Notice2026-05815
Information Collection; Forest Industries and Logging Operations Data Collection Systems
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
March 25, 2026
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 no revision) of a currently approved information collection, Forest Industries and Logging Operations Data Collection Systems.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 57 (Wednesday, March 25, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 57 (Wednesday, March 25, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14520-14521]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-05815]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Information Collection; Forest Industries and Logging Operations
Data Collection Systems
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 no revision) of a currently
approved information collection, Forest Industries and Logging
Operations Data Collection Systems.
DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before May 26, 2026
to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date will
be considered to the extent practicable.
ADDRESSES: Comments concerning this notice should be addressed to USDA,
Forest Service, Attn: Consuelo Brandeis, Southern Research Station,
Forest Inventory and Analysis, 2730 Cherokee Farm Way, Suite 101,
Knoxville, TN 37920.
Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to 865-862-0262 or
email to: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f3909c9d8086969f9cdd9181929d97969a80b386809792dd949c85"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d0b3bfbea3a5b5bcbffeb2a2b1beb4b5b9a390a5a3b4b1feb7bfa6">[email protected]</span></a>.
Comments submitted in response to this notice may be made available
to the public through relevant websites and upon request. For this
reason, 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 inspect the draft supporting statement and/or
comments received at Southern Research Station, Forest Inventory and
Analysis, 2730 Cherokee Farm Way, Suite 101, Knoxville, TN during
normal business hours. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to 865-
862-2000 to facilitate entry to the building. 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 emailed to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#086b67667b7d6d6467266a7a69666c6d617b487d7b6c69266f677e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="23404c4d5056464f4c0d4151424d47464a5063565047420d444c55">[email protected]</span></a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Consuelo Brandeis, Southern Research
Station, 865-862-2028. Individuals who use telecommunication devices
for the deaf and hard of hearing (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: Forest Industries and Logging Operations Data Collection
Systems.
OMB Number: 0596-0010.
Expiration Date of Approval: 06/30/2026.
Type of Request: Extension with no Revision of a currently approved
information collection.
Abstract: The Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act
of 1974 and the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act
of 1978 require the Forest Service to evaluate trends in the use of
logs and wood chips, to forecast anticipated levels of production of
logs and wood chips, and to analyze changes in the harvest of these
resources from the Nation's forest resources. To comply with this
mandate, the Forest Service conducts two data collection efforts: (1) a
mill survey, gathering information on timber use from a sample of
active primary wood processing mills (i.e., wood processors that take
logs in whole or chipped form to manufacture a primary wood product
such as lumber, wood pulp, veneer sheets, etc.) and (2) a Harvest
Utilization (HU) study to assess amount of wood left on site after a
timber harvest (logging residue).
The mill survey collects information to estimate quantity of timber
harvested and utilized by the primary user, along with county of wood
origin, tree species, and use of mill residues produced while the HU
studies include a short logger survey to help characterize logging
sites and tree utilization within each site.
Data are gathered by USDA Forest Service personnel, by partners at
State natural resource agencies, and by collaborators at the University
of Montana, University of Massachusetts, and the American Wood Council
(this last partner contributes to mill data collection only). Survey
data are analyzed and summarized by USDA Forest Service staff in
collaboration with the University of Montana Bureau of Business
Economics Research and the Family Forest Research Center (a USDA Forest
Service and University of Massachusetts joint project). Summarized data
are used to describe total harvest removals and characterize the
primary use of U.S. timber resources, to evaluate trends in timber
resource use, to forecast anticipated levels of wood demand, and to
analyze the ramifications of any change in timber demand.
A lapse in data collection would prevent the Forest Service from
complying with the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning
Act of 1974 and the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Research
Act of 1978 wood resource use reporting related mandates. Further, the
mill and logger surveys provide a unique dataset with summarized
information on timber resources, tree harvest removal, and forest
products demand. This summarized information is provided to the public
for further application in decision making and planning. A lapse in
reporting would effectively limit the public's ability to evaluate
activity by the primary forest industry and to assess status and trends
of the Nation's timber resource use.
Affected Public: Private Sector (Businesses), in particular mill
owners and/or representatives, and loggers.
Estimate of Burden per Response: 22 minutes average (5-50 minutes
depending on survey form).
Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 5,658.
Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2,075 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
[[Page 14521]]
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 submission request for
Office of Management and Budget approval.
Valerie Hipkins,
Acting Deputy Chief, Research and Development.
[FR Doc. 2026-05815 Filed 3-24-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P
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