83_FR_10877 83 FR 10828 - Information Collection: Generic Clearance for Social Science and Economics Data Collections on Goods, Services, and Jobs Provided by Forests and Natural Areas

83 FR 10828 - Information Collection: Generic Clearance for Social Science and Economics Data Collections on Goods, Services, and Jobs Provided by Forests and Natural Areas

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 49 (March 13, 2018)

Page Range10828-10829
FR Document2018-05006

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals and organizations on a new generic information collection request, Social Science and Economics Data Collections on Goods, Services, and Jobs Provided by Forests and Natural Areas.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 49 (Tuesday, March 13, 2018) 
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 49 (Tuesday, March 13, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10828-10829]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-05006]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection: Generic Clearance for Social Science and 
Economics Data Collections on Goods, Services, and Jobs Provided by 
Forests and Natural Areas

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 a new generic information collection request, Social 
Science and Economics Data Collections on Goods, Services, and Jobs 
Provided by Forests and Natural Areas.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before May 14, 2018 
to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date will 
be considered to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Kenli Kim, National Program Leader 
for Social Science Research, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Mailstop 1114, 
Washington, DC 20250-1114, or by electronic mail to 
[email protected], with ``PRA comment on Goods, Services, and 
Jobs'' in the subject line. If comments are sent by electronic mail, 
the public is requested not to send duplicate written comments via 
regular mail. Please confine written comments to issues pertinent to 
the information collection request, explain the reasons for any 
recommended changes, and, where possible, reference the specific 
section or paragraph being addressed.
    All timely submitted comments, including names and addresses when 
provided, are placed in the record and are available for public 
inspection and copying. The public may inspect comments received on 
this information collection at the USDA Forest Service Headquarters, 
201 14th St. SW, Washington, DC 20250 between the hours of 10:00 a.m. 
to 5:00 p.m. on business days. Those wishing to inspect comments should 
contact Kenli Kim ([email protected]) to facilitate an appointment and 
entrance to the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenli Kim, National Program Leader for 
Social Science Research at the Forest Service ([email protected]). 
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.

[[Page 10829]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Generic Clearance for Social Science and Economics Data 
Collections on Goods, Services, and Jobs Provided by Forests and 
Natural Areas.
    OMB Number: 0596--NEW.
    Expiration Date of Approval: NEW.
    Type of Request: NEW.
    Abstract: The USDA Forest Service is seeking Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) approval to collect information that will help the 
Forest Service sustainably manage and provide guidance to others about 
managing the wide range of goods, services, jobs, and other values that 
people get from forests, grasslands, parks, and other natural areas.
    In rural, suburban, and urban parts of the country, forests, 
grasslands, and other natural areas provide jobs through: Logging, 
sawmills, and extraction of non-timber forest products; guide services, 
hotels, restaurants, and equipment sales that support outdoor 
recreation; and natural area restoration and management activities. 
Innovative forest products such as wood-based nano-technologies and 
laminated timbers are critical to the modern economies of communities 
large and small. Forests and natural areas provide important ecosystem 
services such as clean water and natural flood control and influence 
other critical economic factors like home and land values. Time spent 
in or with a view of trees, forests, and green spaces can have indirect 
economic impacts and provide community benefits by improving mental and 
physical health and well-being.
    In addition to the products and services derived from forests, 
grasslands, or natural areas, people may also value and appreciate the 
natural environment itself when they experience it directly. These 
experiences can have meaningful and direct impacts on quality of life, 
sense of self, and sense of community. While such values are sometimes 
hard for people to express or to quantify, they play an important role 
in how people respond to natural resource management proposals and 
actions, and can often be at the root of conflict over land management 
policies and practices.
    Understanding people's views on these goods, services, and values 
is critical to managing forests, grasslands, and other natural areas to 
meet the needs of American citizens--to provide the ``greatest good to 
the greatest number of people for the longest time'' as Gifford 
Pinchot, Founding Chief of the Forest Service, described it. Surveys, 
interviews, focus groups, and related methods administered under this 
Generic Clearance will collect information from individuals and groups 
who seek or benefit from a wide variety of goods, services, and other 
values from forests, grasslands, and other natural areas. Any specific 
study conducted under this Generic ICR will be posted for public 
comment in The Federal Register for 30 days by the USDA Forest Service.
    Estimate of Annual Burden on Respondents: 9,440 hours/year.
    Type of Respondents: Participants/respondents will be individuals, 
not specific entities.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 60,420 year.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1 response/
respondent is anticipated.

