Generic Information Collection for Land Management Planning, 59911-59913 [2013-23767]
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59911
Notices
Federal Register
Vol. 78, No. 189
Monday, September 30, 2013
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER
contains documents other than rules or
proposed rules that are applicable to the
public. Notices of hearings and investigations,
committee meetings, agency decisions and
rulings, delegations of authority, filing of
petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are
examples of documents appearing in this
section.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Submission for OMB Review;
Comment Request
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
September 24, 2013.
The Department of Agriculture has
submitted the following information
collection requirement(s) to OMB for
review and clearance under the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
Public Law 104–13. Comments
regarding (a) whether the collection of
information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the
agency, including whether the
information will have practical utility;
(b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate
of burden including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (c)
ways to enhance the quality, utility and
clarity of the information to be
collected; (d) ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information
on those who are to respond, including
through the use of appropriate
automated, electronic, mechanical, or
other technological collection
techniques or other forms of information
technology.
Comments regarding this information
collection received by October 30, 2013
will be considered. Written comments
should be addressed to: Desk Officer for
Agriculture, Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs, Office of
Management and Budget (OMB), New
Executive Office Building, 725—17th
Street NW., Washington, DC 20502.
Commenters are encouraged to submit
their comments to OMB via email to:
OIRA_Submission@OMB.EOP.GOV or
fax (202) 395–5806 and to Departmental
Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail
Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250–
7602. Copies of the submission(s) may
be obtained by calling (202) 720–8958.
An agency may not conduct or
sponsor a collection of information
unless the collection of information
displays a currently valid OMB control
number and the agency informs
VerDate Mar<15>2010
18:06 Sep 27, 2013
Jkt 229001
potential persons who are to respond to
the collection of information that such
persons are not required to respond to
the collection of information unless it
displays a currently valid OMB control
number.
Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service
Title: Importation of Table Eggs from
Regions Where Newcastle Disease
Exists.
OMB Control Number: 0579–0328.
Summary of Collection: The Animal
Health Protection Act (AHPA) of 2002 is
the primary Federal law governing the
protection of animal health. The law
gives the Secretary of Agriculture broad
authority to detect, control, or eradicate
pests or diseases of livestock or poultry.
Veterinary Services, a program with the
Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service (APHIS) is responsible for
administering regulations intended to
prevent the introduction of animal
disease in the United States. Regulations
in title 9, Code of Federal Regulations,
section 94.6 deal specifically with the
importation of table eggs from certain
regions that may pose a risk of
introducing Exotic Newcastle Disease
(END) into the United States.
Need and Use of the Information:
Although this collection applies to any
region where END is considered to exist,
the United States is not currently
importing table eggs from any ENDaffected region. APHIS requires the
following with regard to imported table
eggs: (1) A certificate for table eggs from
END-affected regions; and (2) a
government seal issued by the
veterinarian accredited by the national
government who signed the certificate.
If the information were collected less
frequently or not collected at all, APHIS
would be unable to establish an
effective defense against the incursion
of END from table eggs imported from
END-affected regions. This could have
serious health consequences for U.S.
poultry and economic consequences for
the U.S. poultry industry.
Description of Respondents: Federal
Government.
Number of Respondents: 1.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting:
On occasion.
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Total Burden Hours: 3.
Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013–23752 Filed 9–27–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Generic Information Collection for
Land Management Planning
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 proposed
information collection, Generic
Information Collection for Land
Management Planning.
DATES: Comments must be received in
writing on or before November 29, 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 the U.S.
Forest Service, Annie Eberhart Goode,
Planning Specialist, Ecosystem
Management Services, 6th Floor, 1601
N. Kent Street, Rosslyn, VA 22209.
Comments also may be submitted via
facsimile to 703–235–0138 or by email
to: aegoode@fs.fed.us.
The public may inspect comments
received at 1621 N. Kent Street, Rosslyn,
VA during normal business hours.
Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to
202–205–1056 to facilitate entry to the
building. Additionally, comments may
be viewed at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/
planningrule/directives.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Annie Eberhart Goode; 202–205–1056.
