Notice2021-15390
Information Collection; Timber Sale Contract Operations and Administration
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
July 20, 2021
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentForest Service
Abstract
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals and organizations on the extension with revisions of a currently approved information collection, Timber Sale Contract Operations and Administration.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 136 (Tuesday, July 20, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 136 (Tuesday, July 20, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38266-38268]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-15390]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Information Collection; Timber Sale Contract Operations and
Administration
AGENCY: Forest Service, Agriculture (USDA).
ACTION: Notice; request for comment.
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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 with revisions of a currently approved
information collection, Timber Sale Contract Operations and
Administration.
DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before September 20,
2021 to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date
will be considered to the extent practicable.
ADDRESSES: Forms may be reviewed and comments submitted at <a href="https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public/CommentInput?project=ORMS-2912">https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public/CommentInput?project=ORMS-2912</a>.
Comments concerning this notice may also be addressed to:
Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#cc9f81e28a9fe2989f8da8a1a5a28aa3bea1bf8cb9bfa8ade2aba3ba"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6f3c2241293c413b3c2e0b02060129001d021c2f1a1c0b0e41080019">[email protected]</span></a>.
Mail: Director, Forest Management, 1400 Independence Avenue SW,
Mail Stop 1103, Washington, DC 20250-0003.
Facsimile: 202-205-1045.
Please do not include in your comments information of a
confidential nature, such as sensitive personal information or
proprietary information. If you send an email comment, your email
address will be automatically captured and included as part of the
comment that is placed in the public docket and made available on the
internet. Please note that responses to this public comment request
containing any routine notice about the confidentiality of the
communication will be treated as public comments that may be made
available to the public notwithstanding the inclusion of the routine
notice.
The public may request an electronic copy of the draft supporting
statement and/or any comments received be sent via return email.
Requests should be
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emailed to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#33607e1d756072575e5a5d755c415e4073464057521d545c45"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="32617f1c746173565f5b5c745d405f4172474156531c555d44">[email protected]</span></a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carl Maass, Forest Management Staff,
at 970-295-5961. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the
deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-
800-877-8339 twenty-four hours a day, every day of the year, including
holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Timber Sale Contract Operations and Administration.
OMB Number: 0596-0225.
Expiration Date of Approval: September 30, 2021.
Type of Request: Extension with revisions of a currently approved
information collection.
Abstract: Forest Service contracts for the sale of timber and other
forest products are bilateral contracts in which both contracting
parties are bound to fulfill obligations reciprocally. By their nature,
bilateral contracts require both parties to routinely share information
and enter into agreements pertaining to operations and performance.
Some information collected under Forest Service contracts is required
by laws, regulations, and/or timber sale policies. Each contract
specifies information the contractor will be required to provide,
including the timing and frequency of the information collection.
The type and amount of information collected varies depending on
the size, complexity, and length of each contract, and external factors
such as weather and market conditions. The information collected
includes plans, requests, agreements, and notices necessary for
operations under the terms of the contracts. Forest Service officers
collect the information from contractors who may be individuals,
private sector businesses, or other government entities. The
information is submitted in a variety of formats including Forest
Service forms, Government Standard and/or Common Forms, forms developed
by individual contractors, charts, maps, email messages, facsimiles,
and letters. Also, to assist small contractors and lessen their burden,
individual Contracting Officers may provide optional forms for some of
the information collected.
Depending on the purpose of the specific information collection,
the information may be submitted by electronic mail, facsimile,
conventional mail, or hand delivery. The information is needed by the
Agency for a variety of uses associated with the operations and
administration of contracts for the sale of timber and other forest
products, in order to: (1) Plan and schedule contract administration
workloads, (2) plan and schedule the delivery of government furnished
materials needed by contractors, (3) assure the safety of the public in
the vicinity of contract work, (4) identify contractor resources that
may be used in emergency fire-fighting situations, (5) determine
contractor eligibility for additional contract time, (6) determine
contractor eligibility for re-determining contract rates, (7) monitor
compliance with domestic processing requirements, (8) monitor
compliance with Small Business Administration requirements, (9) process
agreements and modifications, (10) inspect and accept work and (11)
properly process payment bonds.
Forms Associated With This Information Collection
<bullet> FS-2400-0076 Pre-Award Waiver, Release, and Limitation of
Liability Agreement: This form was developed for limited use when the
apparent high bidder of a sale that is the subject of litigation
requests to have the sale awarded prior to the litigation being
resolved.
The following forms are available for optional use by timber sale
purchasers and contractors: FS-2400-0077 General Plan of Operation.
This form may be used to meet the requirements for a general Plan of
Operations which outlines the Purchaser's planned periods of operation
and methods for meeting contractual requirements by the contract
termination date.
<bullet> FS-2400-0078 Annual Operating Schedule. This form may be
used to meet the requirement to provide a written annual Operating
Schedule outlining anticipated major activities before commencing
operations.
<bullet> FS-2400-0079 Specified Road Schedule of Proposed Progress.
May be used for sales that have specified road construction or
reconstruction to fulfill the requirements to annually prepare a
supplement to the Plan of Operations for road construction activities.
The following forms are for mandatory use when purchaser requests
changes to the terms of the contract:
<bullet> FS-2400-0009 Agreement to Modify Timber Sale or Integrated
Resource Timber Contract. This form is required to be used when a
contract is modified under the terms of the contract.
<bullet> FS-2400-0010 Agreement Extend and Modify Timber Sale or
Integrated Resource Timber Contract. This form is required to be used
when a contract is extended or modified under the terms of the
contract.
<bullet> FS-2400-0011 Waiver of Time Limit: Required for use when
additional time is needed for a Purchaser to complete non-timber
removal work after the contract terminates.
<bullet> FS-2400-0012 Third Party Agreement: Required for use when
a Purchaser requests that another party take over operational
responsibility for timber sale contract.
<bullet> FS-2400-0016 Cooperative Agreement: Required for use when
a Purchaser requests Forest Service to assume the Purchaser's
obligation to perform work under the contract.
The following forms are for mandatory use when purchaser requests
the use of a Payment Bond or Blanket Payment Bond on the contract:
<bullet> FS-6500-12 Payment Bond (for Timber Sales and Integrated
Resource Timber Contracts). This form is used to guarantee payment by
way of an acceptable surety bond for an individual timber sale or
Integrated Resource Timber contract.
<bullet> FS-6500-12a Blanket Payment Bond. This form is used to
guarantee payment by way of an acceptable surety bond for more than one
timber sale.
Type of Respondents: Timber sale purchasers and integrated resource
timber contracts contractors.
Estimated Annual Number of Contracts: 3,400.
Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 1,370.
Estimated Annual Responses: 128,100.
Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 93.5.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 40,700 hours.
Estimate of Average Burden per Response: 0.32 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
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submission request toward Office of Management and Budget approval.
Dated: July 15, 2021.
Tina Johna Terrell,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2021-15390 Filed 7-19-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P
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This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.