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. The Forest Service will consider the comments received and 
amend the ICR as appropriate. The final ICR package will then be 
submitted to OMB for review and approval.
    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 
final Office of Management and Budget approval.

    Dated: February 15, 2018.
Monica Lear,
Associate Deputy Chief, Research & Development.
[FR Doc. 2018-05006 Filed 3-12-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3411-15-P

10828 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 49 / Tuesday, March 13, 2018 / Notices SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Taking all of this into account, the DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Title: Generic Clearance for Social Forest Service and other public and Science Research on Natural Resource private land managers need to collect Forest Service Planning and Collaborative information from a wide range of Conservation. stakeholders in order to make informed Information Collection: Generic OMB Number: 0596—NEW. decisions about natural resource Clearance for Social Science and Expiration Date of Approval: NEW. conservation, restoration and Economics Data Collections on Goods, Type of Request: NEW. management, land management Services, and Jobs Provided by Abstract: The USDA Forest Service’s amendments and planning revisions. To Forests and Natural Areas mission is ‘‘Caring for the Land and ensure that the Forest Service can meet Serving People.’’ This includes directly AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. its statutory and regulatory ACTION: Notice; request for comment. managing National Forest and Grassland responsibilities and is able to inform units and providing science-based SUMMARY: In accordance with the management of forests and other natural guidelines for the management of Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the areas, the Forest Service is seeking OMB forests, grasslands, and other natural Forest Service is seeking comments approval to collect information from resources in cities and towns as well as from all interested individuals and people who use, live near, manage, those under management by land trusts, organizations on a new generic make policies for, or otherwise have a neighborhood groups, states, and other information collection request, Social stake in the management of forests and entities. In order to fulfill this mission, Science and Economics Data Collections other natural resources. the Agency needs an accurate on Goods, Services, and Jobs Provided Estimate of Annual Burden on understanding of the range of views and by Forests and Natural Areas. Respondents: 32,183 hours/year. preferences held by stakeholders Type of Respondents: Participants/ DATES: Comments must be received in regarding the management and respondents will be individuals, not writing on or before May 14, 2018 to be conservation of forests and other natural specific entities. assured of consideration. Comments resources. Estimated Annual Number of Collaborative conservation is the received after that date will be Respondents: 251,050 year. considered to the extent practicable. process of creating and executing land Estimated Annual Number of ADDRESSES: Send written comments to and resource management decisions Responses per Respondent: 1 response/ Kenli Kim, National Program Leader for informed by local knowledge, respondent is anticipated. Social Science Research, 1400 community participation, and science. Collaborative conservation aims to Comment Is Invited Independence Ave. SW, Mailstop 1114, improve the health, resilience, and Washington, DC 20250–1114, or by Comment is invited on: (1) Whether electronic mail to PRAcomments@ sustainability of natural resources and this collection of information is human communities and to maximize fs.fed.us, with ‘‘PRA comment on necessary for the stated purposes and Goods, Services, and Jobs’’ in the the benefits that forests, grasslands, and the proper performance of the functions other natural resources provide to subject line. If comments are sent by of the Agency, including whether the electronic mail, the public is requested society. This includes environmental information will have practical or benefits such as clean air and water and not to send duplicate written comments scientific utility; (2) the accuracy of the via regular mail. Please confine written carbon storage; economic benefits such Agency’s estimate of the burden of the as energy savings and timber and other comments to issues pertinent to the collection of information, including the information collection request, explain forest products; and social benefits such validity of the methodology and as improved physical health, aesthetic the reasons for any recommended assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance changes, and, where possible, reference beauty, and stress reduction. A the quality, utility, and clarity of the collaborative conservation approach to the specific section or paragraph being information to be collected; and (4) addressed. land management amendments and ways to minimize the burden of the planning revisions for forests, All timely submitted comments, collection of information on including names and addresses when grasslands, and other natural resources respondents, including the use of may also help ensure environmental provided, are placed in the record and automated, electronic, mechanical, or are available for public inspection and justice for groups and individuals other technological collection whose views and concerns have not copying. The public may inspect techniques or other forms of information comments received on this information historically been taken into account in technology. The Forest Service will land management planning. collection at the USDA Forest Service consider the comments received and Headquarters, 201 14th St. SW, Managing forests, grasslands, and amend the ICR as appropriate. The final natural areas in a collaborative and Washington, DC 20250 between the ICR package will then be submitted to hours of 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on sustainable way requires detailed, OMB for review and approval. scientifically-based information about business days. Those wishing to inspect All comments received in response to comments should contact Kenli Kim people’s views on both conservation in this notice, including names and general and about specific forests or (kkim@fs.fed.us) to facilitate an addresses when provided, will be a appointment and entrance to the other natural places that are important matter of public record. Comments will in their lives. A collaborative building. be summarized and included in the conservation approach to land submission request for final Office of FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: management amendments and planning Management and Budget approval. Kenli Kim, National Program Leader for amozie on DSK30RV082PROD with NOTICES takes in-depth understanding of how Social Science Research at the Forest groups and individuals work effectively Dated: February 15, 2018 Service (kkim@fs.fed.us). Individuals together, how information and Monica Lear, who use telecommunication devices for knowledge are shared, and how to Associate Deputy Chief, Research & the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal incorporate multiple viewpoints in Development. Relay Service (FRS) at 1–800–877–8339 resource planning while effectively [FR Doc. 2018–05003 Filed 3–12–18; 8:45 am] twenty-four hours a day, every day of managing conflict. BILLING CODE 3411–15–P the year, including holidays. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:47 Mar 12, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\13MRN1.SGM 13MRN1

