[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 126 (Tuesday, July 1, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 35523]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-17212]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Information Collection Requirements; Backcountry Use Permit
AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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Notice of Submission to OMB, Opportunity for Public Comment. OMB
has up to 60 days to approve or disapprove the information collection
but may respond after 30 days; therefore, public comments should be
submitted to OMB within 30 days in order to assure their maximum
consideration. Backcountry Use Permit.
SUMMARY: Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. 3507) and 5 CFR part 1320, Reporting and
Recordkeeping Requirements, the National Park Service (NPS) invites
public comments on a request for renewal of approval for the
information collection requirements associated with permits
implementing provisions of agency regulations, pertaining to the use of
public lands (OMB Control 1024-0022). Standard Form 10-404, Backcountry
Use Permit, is the primary form used to implement a backcountry
reservation system and provide access into backcountry areas where
limits are imposed in accordance with regulations. Such permitting
enhances resource protection, hazard warnings and search and rescue
efforts.
There were no public comments received as a result of publishing in
the Federal Register (61 FR 14162) a 60-day notice of intention to
request clearance for this information collection request.
DATES: Public comments will be accepted on or before July 31, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs of OMB, Attention Desk Officer for the Department of the
Interior, Office of Management and Budget, Washington, DC 20503. All
responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request
for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval. All comments will
become a matter of public record.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dennis Burnett, Ranger Activities
Division, National Park Service, 18th and C Streets, Washington, DC
20240. Telephone 202-208-7675.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The objectives of the backcountry use permit
system is to provide campers desiring access to backcountry areas of
national parks with continuing opportunities for solitude, while
enhancing resource protection and providing a means of disseminating
public safety messages regarding backcountry travel. In 1976, the NPS
initiated a backcountry registration system in accordance with
regulations found at 36 CFR 1.5, 1.6 and 2.10. This system assures
campers of finding routes and campsites which are not crowded beyond
their capacity. The quality of both the recreational experience and the
physical setting thereby remain uncompromised.
NPS backcountry program managers, by designating access routes and
overnight camping locations, can redistribute campers in response to
user impact, high fire danger, flood, wind or other weather related
hazards, bear activity or other situations that may temporarily close a
portion of the backcountry. The NPS may also use the permit system as a
means of ensuring that each backcountry user receives up-to-date
information on backcountry sanitation procedures, food storage,
wildlife activity, trail conditions and weather projections so that
concerns for visitor safety are met.
The Backcountry Use Permit is an extension of the NPS statutory
responsibilities to protect the park areas it administers and to manage
the public use thereof (16 U.S.C. 1 & 3). NPS regulations codified in
36 CFR parts 1 through 7, 12 and 13, are designed to implement
statutory mandates that provide for resource protection and public
enjoyment. Several regulations contain information collection
requirements previously approved by the OMB (1024-0022).
Title: Public Information Collection--Backcountry Permit.
Estimated annual reporting burden: 16,500.
Estimated average burden hours per response: 4 minutes.
Estimated average number of respondents: 206,300.
NPS is soliciting comments regarding: (1) Whether the collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of
NPS, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2)
the accuracy of the burden estimate including the validity of the
method and assumptions used; (3) the quality, utility, and clarity of
the information to be collected; (4) ways to minimize the burden,
including through the use of automated collection or other forms of
information technology; or (5) any other aspect of this collection of
information.
Diane Cooke,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 97-17212 Filed 6-30-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P
