82 FR 60174 - Information Collection; National Woodland Owner Survey

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 242 (December 19, 2017)

Page Range		60174-60175
FR Document		2017-27286

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 the National Woodland Owner Survey information collection.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 242 (Tuesday, December 19, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 242 (Tuesday, December 19, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60174-60175]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-27286]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; National Woodland Owner Survey

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 the National Woodland Owner Survey 
information collection.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before February 20, 
2018 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 Brett 
Butler, USDA Forest Service, 160 Holdsworth Way, Amherst, MA 01003. 
Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to 413-545-1860 or by 
email to: [email protected].
    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 160 Holdsworth Way, Room 202, Amherst, MA 01003 
during normal business hours. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to 
413-545-1387 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 [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brett Butler, Northern Research 
Station, 413-545-1387. Individuals who use telecommunication devices 
for the deaf (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: National Woodland Owner Survey.
    OMB Number: 0596-0078.
    Expiration Date of Approval: 11/30/2018.
    Type of Request: Renewal.
    Abstract: There are an estimated 816 million acres of forestland 
across the United States. Of this forestland, over half is owned by 
millions of corporations, families, individuals, tribes, and other 
private groups with the remaining managed by over a thousand different 
federal, state, and local government agencies. Understanding the 
attitudes and behaviors of the owners and managers of the forestland 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:
     Who owns and manages the forestland of the United States;
     Why they own/manage it;
     How they have used it; and
     How they intend to use it.

This information is used by policy analysts, foresters, educators, and 
researchers to facilitate the planning and implementation of forest 
policies and programs.
    The Forest Service's direction and authority to conduct the NWOS is 
from the Forest and Range Land Renewable Resources Planning Act of 
1974, the Forest and Range Land Renewable Resources Act of 1978. These 
acts assign responsibility for the inventory and

[[Page 60175]]

assessment of forest and related renewable resources to the Forest 
Service. Additionally, the importance of an ownership survey in this 
inventory and assessment process is highlighted in the 2014 Farm Bill, 
the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998, 
and the recommendations of the Second Blue Ribbon Panel on the Forest 
Inventory and Analysis program (FIA).
    Previous iterations of the NWOS were conducted in 1978, 1993, 2002-
2006, 2011-2013, and 2017-2018. Approval for the last iteration of the 
NWOS expires on November 30, 2018. If renewed, the NWOS will operate 
for another 3-year cycle.
    Information will be collected related to:
     The characteristics of the land holdings;
     Attitudes and perceptions of the owners and managers;
     Resource uses and management activities; and
     Where applicable, landowner demographics.
    Separate survey instruments are being developed for families and 
individuals, corporate, and public ownerships. In addition, the owners 
in urban areas will be sent a different survey instrument. For the 
families and individuals, the dominant ownership group of forestland 
owners, a subset of ownerships will be sent survey instruments 
addressing the following topics, in addition to the core questions from 
the base survey instrument:
     Wildfires;
     Invasive species;
     Climate change;
     Land owner values; and
     Decision making.
    The NWOS provides widely cited benchmarks for the number, extent, 
and characteristics of owners of forestland in the United States. These 
results have been used to assess the sustainability of forest resources 
at national, regional, and state levels; to implement and assess 
forest-land owner assistance programs; and to answer a variety of 
questions with topics ranging from fragmentation to the economics of 
timber production. This is the only effort to collect in-depth 
information about owners of forestland at the national scale. It 
provides longitudinal data to track ownership trends and allows for 
comparisons across regions of the country.
    The respondents will be a statistically selected group of 
individuals, families, American Indian tribes, partnerships, 
corporations, nonprofit organizations, and other private groups that 
own forestland in the United States in addition to a statistically 
selected group of federal, state, and local government agencies that 
manage forestland. A well distributed, random set of sampling points 
has been established across the country. At each point, remotely sensed 
data, such as aerial photographs or satellite imagery, will be used to 
identify forested points. For the forested points, public records will 
be used to identify the owners of record--the names and addresses of 
the landowners we will contact. The number of owners of forestland to 
be contacted in each state will be approximately 330.
    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.
    The implementation of the self-administered survey will involve up 
to four contacts. First, a pre-notice postcard will be sent to all 
potential respondents describing this information collection and why 
the information is being collected. Second, a questionnaire with a 
cover letter and pre-paid return envelope will be sent to the potential 
respondents. The cover letter will reiterate the purpose of this 
information collection and provide the respondents with all legally 
required information. Third, a reminder will be mailed to thank the 
respondents and encourage the non-respondents to reply. Those who have 
yet to respond will be sent a new questionnaire, cover letter, and pre-
paid return envelope. Telephone interviews will be used for follow-up 
with non-respondents. For corporations and public agencies, the primary 
survey instrument will be electronic, and for all other owners, the 
primary survey instrument will be paper forms with the option for 
completing the survey electronically online.
    Forest Service researchers will coordinate all components of this 
information collection. Forest Service personnel with assistance 
provided by cooperators at the Family Forest Research Center located at 
the University of Massachusetts Amherst will conduct the mail portion 
of the survey, cognitive interviews, and focus groups. The U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service 
will conduct the telephone follow-ups. Data will be compiled and edited 
by Forest Service and Family Forest Research Center personnel. Forest 
Service researchers and cooperators will analyze the collected data. 
National, regional, and state-level results will be distributed through 
print and/or electronic media.
    This information collection will generate scientifically-based, 
statistically-reliable, up-to-date information about the owners of 
forestland in the United States. The 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 forestland resources and improved planning 
and implementation of forestry programs on state, regional, and 
national levels.
    Affected Public: Individuals and Households, the Private Sector 
(Businesses and Non-Profit Organizations), and/or State, Local or 
Tribal Government.
    Estimate of Burden per Response: 25 minutes for families, 
individuals, and other private groups with small holdings; 30 minutes 
for corporations with large holdings; 15 minutes for public agencies.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 4,188.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2,433 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 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.