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 49 / Tuesday, March 13, 2018 / Notices 10829 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: methods administered under this DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Title: Generic Clearance for Social Generic Clearance will collect Science and Economics Data Collections information from individuals and Rural Business-Cooperative Service on Goods, Services, and Jobs Provided groups who seek or benefit from a wide by Forests and Natural Areas. Notice of Solicitation of Applications variety of goods, services, and other OMB Number: 0596—NEW. for the Rural Energy for America values from forests, grasslands, and Expiration Date of Approval: NEW. Program for Federal Fiscal Year 2018 Type of Request: NEW. other natural areas. Any specific study Abstract: The USDA Forest Service is conducted under this Generic ICR will AGENCY: Rural Business-Cooperative seeking Office of Management and be posted for public comment in The Service, USDA. Budget (OMB) approval to collect Federal Register for 30 days by the ACTION: Notice. information that will help the Forest USDA Forest Service. Service sustainably manage and provide SUMMARY: The Rural Business- Estimate of Annual Burden on guidance to others about managing the Cooperative Service (the Agency) Notice Respondents: 9,440 hours/year. of Solicitation of Applications (NOSA) wide range of goods, services, jobs, and other values that people get from forests, Type of Respondents: Participants/ is being issued prior to passage of a final grasslands, parks, and other natural respondents will be individuals, not appropriations act to allow potential areas. specific entities. applicants time to submit applications In rural, suburban, and urban parts of Estimated Annual Number of for financial assistance under Rural the country, forests, grasslands, and Respondents: 60,420 year. Energy for America Program (REAP) for other natural areas provide jobs through: Federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2018, and give Estimated Annual Number of the Agency time to process applications Logging, sawmills, and extraction of Responses per Respondent: 1 response/ within the current fiscal year. This non-timber forest products; guide services, hotels, restaurants, and respondent is anticipated. NOSA is being issued prior to equipment sales that support outdoor Comment is Invited enactment of full year appropriation for recreation; and natural area restoration 2018. The Agency will publish the and management activities. Innovative Comment is invited on: (1) Whether amount of funding received in any forest products such as wood-based this collection of information is continuing resolution or the final nano-technologies and laminated necessary for the stated purposes and appropriations act on its website at timbers are critical to the modern the proper performance of the functions https://www.rd.usda.gov/newsroom/ economies of communities large and of the Agency, including whether the notices-solicitation-applications-nosas. small. Forests and natural areas provide information will have practical or Expenses incurred in developing important ecosystem services such as scientific utility; (2) the accuracy of the applications will be at the applicant’s clean water and natural flood control Agency’s estimate of the burden of the risk. and influence other critical economic collection of information, including the The REAP has two types of funding factors like home and land values. Time validity of the methodology and assistance: (1) Renewable Energy spent in or with a view of trees, forests, assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance Systems and Energy Efficiency and green spaces can have indirect Improvements Assistance, and (2) the quality, utility, and clarity of the economic impacts and provide Energy Audit and Renewable Energy information to be collected; and (4) community benefits by improving Development Assistance Grants. ways to minimize the burden of the mental and physical health and well- The Renewable Energy Systems and collection of information on Energy Efficiency Improvement being. respondents, including the use of Assistance provides grants and In addition to the products and services derived from forests, automated, electronic, mechanical, or guaranteed loans to agricultural grasslands, or natural areas, people may other technological collection producers and rural small businesses to also value and appreciate the natural techniques or other forms of information purchase and install renewable energy environment itself when they technology. The Forest Service will systems and make energy efficiency experience it directly. These consider the comments received and improvements to their operations. experiences can have meaningful and amend the ICR as appropriate. The final Eligible renewable energy systems for direct impacts on quality of life, sense ICR package will then be submitted to REAP provide energy from: Wind, solar, of self, and sense of community. While OMB for review and approval. renewable biomass (including anaerobic such values are sometimes hard for All comments received in response to digesters), small hydro-electric, ocean, people to express or to quantify, they this notice, including names and geothermal, or hydrogen derived from play an important role in how people addresses when provided, will be a these renewable resources. respond to natural resource matter of public record. Comments will The Energy Audit and Renewable management proposals and actions, and be summarized and included in the Energy Development Assistance Grant is can often be at the root of conflict over available to a unit of State, Tribal, or submission request for final Office of land management policies and local government; instrumentality of a Management and Budget approval. practices. State, Tribal, or local government; Understanding people’s views on Dated: February 15, 2018. institution of higher education; rural these goods, services, and values is Monica Lear, electric cooperative; a public power critical to managing forests, grasslands, Associate Deputy Chief, Research & entity; or a council, as defined in 16 amozie on DSK30RV082PROD with NOTICES and other natural areas to meet the Development. U.S.C. 3451. The recipient of grant needs of American citizens—to provide [FR Doc. 2018–05006 Filed 3–12–18; 8:45 am] funds, grantee, will establish a program the ‘‘greatest good to the greatest to assist agricultural producers and rural BILLING CODE 3411–15–P number of people for the longest time’’ small businesses with evaluating the as Gifford Pinchot, Founding Chief of energy efficiency and the potential to the Forest Service, described it. Surveys, incorporate renewable energy interviews, focus groups, and related technologies into their operations. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:47 Mar 12, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\13MRN1.SGM 13MRN1


Document Created: 2018-03-13 01:56:46
Document Modified: 2018-03-13 01:56:46
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice; request for comment.
DatesComments must be received in writing on or before May 14, 2018 to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date will be considered to the extent practicable.
ContactKenli Kim, National Program Leader for Social Science Research at the Forest Service ([email protected]). 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.
FR Citation83 FR 10828 
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