Information Collection: National Visitor Use Monitoring, 73975-73976 [2012-29928]
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 239 / Wednesday, December 12, 2012 / Notices
2. Transfer Act of 1905 [16 U.S.C. 472,
524, 554], the Multiple Use Sustained
Yield Act of 1960 [16 U.S.C. 528],
3. Forest and Rangeland Renewable
Resources and Planning Act of 1974 [16
U.S.C. Chapter 36] as amended,
4. National Forest Management Act of
1976 [16 U.S.C. 1600] as amended,
5. Government Performance and
Results Act of 1993 [Pub. L. 103–62] as
amended,
6. Executive Order 12862 of
September 11, 1993,
7. 1997 Revision of the Land and
Resource Management Plan for the
Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests
and Pawnee National Grassland,
8. and Executive Order 13571 of April
27, 2011.
In addition to the three
aforementioned sites, this information
collection will be administered at the
gateway to the Indian Peaks Wilderness.
The respondents for this data collection
survey will be recreational visitors, ages
18 years and older, at the four
previously mentioned sites during the
summer of 2013 data collection period.
During that summer, interviewers will
query visitors at the end of their
experience to find out if they are willing
to participate in the survey. If they do
participate, the interviewer will keep a
record of the respondent’s answers.
Each visitor will complete only one
survey per visit, and participation is
strictly voluntary. The information will
be collected by a private contractor, on
behalf of the Forest Service, who has
working relationship with Colorado
State and Utah State Universities.
These surveys will be designed to
collect data on the following:
1. Visitor experience (including
perceptions of crowding, etc.),
2. Visitor travel (including trip
information such as origination point,
source of pre-visit information, etc.),
3. Mode choice (including potential
transportation system scenarios),
4. Group characteristics (including
number of people in the group, age
groups, etc.), and
5. Socio-demographic data.
The primary analysis of the data will
be conducted by the private contractor
and their university associates on behalf
of the Forest Service, Federal Highway
Administration—Central Federal Lands,
and the Volpe National Transportation
Systems Center. All results will be
compiled in such a way to prevent
responses from being correlated to
respondents.
The data analysis will help area
managers better serve the public by
translating visitor input into future
strategic plans for these sites. This
includes efforts focused on developing
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more effective and efficient delivery of
program services at all four sites
through more productive resource
allocation. As a result, Forest Service
recreational and transportation program
management goals and objectives may
be modified which could require Forest
Service plan revisions.
The data analysis of the collected
information will be included in a
management report prepared for the
Forest Service and shared with
stakeholders and other interested
parties. The results may also be
published in scientific journals and/or
included in presentations at
professional meetings and conferences.
The Agency may get requests for this
information from the public and other
interested organizations which could
include, Congressional staffs,
newspapers, magazines, transportation
organization, and/recreational
organizations.
As noted previously, intensive visitor
use at these four sites are threatening
the resource and recreation management
objectives for these areas, as specified in
the Forest Land and Resource
Management Plan and various other site
management plans. Previous planning
studies have recommended alternative
transportation strategies to help
minimize the impact of intensive visitor
use on Agency resources and visitor
experience quality. The feasibility and
public opinion as it relates to these
recommendations have not yet been
analyzed. Consequently, the Forest
Service has not been able to implement
transportation improvements that could
help meet resource and recreation
management objectives for these areas.
Without this analysis, the Agency will
continue to lack the information
necessary to identify and implement
feasible and publicly-accepted
transportation improvements to help
protect forest resources and enhance
visitor experiences as required by the
Forest Land and Resource Management
Plan. Finally, these information
collections will directly impact Agency
resources and visitor experience quality
and help the Forest Service to meet its
resource and recreation management
mandates.
It is estimated that 1,275 people will
be contacted at Guanella Pass (425
people for each of 3 surveys); 1,275
people will be contacted at Mount
Evans (425 people for each of 3
surveys); and 1,700 will be contacted at
Brainard Lake Recreation Area (425
people for each of 4 surveys). Those
4,250 contacts will each require 1
minute of public burden. Of the 425
contacted for each survey at each site,
it is estimated that 300 people will be
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73975
willing to respond to each survey at
each site, or 3,000 contacts (300 x 10
surveys total), requiring an additional
10 minutes each for those 3,000 visitors
to respond to survey questions.
Estimate of Annual Burden: 11
minutes.
Type of Respondents: The respondent
population for this data collection
survey will be recreational visitors, ages
18 years and older, at these sites during
the data collection period.
Estimated Annual Number of
Respondents: 4,250.
Estimated Annual Number of
Responses per Respondent: 1.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on
Respondents: 570 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 4, 2012.