    Dated: December 4, 2017.
Carlos Rodriguez-Franco,
Deputy Chief, Research and Development.
[FR Doc. 2017-27286 Filed 12-18-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3411-15-P

60174 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 19, 2017 / Notices

from Jamaica into the continental include registering production sites, that responses to this public comment
United States under certain conditions inspecting crops, performing remedial request containing any routine notice
to prevent the introduction of plant actions, obtaining foreign phytosanitary about the confidentiality of the
pests into the United States. certificates with declarations, and communication will be treated as public
Need and Use of the Information: submitting applications for permits and comments that may be made available to
APHIS will use the following appeals if denied. Activities also the public notwithstanding the
information collection activities to include submitting notices of arrival inclusion of the routine notice.
support the importation of mangoes and responding to emergency action The public may inspect the draft
from Jamaica: (1) Operational Workplan; notifications. These activities for this supporting statement and/or comments
(2) Production Site Registration; (3) Pest commodity are the minimum necessary received at 160 Holdsworth Way, Room
Detection Investigation; (4) Heat to protect crops and the agriculture 202, Amherst, MA 01003 during normal
Treatment Certified Facility; (5) Heat industry from dangerous foreign plant business hours. Visitors are encouraged
Treatment Monitoring and Inspections; pests and diseases. to call ahead to 413–545–1387 to
(6) Trust Fund Agreement; (7) Description of Respondents: Business facilitate entry to the building. The
Phytosanitary Certificate w/additional or other for-profit; Foreign Federal public may request an electronic copy of
Declaration; (8) Inspection; and (9) Government. the draft supporting statement and/or
Emergency Action Notification. Failure Number of Respondents: 15. any comments received be sent via
to collect this information would Frequency of Responses: Reporting on return email. Requests should be
cripple APHIS’ ability to ensure that occasion. emailed to bbutler01@fs.fed.us.
mangoes from Jamaica are not carrying Total Burden Hours: 82.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
plant pests. Ruth Brown, Brett Butler, Northern Research Station,
Description of Respondents: Departmental Information Collection 413–545–1387. Individuals who use
Businesses or other for-profit; Foreign Clearance Officer. telecommunication devices for the deaf
Federal Government. [FR Doc. 2017–27249 Filed 12–18–17; 8:45 am] (TDD) may call the Federal Information
Number of Respondents: 5. Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
Frequency of Responses: Reporting:
twenty-four hours a day, every day of
On occasion.
the year, including holidays.
Total Burden Hours: 427.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Title: National Woodland Owner
Service Forest Service Survey.
Title: Importation of Fresh Blueberry OMB Number: 0596–0078.
Information Collection; National
Fruit from Morocco into the Continental Expiration Date of Approval: 11/30/
Woodland Owner Survey
United States. 2018.
OMB Control Number: 0579–0421. AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. Type of Request: Renewal.
Summary of Collection: The Plant ACTION: Notice; request for comment. Abstract: There are an estimated 816
Protection Act (PPA, 7 U.S.C. 7701 et million acres of forestland across the
seq.) authorizes the Secretary of SUMMARY: In accordance with the United States. Of this forestland, over
Agriculture to restrict the importation, Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the half is owned by millions of
entry, or interstate movement of plants, Forest Service is seeking comments corporations, families, individuals,
plant products, and other articles within from all interested individuals and tribes, and other private groups with the
the United States to prevent the organizations on the renewal of the remaining managed by over a thousand
introduction of plant pests or their National Woodland Owner Survey different federal, state, and local
dissemination. The Animal and Plant information collection. government agencies. Understanding
Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Plant DATES: Comments must be received in the attitudes and behaviors of the
Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) writing on or before February 20, 2018 owners and managers of the forestland
Program enforces the Act by regulating to be assured of consideration. is critical for understanding the current
the importation of fruits and vegetables Comments received after that date will and future state of the nation’s forests.
into the United States. These regulations be considered to the extent practicable. The Forest Service conducts the
are found in Section 319 of the Code of ADDRESSES: Comments concerning this National Woodland Owner Survey
Federal Regulations (CFR) under notice should be addressed to Brett (NWOS) to increase our understanding
‘‘Subpart—Fruits and Vegetables’’ (7 Butler, USDA Forest Service, 160 of:
CFR 319.56–1 through 319.56–80). Holdsworth Way, Amherst, MA 01003. • Who owns and manages the
Under § 319.56–69, fresh fruit of Comments also may be submitted via forestland of the United States;
highbrush blueberries (Vaccinium facsimile to 413–545–1860 or by email • Why they own/manage it;
coymbosum L. and hybrid varieties V. to: bbutler01@fs.fed.us. • How they have used it; and
corymbosum x angustifolium (V. x Comments submitted in response to • How they intend to use it.
atlanticum and V. corymbosum x this notice may be made available to the This information is used by policy
virgatum)) from Morocco may be public through relevant websites and analysts, foresters, educators, and
imported into the continental United upon request. For this reason, please do researchers to facilitate the planning
States under certain conditions that not include in your comments and implementation of forest policies
information of a confidential nature, and programs.
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