Individuals who use telecommunication
devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the
Federal Information Relay Service
(FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 between 8:00
a.m. and 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard
Time, Monday through Friday.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Generic Information Collection
for Land Management Planning.
OMB Number: 0596–NEW.
Expiration Date of Approval: N/A.
Type of Request: New.
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\30SEN1.SGM
30SEN1
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
59912
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 189 / Monday, September 30, 2013 / Notices
Abstract:
Section 6 of the National Forest
Management Act of 1976 (16 U.S.C.1600
et seq.) (NFMA) and implementing
regulations 36 CFR 219 (2012 Planning
Rule) direct the U. S. Forest Service (the
Agency) to revise land management
plans for each National Forest System
(NFS) unit every 15 years, and to
continuously monitor conditions to
inform interim or subsequent planning
actions. Development of Land
Management Plans (LMP) pursuant to
the NFMA and the 2012 Planning Rule
requires an assessment phase, planning
phase, and monitoring phase, all of
which are designed to foster a
transparent, collaborative, and informed
planning process.
The planning process defined by the
NFMA and the 2012 Planning Rule
requires public participation and
involvement. As such, the Agency will
invite public participation broadly to
facilitate public comment and the
submission of information that members
of the public find to be relevant.
To ensure that the Agency can be
inclusive of, and responsive to,
stakeholder concerns in the
development of land management plans,
the Forest Service seeks to obtain OMB
approval of a generic clearance to
collect both quantitative and qualitative
feedback and information for
consideration and use in land
management planning.
The NFMA and 2012 Planning Rule
require the Agency to provide
opportunities to the public to
participate in the planning process.
Information provided by the public
assists the Agency in ensuring that
LMPs guide management of NFS lands
so that they are ecologically sustainable
and contribute to social and economic
sustainability. In particular, the Rule
requires the Agency to identify and
consider ‘‘relevant, existing’’
information. Public participation is
required at each stage of the planning
process—assessment, planning, and
monitoring.
During the assessment phase,
pursuant to the 2012 Planning Rule
provision on assessments (36 CFR
219.6), the Agency is required to
‘‘identify and evaluate existing
information’’ relevant to the plan area
for the following:
(1) Terrestrial ecosystems, aquatic
ecosystems, and watersheds;
(2) Air, soils, and water resources and
quality;
(3) System drivers, including
dominant ecological processes,
disturbance regimes, and stressors, such
as natural succession, wildland fire,
invasive species, and climate change;
VerDate Mar<15>2010
18:06 Sep 27, 2013
Jkt 229001
and the ability of terrestrial and aquatic
ecosystems on the plan area to adapt to
change;
(4) Baseline assessment of carbon
stocks;
(5) Threatened, endangered,
proposed, and candidate species and
potential species of conservation
concern present in the plan area;
(6) Social, cultural, and economic
conditions;
(7) Benefits people obtain from the
NFS planning area (ecosystem services);
(8) Multiple uses and their
contributions to local, regional, and
national economies;
(9) Recreation settings, opportunities
and access, and scenic character;
(10) Renewable and nonrenewable
energy and mineral resources;
(11) Infrastructure, such as
recreational facilities and transportation
and utility corridors;
(12) Areas of tribal importance;
(13) Cultural and historic resources
and uses;
(14) Land status and ownership, use,
and access patterns; and
(15) Existing designated areas located
in the plan area including wilderness
and wild and scenic rivers and potential
need and opportunity to additional
designated areas.
Further, the Agency is required to
accept additional comment and
feedback throughout the planning
process and then monitor conditions,
including accepting public input in the
plan area, and reporting to the public
biennially.
Although the following are not
considered ‘‘information’’ as defined by
the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (5
CFR 1320.3(h)), they do represent the
vast majority of the ways and methods
that will be used by the Agency to
obtain information from stakeholders:
• Facts or opinions obtained through
direct observation by an employee or
agent of the sponsoring agency or
through non-standardized oral
communication in connection with such
direct observations;
• Facts or opinions submitted in
response to general solicitations of
comments from the public, published in
the Federal Register or other
publications, regardless of the form or
format thereof, provided that no person
is required to supply specific
information pertaining to the
commenter, other than that necessary
for self-identification, as a condition of
the agency’s full consideration of the
comment;
• A request for facts or opinions
addressed to a single person;
• Facts or opinions obtained or
solicited at or in connection with public
hearings or meetings;
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
• Like items so designated by OMB.
