[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 15 (Monday, January 25, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3673-3674]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-1616]
========================================================================
Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
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.
========================================================================
Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 15 / Monday, January 25, 1999 /
Notices
[[Page 3673]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
January 20, 1999.
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 should be addressed to: Desk
Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs,
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Washington, D.C. 20503 and to
Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington,
D.C. 20250-7602. Comments regarding these information collections are
best assured by having their full effect if received within 30 days of
this notification. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by
calling (202) 720-6746.
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 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.
Forest Service
Title: National Survey on Recreation and the Environment.
OMB Control Number: 0596-0127.
Summary of Collection: The National Survey on Recreation and the
Environment (NSRE) 2000, which began in 1960 as the primary source of
recreation data from the U.S. population, is the latest in a series of
surveys conducted by the Forest Service (FS). This information is vital
for federal land managing agencies to obtain an understanding of the
outdoor recreation participation levels and preferences of the American
people so that effective policy making, planning, and decision-making
can occur. Information from the survey is shared with and relied upon
by organizations outside the federal government including educational
institutions, private sector companies, state agencies, and other
governmental organizations as the fundamental source of outdoor
recreation trend and demand data on a national scale. The survey will
be administered using a statistically valid sampling methodology
through computer-assisted telephone interviewing techniques.
Need and Use of the Information: The Forest Service will collect
information nationally from the public to assess trends in recreation
participation over the years since the survey was last conducted and to
estimate demand for outdoor recreation among the U.S. population. In
addition, the survey will collect information from the public on
people's attitudes and values toward natural resources and their
management. The information will be used by the Forest Service and
other federal agencies to develop long-range strategic plans, adjust
programs and activities to meet customer needs and expectations, and
better manage federally owned lands.
Description of Respondents: Individuals or households.
Number of Respondents: 40,000.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (one time).
Total Burden Hours: 13,333.
Forest Service
Title: The Wildland-Urban Interface Series.
OMB Control Number: 0596-NEW.
Summary of Collection: Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources
Research Act of 1978 (Public Law 95-307) directs the Secretary of
Agriculture to research the multiple uses and products, including
recreation, of forests and rangelands to facilitate their most
effective use. Study results will be provided to resource managers in
the areas studied, as well as to managers across the United States
addressing urban national forest, to enable more effective management
of those areas. Results will also inform managers of broader community
recreation patterns, interests, and resource concerns. A direct benefit
to the public is anticipated through improvements in customer service,
more informed recreation management decisions, and increased attention
to the diverse customers served by the National Forests. Forest Service
(FS) will collect information using a study provided to resource
managers and a questionnaire given to potential respondents.
Need and Use of the Information: FS will collect information to
assist resource managers in their effective management of recreation
activities in the region studied and, in addition, the Wildland
Recreation and Urban Culture Project will use the information to
further expand its information base on visitor characteristics,
communication, and mitigation of depreciative behaviors such as
vandalism. Participants will be asked to answer a questionnaire on the
following topics (1a) age, gender, and education; (1b) National Forest
visitation history and patterns; (2) identification of leisure
activities in which visitors participate; (3) how they heard about the
area; (4a) how they would rate amenities; (4b) accessibility for a
wide-range of individuals, including those with special needs; (5a)
knowledge of natural resource and wilderness areas and policies
regarding those areas; (5b) how closely visitors identify with the
National Forest or recreation area; (6) preference about different
management options (limit number of people on trails versus limit
access to trails, increase levels of user knowledge by brochures,
nature walk, signs versus require users to have taken an educational
program; (7a) gain visitor's suggestions on different penalties for
depreciative actions; (7b) personal and or group participation in
environmentally responsible and
[[Page 3674]]
depreciative acts, as well as the extent to which visitors observe
them; (8) experience of conflict within and between user groups and
managing agency representatives. If the information is not collected
resource managers will have to make visitor based decisions on very
limited, potentially biased, or non-existent information.
Description of Repondents: Individuals or households.
Number of Respondents: 3,000.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 750.
National Food and Agriculture Council (NFAC)
Title: Customer Service Information Collections for USDA Service
Centers 1999-2001.
OMB Control Number: New.
Summary of Collection: The National Food and Agriculture Council
(NFAC), and partner agencies in the USDA Service Center, help the USDA
meet the requirements of the President's Executive Order 12862,
``Setting Customer Service Standards,'' which requires agencies to
annually ``survey customers to determine the kind and quality of
services they want and their level of satisfaction with existing
services.'' Improved customer service is the core mission of the USDA
Service Centers and participating partner agencies, according to the
Secretary. The Service Center Customer Service Team is requesting a
generic clearance for customer service information collection
activities. The Customer Service Team will collect information using
telephone surveys, comment and complaint cards, structured interviews,
focus groups and benchmarking studies.
Need and Use of the Information: The Customer Service Team will
collect information to develop and publish customer service standards
for USDA Service Centers; develop a feedback system for USDA Service
Center customer complaints and comments; establish performance measures
consistent with GPRA requirements for the information technology
investments and the strategic plans of the USDA Service Center partner
agencies; and support evaluations of proposed improvements in service
and analyses of service delivery by significant demographic and social
characteristics. NFAC and the USDA Service Center partner agencies plan
to use this information to help meet their responsibilities under GPRA,
to improve operations in the USDA Service Center by preserving helpful
activities and implementing needed changes.
Description of Respondents: Individuals or households.
Number of Respondents: 56,970.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: On occasion; Annually; Other:
When need arises as determined by the managing and coordinating group
Quality Customer Service Team.
Total Burden Hours: 11,180.
Nancy B. Sternberg,
Departmental Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 99-1616 Filed 1-22-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-01-M
