Notice2021-22971
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
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
October 21, 2021
Issuing agencies
Agriculture Department
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 201 (Thursday, October 21, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 201 (Thursday, October 21, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58249-58250]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-22971]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
October 18, 2021.
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
are requested regarding: 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; the
accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of
the methodology and assumptions used; ways to enhance the quality,
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and 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
and other forms of information technology.
Comments regarding this information collection received by November
22, 2021 will be considered. Written comments and recommendations for
the proposed information collection should be submitted within 30 days
of the publication of this notice on the following website
<a href="http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a>. Find this particular information
collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--Open for
Public Comments'' or by using the search function. 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 Woodland Owner Survey.
OMB Control Number: 0596-0078.
Summary of Collection: The Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources
Planning Act of 1974 (Pub. L. 93-278 Sec. 3) and the Forest and
Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978 (Pub. L. 307 Sec. 3)
are the legal authorities for conducting the National Woodland Owner
Survey. There are an estimated 823 million acres of forestland across
the United States. Of this forestland, over half is owned by millions
of corporations, families, individuals, and other private groups.
Understanding the attitudes and behaviors of these private ownerships
is critical for understanding the current and future state of the
nation's forests. The Forest Service conducts the National Woodland
Owner Survey (NWOS) to increase our understanding of:
<bullet> Who owns and manages the forestland of the United States;
<bullet> Why they own/manage it;
<bullet> How they have used it; and
<bullet> How they intend to use it.
This information is used by policy analysts, foresters, educators,
and researchers to facilitate planning and implementation of forest
policies and programs.
The Forest Service's direction and authority to conduct the NWOS is
from the Resources Planning Act of 1974 and the Forest and Rangeland
Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978. These acts assign
responsibility for inventory and assessment of forest and related
renewable resources to the Secretary of Agriculture, and these
responsibilities are subsequently delegated to the Forest Service.
Additionally, the importance of an ownership survey in this inventory
and assessment process has been highlighted in the 2014 Farm Bill, the
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998, and
the recommendations of the 1998 Second Blue Ribbon Panel on the Forest
Inventory and Analysis program. Previous iterations of the NWOS were
conducted in 1978, 1993, 2002-2006, 2011-2013, and 2017-2018. Data
collection for the current iteration is planned for 2019-2023. Initial
approval for the current data collection cycle of the NWOS expires on
October 31, 2021. If renewed, the current NWOS data collection cycle
will be completed in 2023.
Need and Use of the Information: The NWOS will utilize a mixed-mode
survey technique involving cognitive interviews, focus groups, self-
administered questionnaires, and telephone interviews. Cognitive
interviews will be used to test specific questions. Focus groups will
be used to provide more in-depth understanding of the responses and to
explore new areas of inquiry. This information collection will generate
scientifically-based, statistically-reliable, up-to-date information
about the owners of forestland in the United States. Results of these
efforts will provide more reliable information on this important and
dynamic segment of the United States population, thus facilitating more
complete assessments of the country's
[[Page 58250]]
forestland resources and improved planning and implementation of
forestry programs on state, regional, and national levels.
Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; Business or
other for-profit; State, Local or Tribal Government.
Number of Respondents: 3,558.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annual.
Total Burden Hours: 2,118.
Forest Service
Title: Volunteer Application and Agreement for Natural and Cultural
Resource Agencies.
OMB Control Number: 0596-0080.
Summary of Collection: The Volunteer Act of 1972, (Pub. L. 92-300),
as amended, authorizes Federal land management agencies to use
volunteers and volunteer organizations to plan, develop, maintain and
manage, where appropriate, trails and campground facilities, improve
wildlife habitat, and perform other useful and important conservation
services throughout the Nation. Participating agencies in Department of
Agriculture: Forest Service and National Resources Conservation
Service; Department of the Interior: National Park Service, Fish and
Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation,
Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and
Enforcement, and U.S. Geological Survey; Department of Defense: U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers and Department of Commerce: National Oceanic
and Atmospheric; Administration--Office of National Marine Sanctuaries.
Agencies will collect information using Common Forms OF 301--Volunteer
Service Application; OF 301a Volunteer Service Agreement and OF 301b
Volunteer Service Agreement and Sign-up Form for Groups.
Need and Use of the Information: Agencies will collect the names,
addresses, and certain information about individuals who are interested
in public service as volunteers. The information is used by the
agencies as a position application, to review and determine if a
potential volunteer is a good fit for a particular volunteer position.
The OF-301a is used to enroll volunteers, collect contact information,
parent or guardian approval, describe duties, project locations,
schedules and any reimbursements, describe safety requirements and
delineate any other terms of service. The OF-301b form is used to
record the name and contact information of the volunteer group, and the
names and signatures of volunteers participating in a project. If the
information is not collected, participating natural resource agencies
will be unable to recruit and/or screen volunteer applicants or
administer/run volunteer programs that are crucial to assisting these
agencies in fulfilling their missions.
Description of Respondents: Individuals or households.
Number of Respondents: 125,000.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
Total Burden Hours: 500,000.
Levi S. Harrell,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-22971 Filed 10-20-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P
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