Public participation will be sought
during all three phases of a plan
revision: assessment, planning, and
monitoring. Typically, NFS units
publish general solicitations for
comments from the public and hold
public meetings. Private information
will be considered and will become part
of the public record if voluntarily
provided.
Because the 2012 Planning Rule
places strong emphasis on transparency
of communication, inclusiveness, and
active public involvement, the Agency
anticipates that NFS units will innovate
and develop new techniques that
facilitate focused communication,
which produces more granular detail on
stakeholder goals and concerns related
to forest management. The intent of this
generic information collection request
(ICR) is to provide an efficient avenue
for ensuring that innovative
communications strategies have an
efficient means of obtaining OMB
approval in accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act.
For example, if a forest planning team
recognizes that a complex issue is not
well understood, focus groups of
knowledgeable stakeholders could be
designed and convened to ensure that
the issue is well understood by the
Agency.
Another example of a communication
strategy that could be supported by this
generic ICR would be the solicitation of
comments on specific issues. Although
the PRA does not consider facts and
opinions submitted ‘‘in response to
general solicitation of comments’’ ((5
CFR 1320.3(h)(4)) to be ‘‘information,’’
planning for NFS units is complex, and
it may be appropriate for public
meetings regarding unique resource
issues, such as water use, protection of
a sensitive area, energy resources or
similar issues, as opposed to a general
solicitation of comments to be held.
Such outreach could support an
‘‘iterative’’ approach to land
management planning and facilitate
productive public input on complex
matters.
Additionally, the 2012 Planning Rule
and Executive Order 12372 require
intergovernmental communication both
broadly and specifically. Regular and
consistent engagement of State, local,
and tribal governments is an important
element of land management planning
for NFS units. In addition to public
meetings, to which all such public
entities are invited, planning teams may
contact jurisdictions adjacent or
proximate to NFS units with similar
and/or targeted notices, including a
notice that planning for a forest unit has
E:\FR\FM\30SEN1.SGM
30SEN1
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 189 / Monday, September 30, 2013 / Notices
begun and that the planning team will
be assessing information about 15
resource categories.
This generic information collection is
intended to facilitate customer and
stakeholder feedback and input in an
efficient, timely manner while at the
same time staying in compliance with
the PRA. The information collected
from our customers and stakeholders
will help ensure that the development
of land management plans is both
transparent and well-informed. This
feedback and input will provide insights
into customer or stakeholder
perceptions, experiences and
expectations, provide an early warning
of issues with service, or focus attention
on areas where communication,
training, or changes in operations might
improve delivery of products or services
such as improved LMPs or the
implementation thereof. These
collections will allow for ongoing,
collaborative, and actionable
communications, and the sharing of
applicable information between the
Agency and its customers and
stakeholders. It will also allow feedback
to contribute directly to the
improvement of program management.
How will information be collected?
The 2012 Planning Rule specifically
states that, outside of basic notification
requirements, the Responsible Official
has the discretion to determine the
‘‘scope, methods, forum, and timing’’ of
public input. Additionally, the
Responsible Official ‘‘…shall encourage
participation’’ of youth, low-income
populations, and minority populations
as well as private landowners whose
property may be affected by the land
management plan. To meet the letter
and spirit of the 2012 Planning Rule,
Line Officers need to enhance and
support public participation. Although
every instance and approach to public
participation cannot be identified, the
types of collections that this generic
clearance is intended to cover include,
but are not limited to:
• Customer/stakeholder comment
cards/complaint forms;
• Small discussion groups;
• Focus Groups of customers,
potential customers, delivery partners,
or other stakeholders;
• Cognitive laboratory studies, such
as those used to refine questions or
assess usability of a Web site;
• Qualitative stakeholder surveys;
• In-person observation testing (for
example, Web site or software usability
tests);
• Targeted requests for information
from State, local, and tribal
governments, non-profit groups, and
other stakeholders;
VerDate Mar<15>2010
18:06 Sep 27, 2013
Jkt 229001
• Quantitative surveys designed to
inform development of land
management plans;
• Other innovative communication
strategies designed to facilitate
voluntary provision of information by
the public to NFS units with minimal
burden that may be approved by OMB.
