Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

Issuing agencies

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 205 (Monday, October 26, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 205 (Monday, October 26, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67264-67265]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-21822]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    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 
25, 2026 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: Special Uses--SF-299 Application for Transportation, Utility 
Systems, Telecommunications and Facilities on Federal Lands and 
Property.
    OMB Control Number: 0596-0249.
    Summary of Collection: This information collection is used by the 
Forest Service to evaluate and ensure that authorized uses of National 
Forest System (NFS) lands are in the public interest and are compatible 
with the agency's mission. The information helps the agency identify 
environmental and social impacts of special uses for

[[Page 67265]]

purposes of compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) and program administration. In addition, the agency uses the 
information to ascertain whether the land use fee being charged for 
special use authorizations is based on market value. The information is 
collected through application forms and terms and conditions in special 
use authorizations and operating plans. Ongoing uses must be monitored 
to ensure compliance with the terms of the corresponding 
authorizations. In certain situations, information from the 
authorization holder is the only way the Forest Service can verify 
compliance with the terms of an authorization.
    This information collection is used by the Forest Service to 
provide a standard application for the use of National Forest System 
lands for transportation systems, utility systems, telecommunications 
facilities, and other facilities and uses that do not have a specific 
agency application. The form can be used by other federal land 
management agencies for similar purposes. This request is for revision 
of a currently approved common form, the SF-299, Application for 
Transportation, Utility Systems, Telecommunications and Facilities on 
Federal Lands and Property. It includes the burden and cost estimates 
for the Forest Service's use of the SF-299 and does not include burden 
or cost estimates for other agencies' use of the common form.
    Subsequent to the publication of the 60-day notice, Forest Service 
has decided to offer an electronic submission option. Respondents may 
complete and submit the Application for Transportation, Utility 
Systems, Telecommunications and Facilities on Federal Lands and 
Property (SF-299) either in paper format or electronically through a 
digital portal that the Forest Service is developing and plans to make 
available on a public website. This electronic content may be mirrored 
or otherwise displayed on other government portals configured to 
transmit information to the Forest Service or other agencies that use 
SF-299. The electronic version will generally collect the same 
information as the paper form; no substantive new data elements will be 
added at this time. Use of the electronic option will be voluntary. The 
Forest Service estimates that this change will not increase and may 
modestly to moderately reduce the overall burden of the collection. 
Once the portal is operational, the Forest Service will post the form 
and instructions on its website and, if necessary, notify OMB of the 
final URL through a non-substantive change request.
    Several statutes authorize the Forest Service to issue and 
administer authorizations for use and occupancy of National Forest 
System (NFS) lands and require the collection of information from the 
public for those purposes. The laws for authorizing the use and 
managing these uses of NFS lands include:
    The Organic Administration Act of 1897 (16 U.S.C. 551);
    Title V of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 
(FLPMA, 43 U.S.C. 1761-1771);
    The Act of March 4, 1915 (16 U.S.C. 497);
    The National Forest Ski Area Permit Act (16 U.S.C. 497b);
    Section 28 of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 185);
    The National Forest Roads and Trails Act (FRTA, 16 U.S.C. 532-538);
    Section 7 of the Granger-Thye Act (16 U.S.C. 480d);
    The Act of May 26, 2000 (16 U.S.C. 460l-6d) as amended January 4, 
2025;
    The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6801-6814);
    Act of September 3, 1954 (68 Stat. 1146; 43 U.S.C. 931c, 931d);
    Archeological Resource Protection Act of October 31st, 1979 (16 
U.S.C.1996);
    The Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended;
    Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
    Forest Service regulations implementing these authorities, found at 
36 CFR part 251, subpart B, contain information collection 
requirements, including submission of applications, execution of forms, 
and imposition of terms and conditions that entail information 
collection requirements, such as the requirement to submit annual 
financial information; to prepare and update an operating plan; to 
prepare and update a maintenance plan; and to submit compliance reports 
and information updates. The information collection requirements 
described in this request are necessary for the Forest Service to issue 
and administer special use authorizations to use and occupy NFS lands 
under these authorities.
    From time to time, the agency may make minor changes to the SF-299 
that do not materially change the information collection, but rather 
the terms and conditions and legal authorities that govern special use 
permits. These revisions will be submitted to OMB for approval as non-
substantive changes, and the revision date of the form will be updated 
upon approval.
    Need and Use of the Information: Information requests for the 
issuance and administration of special use authorizations can be 
categorized as information required from proponents and applicants to 
evaluate proposals and applications to use or occupy federal lands. 
None of the requested information is especially burdensome. When 
requested, financial information is the same information, and in the 
same level of detail, that must be supplied to the IRS or maintained 
under traditional sound business management practices.
    The application includes both the proposal to use federal lands and 
the application for an authorization. When a proposal is accepted it 
moves forward as an application. The information in this process 
identifies the applicant and is used to determine if a requested use 
can be authorized and provides the required information for the 
authorization. The typical application information in the application 
process is:
    (1) identification of the applicant;
    (2) a description of the proposed use;
    (3) the location and duration of the proposed use;
    (4) the technical and financial capability of the applicant;
    (5) alternative locations considered for the proposed use, 
including non-federal lands;
    (6) anticipated environmental impacts associated with the proposed 
use and proposed mitigation of those impacts; and
    (7) information needed to recover agency costs to process an 
application and monitor a special use authorization. The authorized 
officer evaluates this information and makes a decision to grant or 
deny the application.
    Description of Respondents: Private Sector; Federal Government; 
State, Local, and Tribal Government; Individuals or households.
    Number of Respondents: 2,753.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.
    Total Burden Hours: 22,024.

Levi S. Harrell,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2026-21822 Filed 10-23-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P


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