97-3626. Information Collection for Recreation, Scenery and Tourism Management  

  • [Federal Register Volume 62, Number 30 (Thursday, February 13, 1997)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 6755-6756]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 97-3626]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
    Forest Service
    
    
    Information Collection for Recreation, Scenery and Tourism 
    Management
    
    AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
    
    ACTION: Notice of intent; request for comments.
    
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    SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
    Forest Service announces its intention to establish a new information 
    collection. The new collection is necessary to gather information about 
    visitor preferences and expectations concerning recreational 
    facilities, such as campgrounds and parking areas; scenery management, 
    including visitors' favorite scenic views; and highway management, such 
    as whether highway maintenance activities are compatible with the 
    scenic objectives. The information collected will be used in developing 
    Scenic Byways Corridor Management Plans for the Bighorn National 
    Forest.
    
    DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before April 14, 
    1997.
    
    ADDRESSES: All comments should be addressed to: Bernie Bornong, 
    Forester, Bighorn National Forest, 1969 S. Sheridan Avenue, Sheridan, 
    WY 82801.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
    Bernie Bornong, Bighorn National Forest, at (307) 672-0751.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    
    Description of Information Collection
    
        The following describes the information collection:
        Title: Bighorn National Forest Scenic Byways Summer User Survey.
        OMB Number: New.
        Expiration Date of Approval: New.
        Type of Request: The following describes a new collection 
    requirement and has not received approval by the Office of Management 
    and Budget.
        Abstract: The Bighorn National Forest, located in north central 
    Wyoming, has contracted with EDAW, Inc. to write a Scenic Byways 
    Corridor Management Plan (CMP) for three Scenic Byways on the Bighorn 
    National Forest located on U.S. Highways 14, 14A, and 16. As part of 
    this project, EDAW, Inc. will conduct a survey of visitors using the 
    Scenic Byways during the summer of 1997 to ensure that the needs, 
    expectations, and preferences of visitors are addressed in the Scenic 
    Byways Corridor Management Plan.
        The Forest Service Bighorn National Forest, Wyoming Department of 
    Transportation (WYDOT), local Chambers of Commerce, and numerous small 
    businesses, including lodges and restaurants, will use this information 
    to more effectively manage the Scenic Byways to ensure that 
    recreational opportunities and scenic views meet the expectations of 
    visitors and to ensure that management of the highways within the 
    Scenic Byways meets WYDOT standards while enhancing visitor 
    experiences.
        The Forest Service, for example, will use the information to 
    incorporate visitor preferences into the management of recreational 
    facilities, such as campgrounds. This could include the location of 
    campgrounds, as well as the condition of the campgrounds. The data will 
    also help the Forest Service incorporate scenic preferences, such as 
    wildlife viewing areas, when planning projects.
        The Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) will use the 
    information to plan for and assess the public's desires concerning the 
    dual purposes of providing safe and efficient transportation within the 
    Scenic Byways, while at the same time maintaining the scenic beauty of 
    the highway corridors. When designing roads, WYDOT will consider 
    visitor preferences for such matters as type and color of guardrails to 
    install, use of retaining walls in specific locations, or the use of 
    snow fences instead of plowing snow. WYDOT also will include visitor 
    needs, expectations, and preferences when planning and conducting road 
    maintenance.
        Local communities and tourism and recreation industries will use 
    the information to design marketing strategies to promote tourism and 
    increase visitation within and along the Scenic Byways.
        To facilitate the collection of information, personnel from EDAW, 
    Inc. will write the survey, conduct the interviews, and analyze the 
    survey results, under the contract supervision of the Bighorn National 
    Forest. The interviewers will randomly select visitors using the Scenic 
    Byways on the Bighorn National Forest. This is a voluntary survey, and 
    the first question asked will be whether or not the visitor wishes to 
    participate. The survey is a 20-minute interview, with the interviewer 
    recording the visitor's responses on the survey instrument. The 
    interviewers will station themselves at areas along the Scenic Byways 
    extensively used by visitors, such as parking areas, visitor centers, 
    and campgrounds.
        The interviewers will ask visitors, who choose to participate in 
    the survey, to evaluate the current status of, and suggest possible 
    improvements to, the recreational facilities along the Scenic Byways. 
    These recreational facilities include rest areas, parking areas, 
    visitor information centers, camping and picnicking facilities, and 
    lodging and restaurant facilities operating under the authorization of 
    and with special use permits issued by the Forest Service.
        Interviewers will ask visitors their expectations concerning the 
    highway infrastructure and if maintaining the highway infrastructure or 
    maintaining scenic beauty is more important to them.
        Interviewers also will show visitors a series of photographs of the 
    Scenic Byways and will ask their perceptions and preferences of various 
    landscapes and their visual sensitivity to various multiple uses 
    depicted in the photographs. Visitors also will be asked to point out 
    the areas they find particularly attractive, so that those areas can be 
    managed to protect their scenic importance.
        Additionally, EDAW, Inc. will develop a profile of Bighorn National 
    Forest Scenic Byways visitors by asking participants their State of 
    residence; the number of times per year they visit the Bighorn National 
    Forest Scenic Byways; the seasons of use; and the types of recreational 
    activities they enjoy along the Scenic Byways.
        Data gathered in this information collection is not available from 
    other sources.
        Estimate of Burden: 20 minutes.
        Type of Respondents: Individual users of the Scenic Byways on the 
    Bighorn National Forest and small businesses located along the byways, 
    such as the lodges and restaurants.
        Estimated Number of Respondents: 300.
        Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
        Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 100 hours.
        The agency invites comments on: (a) Whether the proposed 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 this agency's
    
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    estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) 
    ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
    be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
    information on respondents, including the use of automated collection, 
    electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
    other forms of information technology.
    
    Use of Comments
    
        All comments received in response to this notice will be summarized 
    and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will also 
    become a matter of public record.
    
        Dated: February 10, 1997.
    David G. Unger,
    Associate Chief.
    [FR Doc. 97-3626 Filed 2-12-97; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 3410-11-M
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
02/13/1997
Department:
Forest Service
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice of intent; request for comments.
Document Number:
97-3626
Dates:
Comments must be received in writing on or before April 14, 1997.
Pages:
6755-6756 (2 pages)
PDF File:
97-3626.pdf