Who will collect the information?
Public outreach is conducted by the
Responsible Official for land
management planning, with assistance
from the Interdisciplinary Team
assembled, as required by the NFMA, to
develop a land management plan, well
informed by the public.
What information will be collected?
Any information that members of the
public seek to provide to the Agency
will be collected. The 2012 Planning
Rule identifies broad 15 categories that
must be evaluated when assessing a
plan area (36 CFR 219.6). In addition,
biennial monitoring of the condition of
the plan area is required, and 8 broad
categories are identified for inclusion in
monitoring plans.
From whom will the information be
collected? All members of the public,
stakeholder groups, and State, tribal,
and local governments who would like
to provide information to the Agency
regarding land management planning.
How will the information be used? To
inform development of land
management plans.
Who will evaluate or analyze the
information? Agency personnel,
assigned to a planning task, are
responsible for evaluation of any
information provided.
Estimate of Annual Burden:
Type of Respondents: Members of the
public, including State, local and tribal
government representatives.
Estimated Annual Number of
Respondents: 34,000.
Estimated Annual Number of
Responses per Respondent: 1–2.
Estimated Burden per Response: .6
hours.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on
Respondents: 21,000 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’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
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
59913
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: September 24, 2013.
Tony Tooke,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest
System.
[FR Doc. 2013–23767 Filed 9–27–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Revision of the Land Management Plan
for the Francis Marion National Forest
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of initiating the
development of a land management
plan revision for the Francis Marion
National Forest.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Francis Marion National
Forest, located in South Carolina, is
initiating the development of a land
management plan revision (forest plan)
for the Francis Marion National Forest
(NF). A Draft Assessment is being
posted to our Web site. We are inviting
the public to help us develop a
preliminary ‘‘need for change’’ and a
proposed action for the land
management plan revision.
DATES: A draft of the Assessment report
for the revision of the Francis Marion
NF land management plan will be
posted on the following Web site at
www.fs.usda.gov/goto/scnfs/fmplan by
October 11, 2013.
Public meetings associated with the
development of the preliminary ‘‘need
for change’’ and a proposed action will
be announced on the Web site cited
above.
It is anticipated that the Notice of
Intent to prepare an environmental
impact statement (which will
accompany the land management plan
revision for the Francis Marion NF), will
be published in the Federal Register
around January to February 2014.
ADDRESSES: Written comments or
questions concerning this notice should
be addressed to U.S. Forest Service,
Francis Marion and Sumter National
Forests, 4931 Broad River Road,
Columbia, South Carolina, 29212.
Comments or questions may also be sent
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\30SEN1.SGM
30SEN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 189 (Monday, September 30, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59911-59913]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-23767]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Generic Information Collection for Land Management Planning
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 proposed information collection, Generic
Information Collection for Land Management Planning.
DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before November 29,
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 the
U.S. Forest Service, Annie Eberhart Goode, Planning Specialist,
Ecosystem Management Services, 6th Floor, 1601 N. Kent Street, Rosslyn,
VA 22209. Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to 703-235-0138
or by email to: aegoode@fs.fed.us.
The public may inspect comments received at 1621 N. Kent Street,
Rosslyn, VA during normal business hours. Visitors are encouraged to
call ahead to 202-205-1056 to facilitate entry to the building.
Additionally, comments may be viewed at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/planningrule/directives.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Annie Eberhart Goode; 202-205-1056.
Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may
call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339
between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through
Friday.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Generic Information Collection for Land Management Planning.
OMB Number: 0596-NEW.
Expiration Date of Approval: N/A.
Type of Request: New.
[[Page 59912]]
Abstract:
Section 6 of the National Forest Management Act of 1976 (16
U.S.C.1600 et seq.) (NFMA) and implementing regulations 36 CFR 219
(2012 Planning Rule) direct the U. S. Forest Service (the Agency) to
revise land management plans for each National Forest System (NFS) unit
every 15 years, and to continuously monitor conditions to inform
interim or subsequent planning actions. Development of Land Management
Plans (LMP) pursuant to the NFMA and the 2012 Planning Rule requires an
assessment phase, planning phase, and monitoring phase, all of which
are designed to foster a transparent, collaborative, and informed
planning process.
