughout
the area. Backcountry permits will be required for visitors utilizing
the enhanced amenities provided through the Whistle Stop Project area.
Amenities include a developed trail system, backcountry campsites,
interpretive materials, and Whistle Stop stations that will include a
shelter, restroom facilities and bear-proof food storage containers.
Issuance of the backcountry permit will allow for better public safety
and result in improved visitor education and information about proper
camping techniques, fir prevention, safety in bear country, and
sanitation. Members of the public are welcome to comment.
Dated: October 4, 2006.
Joe Meade,
Chugach National Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 06-8591 Filed 10-10-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M
