81 FR 49924 - Information Collection; Forest Industries and Logging Operations Data Collection Systems

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 146 (July 29, 2016)

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals and organizations on the renewal of a currently approved information collection, Forest Industries and Residential Fuelwood and Post Data Collection Systems with a revision adding a Logging Operations Data Collection System.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 146 (Friday, July 29, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49924-49925]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-17862]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Forest Industries and Logging Operations 
Data Collection Systems

AGENCY: Forest Service, 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 renewal of a currently approved information 
collection, Forest Industries and Residential Fuelwood and Post Data 
Collection Systems with a revision adding a Logging Operations Data 
Collection System.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before September 27, 
2016 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, 4700 Old Kingston Pike, 
Knoxville, TN 37919.
    Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to 865-862-0262 or by 
email to: [email protected].
    The public may inspect comments received at the Southern Research 
Station, 4700 Old Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN during normal business 
hours. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to 865-862-2000 to 
facilitate entry to the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Consuelo Brandeis, Southern Research 
Station, at 865-862-2028. Individuals who use telecommunication devices 
for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) 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: September 30, 2016.
    Type of Request: Extension with Revision.
    Abstract: The Forest and Range 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 logs and wood chips, 
and to analyze changes in the harvest of these resources from the 
Nation's forest resource. To collect this information, Forest Service 
or State natural resource agency personnel use three questionnaires, 
two of which are collected by personal mill visits or phone calls, or 
which respondents return in self-addressed, postage pre-paid envelopes, 
or by email. The logging operations questionnaire will be delivered in 
person by field personnel collecting tree utilization data at sampled 
logging sites.
    Pulpwood Received Questionnaire: Forest Service personnel use this 
questionnaire to collect and evaluate information from pulp and 
composite panel mills in order to monitor the volume, types, species, 
sources, and prices of timber products harvested throughout the Nation. 
The data collected will be used to provide essential information about 
the current use of the Nation's timber resources for pulpwood 
industrial products and is not available from other sources.
    Logs and Other Roundwood Received Questionnaire: This questionnaire 
is used by Forest Service or State natural resource agency personnel to 
collect and evaluate information from the other, non-pulp or composite 
panel, primary wood-using mills, including small, part-time mills, as 
well as large corporate entities. Primary wood-using mills are 
facilities that use harvested wood in log or chip form, such as 
sawlogs, veneer logs, posts, and poles, to manufacture a secondary 
product, such as lumber or veneer. Forest Service personnel evaluate 
the information collected and use it to monitor the volume types, 
species, sources, and prices of timber products harvested throughout 
the Nation.
    Logging Operations Questionnaire: This questionnaire is used by 
Forest Service or State natural resource agency personnel to collect 
and evaluate information from logging operations, to help characterize 
the logging industry and its response to outside influences. The 
information will be used to measure the health of the logging industry 
as well as to provide background information for decision-making.

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                                                               Logs and other
                                      Pulpwood received      roundwood received         Logging operations
                                        questionnaire          questionnaire               questionnaire
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Estimate of Annual Burden Hours...  35 minutes (0.58)....  38 minutes (0.64)....  12 minutes (0.2).
Type of Respondents...............  Primary users of       Primary users of       Loggers.
                                     industrial pulpwood.   industrial roundwood
                                                            products.
Estimated Annual Average Number of  183..................  1,788................  435.
 Respondents.
Estimated Annual Average Number of  1....................  1....................  1.
 Responses per Respondent.

[[Page 49925]]

 
Estimated Total Annual Average      106 hours............  1,144 hours..........  87 hours.
 Burden Hours on Respondents.
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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 submission request 
toward Office of Management and Budget approval.

Carlos Rodriguez Franco,
Acting Associate Deputy Chief, Research & Development.
[FR Doc. 2016-17862 Filed 7-28-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P