The planning process defined by the NFMA and the 2012 Planning Rule
requires public participation and involvement. As such, the Agency will
invite public participation broadly to facilitate public comment and
the submission of information that members of the public find to be
relevant.
To ensure that the Agency can be inclusive of, and responsive to,
stakeholder concerns in the development of land management plans, the
Forest Service seeks to obtain OMB approval of a generic clearance to
collect both quantitative and qualitative feedback and information for
consideration and use in land management planning.
The NFMA and 2012 Planning Rule require the Agency to provide
opportunities to the public to participate in the planning process.
Information provided by the public assists the Agency in ensuring that
LMPs guide management of NFS lands so that they are ecologically
sustainable and contribute to social and economic sustainability. In
particular, the Rule requires the Agency to identify and consider
``relevant, existing'' information. Public participation is required at
each stage of the planning process--assessment, planning, and
monitoring.
During the assessment phase, pursuant to the 2012 Planning Rule
provision on assessments (36 CFR 219.6), the Agency is required to
``identify and evaluate existing information'' relevant to the plan
area for the following:
(1) Terrestrial ecosystems, aquatic ecosystems, and watersheds;
(2) Air, soils, and water resources and quality;
(3) System drivers, including dominant ecological processes,
disturbance regimes, and stressors, such as natural succession,
wildland fire, invasive species, and climate change; and the ability of
terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems on the plan area to adapt to change;
(4) Baseline assessment of carbon stocks;
(5) Threatened, endangered, proposed, and candidate species and
potential species of conservation concern present in the plan area;
(6) Social, cultural, and economic conditions;
(7) Benefits people obtain from the NFS planning area (ecosystem
services);
(8) Multiple uses and their contributions to local, regional, and
national economies;
(9) Recreation settings, opportunities and access, and scenic
character;
(10) Renewable and nonrenewable energy and mineral resources;
(11) Infrastructure, such as recreational facilities and
transportation and utility corridors;
(12) Areas of tribal importance;
(13) Cultural and historic resources and uses;
(14) Land status and ownership, use, and access patterns; and
(15) Existing designated areas located in the plan area including
wilderness and wild and scenic rivers and potential need and
opportunity to additional designated areas.
Further, the Agency is required to accept additional comment and
feedback throughout the planning process and then monitor conditions,
including accepting public input in the plan area, and reporting to the
public biennially.
Although the following are not considered ``information'' as
defined by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (5 CFR 1320.3(h)), they do
represent the vast majority of the ways and methods that will be used
by the Agency to obtain information from stakeholders:
Facts or opinions obtained through direct observation by
an employee or agent of the sponsoring agency or through non-
standardized oral communication in connection with such direct
observations;
Facts or opinions submitted in response to general
solicitations of comments from the public, published in the Federal
Register or other publications, regardless of the form or format
thereof, provided that no person is required to supply specific
information pertaining to the commenter, other than that necessary for
self-identification, as a condition of the agency's full consideration
of the comment;
A request for facts or opinions addressed to a single
person;
Facts or opinions obtained or solicited at or in
connection with public hearings or meetings;
Like items so designated by OMB.
Public participation will be sought during all three phases of a
plan revision: assessment, planning, and monitoring. Typically, NFS
units publish general solicitations for comments from the public and
hold public meetings. Private information will be considered and will
become part of the public record if voluntarily provided.
Because the 2012 Planning Rule places strong emphasis on
transparency of communication, inclusiveness, and active public
involvement, the Agency anticipates that NFS units will innovate and
develop new techniques that facilitate focused communication, which
produces more granular detail on stakeholder goals and concerns related
to forest management. The intent of this generic information collection
request (ICR) is to provide an efficient avenue for ensuring that
innovative communications strategies have an efficient means of
obtaining OMB approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act.
For example, if a forest planning team recognizes that a complex
issue is not well understood, focus groups of knowledgeable
stakeholders could be designed and convened to ensure that the issue is
well understood by the Agency.
