81 FR 1202 - Proposed Information Collection; Commercial Use Authorizations

DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR
National Park Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 6 (January 11, 2016)

We (National Park Service, NPS) will ask the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve the information collection described below. As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and as part of our continuing efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, we invite the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on this IC. This IC is scheduled to expire on August 31, 2016. We may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 6 (Monday, January 11, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1202-1204]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-00333]


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DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-WASO-BSD-CONC-20037; PPWOBSADC0, PPMVSCS1Y.Y00000 (166)]


Proposed Information Collection; Commercial Use Authorizations

Agency: National Park Service, Interior.

Action: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We (National Park Service, NPS) will ask the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) to approve the information collection 
described below. As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and 
as part of our continuing efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent 
burden, we invite the general public and other Federal agencies to take 
this opportunity to comment on this IC. This IC is scheduled to expire 
on August 31, 2016. We may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not 
required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a 
valid OMB control number.

DATES: To ensure we are able to consider your comments, we must receive 
them on or before March 11, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Please send your comments on the ICR to Madonna L. Baucum, 
Information Collection Clearance Officer, National Park Service, 12201 
Sunrise Valley Drive, Room 2C114, Mail Stop 242, Reston, VA 20192 
(mail); or [email protected] (email). Please reference OMB Control 
Number ``1024-0268, CUA'' in the subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Samantha Towery, National Park 
Service, 12795 West Alameda Parkway, Lakewood, CO 80228; by fax at 303/
987-6901; or via email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The purpose of this information collection is to assist the NPS in 
managing the Commercial Use Authorization Program. Conducting 
commercial operations in a unit of the National Park System without a 
contract, permit, commercial use authorization, or some other written 
agreement is prohibited. Section 418, Public Law 105-391 (54 U.S.C. 
101925) gives the Secretary of the Interior the authority to authorize 
a private person, corporation, or other entity to provide services to 
visitors in units of the National Park System through a Commercial Use 
Authorization (CUA). Such authorizations are not considered concession 
contracts. We authorize commercial operations that originate and 
operate entirely within a park (in-park); commercial operations that 
provide services originating and terminating outside of the park 
boundaries; organized children's camps, outdoor clubs, and nonprofit 
institutions; and other uses as the

[[Page 1203]]

Secretary determines appropriate. The commercial operations include a 
range of services, such as mountain climbing guides, boat repair 
services, transportation services and tours, canoe livery operations, 
hunting guides, retail sales, equipment rentals, catering services, and 
dozens of other visitor services.
    Section 418 limits CUAs to:
     Commercial operations with annual gross receipts of not 
more than $25,000 resulting from services originating and provided 
solely within a unit of the National Park System;
     Incidental use of resources of the unit by commercial 
operations which provide services originating and terminating outside 
of the boundaries of the unit; or
     Uses by organized children's camps, outdoor clubs and 
nonprofit institutions (including back country use) and such other uses 
as the Secretary determines appropriate.
    The legislative mandate of the NPS, found at 54 U.S.C. 1100101, is 
to preserve America's natural wonders unimpaired for future 
generations, while also making them available for the enjoyment of 
visitors. Meeting this mandate requires the NPS to balance preservation 
with use. Maintaining a good balance requires both information and 
limits. The information requested will allow the unit manager to 
evaluate requests for a commercial use to determine impact on the 
resources and the appropriateness of the activity.
    We collect information on the CUA Application (Form 10-550), the 
CUA Annual Report (Form 10-660), and CUA Monthly Report (Form 10-660A). 
We use the information from these forms to:
     Manage the program and operations.
     Determine the qualifications and abilities of the 
commercial operators to provide a high quality, safe, and enjoyable 
experience for park visitors.
     Determine the impact on the parks natural and cultural 
resources.
     Manage the use and impact of multiple operators.
    The information requested will allow the NPS to evaluate requests 
for a commercial use authorization and determine the suitability of the 
applicants to safely and effectively provide an appropriate service to 
the visiting public. It will also enable the NPS to manage the activity 
in a manner that protects the natural and cultural resources and the 
park visitor. Management includes, but is not limited to, managing the 
number of permits issued, determining the location and time that the 
activity occurs, and requiring the appropriate visitor protections 
including insurance, equipment, training, and procedures.
    Regulations resulting in information collection required for a 
Commercial Use Authorization:

36 CFR 1.6--Permits
36 CFR 2--Resource Protection, Public Use and Recreation
36 CFR 5--Commercial and Private Operations
36 CFR 7--Special Regulations
36 CFR 13--National Park System Units in Alaska

II. Data

    OMB Number: 1024-0268.
    Title: Commercial Use Authorization.
    Form(s): 10-550, ``Commercial Use Authorization Application and 
Instructions'', 10-660, ``Commercial Use Authorization Annual Report 
and Instructions'', and 10-660A, ``Commercial Use Authorization Monthly 
Report and Instructions''.
    Type of Request: Extension of a Currently Approved Collection.
    Description of Respondents: Respondents will be individuals or 
small businesses that wish to provide a commercial service to visitors 
in areas of the National Park System.
    Respondent Obligation: Mandatory.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours:

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                                            Annual          Total annual    Average time  per     Total annual
                                         respondents         responses      response  (hours)     burden hours
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                   Form 10-550, ``Commercial Use Authorization Application and Instructions''
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Individual..........................                100                100                2.5                250
Private Sector......................              5,150              5,150                2.5             12,875
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                  Form 10-660, ``Commercial Use Authorization Annual Report and Instructions''
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Individual..........................                100                100                  8                125
Private Sector......................              7,000              7,000                  8              8,750
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                 Form 10-660A, ``Commercial Use Authorization Monthly Report and Instructions''
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Individual..........................                100                900                .75                675
Private Sector......................              7,000             63,000                .75             47,250
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    Totals:.........................             12,350             12,350  .................             69,925
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    Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: $525,000 ($100 x 5,250 Forms 
10-550, ``Commercial Use Authorization Application and Instructions'' 
per year).

III. Comments

    We invite comments concerning this information collection on:
     Whether or not the collection of information is necessary, 
including whether or not the information will have practical utility;
     The accuracy of the burden for this collection of 
information;
     Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
     Ways to minimize the burden to respondents, including use 
of automated information techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Please note that the comments submitted in response to this notice 
are a matter of public record. We will include or summarize each 
comment in our request to OMB to approve this IC. Before including your 
address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying 
information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire 
comment, including your personal identifying information, may be made 
publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to 
withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we 
cannot guarantee that it will be done.


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    Dated: January 4, 2016.
Madonna L. Baucum,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-00333 Filed 1-8-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-EH-P