Information Collection; Timber Purchaser Cost and Sales Data, 1487 [E7-366]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Forest Service

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 8 (Friday, January 12, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 1487]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-366]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Timber Purchaser Cost and Sales Data

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; Request for Comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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, Timber Purchaser Cost and Sales Data.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before March 13, 2007 
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, Attn: Lathrop Smith, Mail Stop 1103, Forest Service, 
USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-1103.
    Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to (202) 205-1045 or 
by e-mail to: cost_collecting@fs.fed.us.
    The public may inspect comments received at the Office of the 
Director, Forest Management Staff, Forest Service, USDA, Room 3 NW., 
Yates Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC. Visitors 
are encouraged to call ahead to (202) 205-1496 to facilitate entry into 
the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lathrop Smith, Timber Staff, Forest 
Management at (202) 205-0858. 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: Timber Purchaser Cost and Sales Data.
    OMB Number: 0596-0017.
    Expiration Date of Approval: June 30, 2007.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: The Forest Service sells timber and other forest products 
on national forest lands to achieve policies set forth in the Multiple-
Use Sustained Yield Act of 1960, and the Forest and Rangeland Renewable 
Resources Planning Act of 1974. Timber must not be sold for less than 
the appraised value (Pub. L. 94-588). The Forest Service may not sell 
timber below a minimum stumpage rate established by the Chief of the 
Forest Service, ensuring that timber sales recover some of the costs 
associated with preparation and administration of timber sales.
    Forest Service timber appraisers develop advertised prices using 
transaction evidence or a residual value form of appraisal. The Forest 
Service collects and uses the following to develop transaction evidence 
and residual value appraisal systems: (1) Product value, (2) 
manufacturing cost, (3) falling and bucking costs, (4) skidding and 
loading costs, and (5) hauling costs.
    In many areas, the Forest Service purchases lumber product values 
from the Western Wood Products Association. The Forest Service, via 
contracting officers, also collects data from timber purchasers and 
uses it to develop fair market average value and cost information for 
appraisals, as well as advertised prices for national forest timber. 
Forest Service staff at the Albuquerque Service Center analyzes the 
data. All data collected is subject to verification.
    Standard timber sale contract forms FS-2400-6 and FS-2400-6T 
contain a provision requiring timber purchasers to furnish data to the 
Forest Service upon request. The Forest Service consulted with several 
timber industry groups during the development of this standard contract 
provision, including but not limited to: Western Wood Products 
Association, National Forest Products Association, Western Forest 
Industries Association, and Industrial Forestry Association.
    States and other agencies also use the data in appraisals. 
Additionally, timber purchasers rely upon cost collection to help with 
independent appraisals of Federal timber and to estimate the cost of 
subcontracting aspects of Federal timber harvest activities.
    The data is collected from various sources, ranging from paper to 
electronic media. The Forest Service does not provide forms for the 
collection of this data. Some firms mail the data to the Forest 
Service, others provide access to records and duplication equipment, 
and some firms provide on-site access to electronic data. Data gathered 
is not available from other sources.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: 1 hour per request.
    Type of Respondents: Timber sale purchasers.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 20.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 20 hours.
    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: December 21, 2006.
Frederick Norbury,
Associate Deputy Chief.
 [FR Doc. E7-366 Filed 1-11-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P