prevent the introduction of plant pests
Ceratitis capitata (Mediterranean fruit such as sensitive personal information The Forest Service’s direction and
fly) and fungus Monilinia fructigena or proprietary information. If you send authority to conduct the NWOS is from
(Honey ex Whetzel) into the country. an email comment, your email address the Forest and Range Land Renewable
Need and Use of the Information: will be automatically captured and Resources Planning Act of 1974, the
APHIS will use information collection included as part of the comment that is Forest and Range Land Renewable
activities and actions to ensure these placed in the public docket and made Resources Act of 1978. These acts assign
conditions are met. These activities available on the internet. Please note responsibility for the inventory and

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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 19, 2017 / Notices 60175

assessment of forest and related addition to a statistically selected group collected data. National, regional, and
renewable resources to the Forest of federal, state, and local government state-level results will be distributed
Service. Additionally, the importance of agencies that manage forestland. A well through print and/or electronic media.
an ownership survey in this inventory distributed, random set of sampling This information collection will
and assessment process is highlighted in points has been established across the generate scientifically-based,
the 2014 Farm Bill, the Agricultural country. At each point, remotely sensed statistically-reliable, up-to-date
Research, Extension, and Education data, such as aerial photographs or information about the owners of
Reform Act of 1998, and the satellite imagery, will be used to forestland in the United States. The
recommendations of the Second Blue identify forested points. For the forested results of these efforts will provide more
Ribbon Panel on the Forest Inventory points, public records will be used to reliable information on this important
and Analysis program (FIA). identify the owners of record—the and dynamic segment of the United
Previous iterations of the NWOS were names and addresses of the landowners States population; thus facilitating more
conducted in 1978, 1993, 2002–2006, we will contact. The number of owners complete assessments of the country’s
2011–2013, and 2017–2018. Approval of forestland to be contacted in each forestland resources and improved
for the last iteration of the NWOS state will be approximately 330. planning and implementation of forestry
expires on November 30, 2018. If The NWOS will utilize a mixed-mode programs on state, regional, and
renewed, the NWOS will operate for survey technique involving cognitive national levels.
another 3-year cycle. interviews, focus groups, self- Affected Public: Individuals and
Information will be collected related administered questionnaires, and Households, the Private Sector
to: telephone interviews. Cognitive (Businesses and Non-Profit
• The characteristics of the land interviews will be used to test specific Organizations), and/or State, Local or
holdings; questions. Focus groups will be used to Tribal Government.
• Attitudes and perceptions of the provide more in-depth understanding of
Estimate of Burden per Response: 25
owners and managers; the responses and to explore new areas
minutes for families, individuals, and
• Resource uses and management of inquiry.
The implementation of the self- other private groups with small
activities; and
holdings; 30 minutes for corporations
• Where applicable, landowner administered survey will involve up to
four contacts. First, a pre-notice with large holdings; 15 minutes for
demographics.
Separate survey instruments are being postcard will be sent to all potential public agencies.
developed for families and individuals, respondents describing this information Estimated Annual Number of
corporate, and public ownerships. In collection and why the information is Respondents: 4,188.
addition, the owners in urban areas will being collected. Second, a questionnaire Estimated Annual Number of
be sent a different survey instrument. with a cover letter and pre-paid return Responses per Respondent: 1.
For the families and individuals, the envelope will be sent to the potential Estimated Total Annual Burden on
dominant ownership group of forestland respondents. The cover letter will Respondents: 2,433 Hours.