Another example of a communication strategy that could be supported
by this generic ICR would be the solicitation of comments on specific
issues. Although the PRA does not consider facts and opinions submitted
``in response to general solicitation of comments'' ((5 CFR
1320.3(h)(4)) to be ``information,'' planning for NFS units is complex,
and it may be appropriate for public meetings regarding unique resource
issues, such as water use, protection of a sensitive area, energy
resources or similar issues, as opposed to a general solicitation of
comments to be held. Such outreach could support an ``iterative''
approach to land management planning and facilitate productive public
input on complex matters.
Additionally, the 2012 Planning Rule and Executive Order 12372
require intergovernmental communication both broadly and specifically.
Regular and consistent engagement of State, local, and tribal
governments is an important element of land management planning for NFS
units. In addition to public meetings, to which all such public
entities are invited, planning teams may contact jurisdictions adjacent
or proximate to NFS units with similar and/or targeted notices,
including a notice that planning for a forest unit has
[[Page 59913]]
begun and that the planning team will be assessing information about 15
resource categories.
This generic information collection is intended to facilitate
customer and stakeholder feedback and input in an efficient, timely
manner while at the same time staying in compliance with the PRA. The
information collected from our customers and stakeholders will help
ensure that the development of land management plans is both
transparent and well-informed. This feedback and input will provide
insights into customer or stakeholder perceptions, experiences and
expectations, provide an early warning of issues with service, or focus
attention on areas where communication, training, or changes in
operations might improve delivery of products or services such as
improved LMPs or the implementation thereof. These collections will
allow for ongoing, collaborative, and actionable communications, and
the sharing of applicable information between the Agency and its
customers and stakeholders. It will also allow feedback to contribute
directly to the improvement of program management.
How will information be collected? The 2012 Planning Rule
specifically states that, outside of basic notification requirements,
the Responsible Official has the discretion to determine the ``scope,
methods, forum, and timing'' of public input. Additionally, the
Responsible Official ``[hellip]shall encourage participation'' of
youth, low-income populations, and minority populations as well as
private landowners whose property may be affected by the land
management plan. To meet the letter and spirit of the 2012 Planning
Rule, Line Officers need to enhance and support public participation.
Although every instance and approach to public participation cannot be
identified, the types of collections that this generic clearance is
intended to cover include, but are not limited to:
Customer/stakeholder comment cards/complaint forms;
Small discussion groups;
Focus Groups of customers, potential customers, delivery
partners, or other stakeholders;
Cognitive laboratory studies, such as those used to refine
questions or assess usability of a Web site;
Qualitative stakeholder surveys;
In-person observation testing (for example, Web site or
software usability tests);
Targeted requests for information from State, local, and
tribal governments, non-profit groups, and other stakeholders;
Quantitative surveys designed to inform development of
land management plans;
Other innovative communication strategies designed to
facilitate voluntary provision of information by the public to NFS
units with minimal burden that may be approved by OMB.
Who will collect the information? Public outreach is conducted by
the Responsible Official for land management planning, with assistance
from the Interdisciplinary Team assembled, as required by the NFMA, to
develop a land management plan, well informed by the public.
What information will be collected? Any information that members of
the public seek to provide to the Agency will be collected. The 2012
Planning Rule identifies broad 15 categories that must be evaluated
when assessing a plan area (36 CFR 219.6). In addition, biennial
monitoring of the condition of the plan area is required, and 8 broad
categories are identified for inclusion in monitoring plans.
From whom will the information be collected? All members of the
public, stakeholder groups, and State, tribal, and local governments
who would like to provide information to the Agency regarding land
management planning.
How will the information be used? To inform development of land
management plans.
Who will evaluate or analyze the information? Agency personnel,
assigned to a planning task, are responsible for evaluation of any
information provided.
Estimate of Annual Burden:
Type of Respondents: Members of the public, including State, local
and tribal government representatives.
Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 34,000.
Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1-2.
Estimated Burden per Response: .6 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 21,000 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'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 submission request
toward Office of Management and Budget approval.
Dated: September 24, 2013.
Tony Tooke,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2013-23767 Filed 9-27-13; 8:45 am]
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