˜
James M. Pena,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest
System.
[FR Doc. 2012–29927 Filed 12–11–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Information Collection: National Visitor
Use Monitoring
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice; request for comment.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
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
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\12DEN1.SGM
12DEN1
73976
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 239 / Wednesday, December 12, 2012 / Notices
collection, OMB 0596–0110, National
Visitor Use Monitoring.
DATES: Comments must be received in
writing on or before February 11, 2013
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,
Heritage, and Volunteer Resources,
Mailstop 1125, USDA Forest Service,
1400 Independence Ave. SW.,
Washington, DC 20250–1125.
Comments also may be submitted via
facsimile to 202–205–1145 or by email
to: denglish@fs.fed.us.
The public may inspect comments
received at Room 400, Rosslyn Plaza
Building C, 1601 North Kent Street,
Arlington, VA 22209 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,
Heritage, and Volunteer Resources staff,
202–205–9595.
Individuals who use
telecommunication devices for the deaf
(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: 06/30/
2013.
Type of Request: Extension with
revision of a currently approved
information collection.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with
Abstract
The Government Performance and
Results Act of 1993 require Federal
agencies to 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 System 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
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15:48 Dec 11, 2012
Jkt 229001
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.
In addition, the U.S. Department of
Interior (USDOI) Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) anticipates
partnering with the Forest Service,
pending funding availability, to conduct
further field testing of the National
Visitor Use Monitoring (NVUM) survey
and estimation protocol as a means for
estimating the volume of visitation and
describing key visitor characteristics.
BLM lands are often adjacent to Forest
Service lands, and patterns of visitor
access are similar to those of the Forest
Service. As well, BLM’s information and
reporting needs closely mirror those of
the Forest Service.
At the recreation sites or access
points, agency personnel or contractors
will conduct onsite 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, triprelated 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 U.S. Forest Service and/
or Bureau of Land Management.
Estimated Annual Number of
Respondents: 60,900.
Estimated Annual Number of
Responses per Respondent: One.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on
Respondents: 8,760 hours.
Comment is invited on: (1) Whether
this collection of information is
necessary for the stated purposes and
the proper performance of the functions
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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 3, 2012.
˜
James M. Pena
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest
System.
[FR Doc. 2012–29928 Filed 12–11–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests;
Idaho; Crooked River Valley
Rehabilitation Project
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The forest gives notice of its
intent to prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement for the Crooked River
Valley Rehabilitation Project. The Red
River Ranger District of the Nez PerceClearwater National Forests is
undergoing planning efforts to restore
the lower Crooked River valley near Elk
City, Idaho. The Environmental Impact
Statement will analyze the effects of the
proposed action and alternatives. The
Nez Perce-Clearwater Forests invites
comments and suggestions on the issues
to be addressed. The agency gives notice
of the National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) analysis and decision
making process on the proposal so
interested and affected members of the
public may participate and contribute to
the final decision.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope
of the analysis must be received by 45
days after the date of publication in the
Federal Register. The draft
environmental impact statement is
expected October 2014 and the final
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\12DEN1.SGM
12DEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 239 (Wednesday, December 12, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73975-73976]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-29928]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Information Collection: National Visitor Use Monitoring
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
[[Page 73976]]
collection, OMB 0596-0110, National Visitor Use Monitoring.
DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before February 11,
2013 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, Heritage, and Volunteer Resources,
Mailstop 1125, USDA Forest Service, 1400 Independence Ave. SW.,
Washington, DC 20250-1125.
Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to 202-205-1145 or by
email to: denglish@fs.fed.us.
The public may inspect comments received at Room 400, Rosslyn Plaza
Building C, 1601 North Kent Street, Arlington, VA 22209 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,
Heritage, and Volunteer Resources staff, 202-205-9595.
Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (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: 06/30/2013.
Type of Request: Extension with revision of a currently approved
information collection.
Abstract
The Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 require Federal
agencies to 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 System
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.
In addition, the U.S. Department of Interior (USDOI) Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) anticipates partnering with the Forest Service,
pending funding availability, to conduct further field testing of the
National Visitor Use Monitoring (NVUM) survey and estimation protocol
as a means for estimating the volume of visitation and describing key
visitor characteristics. BLM lands are often adjacent to Forest Service
lands, and patterns of visitor access are similar to those of the
Forest Service. As well, BLM's information and reporting needs closely
mirror those of the Forest Service.
At the recreation sites or access points, agency personnel or
contractors will conduct onsite 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 U.S. Forest
Service and/or Bureau of Land Management.
Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 60,900.
Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: One.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 8,760 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 3, 2012.
James M. Pena
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2012-29928 Filed 12-11-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P