owners, a subset of ownerships will be reiterate the purpose of this information Comment is Invited:
sent survey instruments addressing the collection and provide the respondents Comment is invited on: (1) Whether
following topics, in addition to the core with all legally required information. this collection of information is
questions from the base survey Third, a reminder will be mailed to necessary for the stated purposes and
instrument: thank the respondents and encourage the proper performance of the functions
• Wildfires; the non-respondents to reply. Those of the Agency, including whether the
• Invasive species; who have yet to respond will be sent a information will have practical or
• Climate change; new questionnaire, cover letter, and pre- scientific utility; (2) the accuracy of the
• Land owner values; and paid return envelope. Telephone Agency’s estimate of the burden of the
• Decision making. interviews will be used for follow-up collection of information, including the
The NWOS provides widely cited with non-respondents. For corporations validity of the methodology and
benchmarks for the number, extent, and and public agencies, the primary survey assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance
characteristics of owners of forestland in instrument will be electronic, and for all the quality, utility, and clarity of the
the United States. These results have other owners, the primary survey information to be collected; and (4)
been used to assess the sustainability of instrument will be paper forms with the ways to minimize the burden of the
forest resources at national, regional, option for completing the survey collection of information on
and state levels; to implement and electronically online. respondents, including the use of
assess forest-land owner assistance Forest Service researchers will automated, electronic, mechanical, or
programs; and to answer a variety of coordinate all components of this other technological collection
questions with topics ranging from information collection. Forest Service techniques or other forms of information
fragmentation to the economics of personnel with assistance provided by technology.
timber production. This is the only cooperators at the Family Forest All comments received in response to
effort to collect in-depth information Research Center located at the this notice, including names and
about owners of forestland at the University of Massachusetts Amherst addresses when provided, will be a
national scale. It provides longitudinal will conduct the mail portion of the matter of public record. Comments will
data to track ownership trends and survey, cognitive interviews, and focus be summarized and included in the
groups. The U.S. Department of
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

allows for comparisons across regions of submission request toward Office of
the country. Agriculture, National Agricultural Management and Budget approval.
The respondents will be a statistically Statistics Service will conduct the
selected group of individuals, families, telephone follow-ups. Data will be Dated: December 4, 2017.
American Indian tribes, partnerships, compiled and edited by Forest Service Carlos Rodriguez-Franco,
corporations, nonprofit organizations, and Family Forest Research Center Deputy Chief, Research and Development.
and other private groups that own personnel. Forest Service researchers [FR Doc. 2017–27286 Filed 12–18–17; 8:45 am]
forestland in the United States in and cooperators will analyze the BILLING CODE 3411–15–P

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Document Created: 2017-12-19 01:31:22
Document Modified: 2017-12-19 01:31:22

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice; request for comment.
Dates		Comments must be received in writing on or before February 20, 2018 to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date will be considered to the extent practicable.
Contact		Brett Butler, Northern Research Station, 413-545-1387. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (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.
FR Citation		82 FR 60174

82 FR 60174 - Information Collection; National Woodland Owner Survey

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREForest Service

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 242 (December 19, 2017)

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service