83 FR 12715 - Information Collection: Stewardship Mapping and Assessment Project (STEW-MAP)

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 57 (March 23, 2018)

Page Range		12715-12716
FR Document		2018-06001

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 Stewardship Mapping and Assessment Project (STEW-MAP) information collection.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 57 (Friday, March 23, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 57 (Friday, March 23, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12715-12716]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-06001]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection: Stewardship Mapping and Assessment 
Project (STEW-MAP)

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 Stewardship Mapping and Assessment 
Project (STEW-MAP) information collection.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before May 22, 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 Erika 
Svendsen, USDA Forest Service, NYC Urban Field Station, 431 Walter Reed 
Rd., Bayside, NY 11359. Comments also may be submitted by email to 
[email protected]. Please put ``Comments re: STEW-MAP'' in the 
subject line. 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 comments received at USDA Forest 
Service, USDA Forest Service, NYC Urban Field Station, 431 Walter Reed 
Rd., Bayside, NY 11359 during normal business hours. Visitors are 
encouraged to call ahead to 718-225-3061 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: Erika Svendsen at 718-225-3061 x301. 
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: Information Collection Clearance for the Stewardship Mapping 
and Assessment Project (STEW-MAP).
    OMB Number: 0596-0240.
    Type of Request: Renewal.
    Abstract: Local environmental stewardship groups are essential for 
ensuring the vibrancy of natural areas in cities, suburbs, towns, and 
rural areas, including National Forest lands and the surrounding areas. 
Natural areas provide a range of benefits and services including storm 
water management, air pollution removal, urban heat island mitigation, 
carbon storage, wildlife habitat, recreation opportunities, stress 
reduction, aesthetic beauty, noise reduction, increased property 
values, and reduced energy use. The work of civic environmental 
stewards leverages the efforts of local government officials in 
maintaining these resources, especially in lean budget times. Civic 
stewardship organizations, including nonprofits, faith-based groups, 
formal and informal community groups, and coalitions, are often 
involved in, for example, planting trees, organizing community gardens, 
offering environment-themed classes, engaging with local officials on 
behalf of the environment, monitoring plants or animals, and cleaning 
up nearby parks or natural areas. People who do this work are stewards 
of their local environments, even if they do not normally use the word 
``steward'' or think of what they do as ``stewardship.''
    The roles of civic environmental stewards and their levels of 
engagement and commitment are often not understood by land managers and 
other decision makers. This means that the valuable services they 
provide may not be recognized and built on to full advantage. In 
addition, stewards themselves may not be aware of others doing similar 
work in their area so there may be lost opportunities for collaboration 
between groups.
    The purpose of this research is to gather information on civic 
stewardship groups and their efforts such as where they work, the types 
of projects they focus on, and how they are organize. This information 
will be summarized and made publicly available online for use by policy 
makers, land managers, environmental professionals, the general public, 
stewards themselves, and other natural resource management 
stakeholders.
    There are three phases to a STEW-MAP project:
     Phase One (Census) is a census of stewardship groups in 
the target region, generating a master list of known stewardship groups 
and their contact information.
     Phase Two (Survey) is a survey which is distributed to all 
of the organizations identified in Phase One to collect information 
about what they work on, how their group is structured, where they 
work, and what other groups they collaborate with.
     Phase Three (Follow-Up Interviews) is follow-up interviews 
with key responding organizations identified during Phase Two to 
collect more detailed information about the organizations and their 
histories.
    A primary goal of STEW-MAP is to visualize stewardship activities, 
which can span across the urban to rural landscape. The geographic 
information provided by stewardship groups on the survey (Phase Two) 
will allow the researchers to do a spatial analysis of where 
stewardship groups are working, identify ``gaps'' where little to no 
stewardship is being done, and provide locally relevant geographic 
information like what kinds of stewardship groups are working in 
particular places. This geographic information will be displayed on 
maps to show stewards, local land managers, policy makers, and other 
interested stakeholders how stewardship work is distributed across the 
region with the goal of encouraging collaboration, building innovative 
partnerships, increasing organizational capacities, and generally 
making stewardship efforts more effective.
    Information from STEW-MAP will help planners, natural resource 
decision makers, land managers, and the general public work across 
property jurisdictions, management regimes and political boundaries to 
conserve, protect, and manage natural resources effectively. It will 
also be used to

[[Page 12716]]

enhance local resource management efforts by helping public officials, 
land managers, and civic stewards connect to local stewardship groups.
    STEW-MAP is being led by researchers from the Forest Service in 
partnership with researchers from universities and nongovernment 
organizations. The exact makeup of the research team will vary from 
location to location where STEW-MAP is conducted. The Forest Service 
Research and Development branch is authorized to conduct basic 
scientific research to improve the health of forests and rangelands 
involving State, Federal, Tribal agencies, and private landowners 
across multiple jurisdictions including in urban areas. The study is 
aligned with the U.S. Department of Agriculture policy of an ``all-
lands approach'' to resource management, which ``requires land managers 
to work across jurisdictions and land-use types, viewing forests 
landscapes as an integrated whole, both ecologically and socially'' 
(National Report on Sustainable Forests, 2010). This all lands approach 
applies to urban ecosystems as well. Our project goals are also 
consistent with the Forest Service, Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) 
program, which focus on urban forest ecosystems and the role of 
stewardship and trail connections to parks and public lands that 
promote health and sustainability for urban residents. This study seeks 
to identify opportunities for stewardship organizations to better 
collaborate and, thus, be more effective in the stewardship of all 
natural areas.
    Due to local geographical and/or cultural differences, and to meet 
the needs of any particular collaborative effort, we may tailor the 
survey and interview questions to accommodate the unique requirements 
of individual communities.
    Affected Public: Representatives from civic environmental 
stewardship groups, and from State, local, or Tribal Governments.
    Estimate of Burden per Response: 15 to 60 minutes.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents:
    Phase One (Census): 600.
    Phase Two (Survey): 15,000.
    Phase Three (Follow-up Interviews): 300.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 7,925 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: March 13, 2018.
Carlos Rodriguez-Franco,
Deputy Chief, Research & Development.
[FR Doc. 2018-06001 Filed 3-22-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3411-15-P

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 57 / Friday, March 23, 2018 / Notices 12715

Comments received in response to notwithstanding the inclusion of the be recognized and built on to full
this solicitation, including names and routine notice. advantage. In addition, stewards
addresses of those who comment, will The public may inspect the comments themselves may not be aware of others
be part of the public record for this received at USDA Forest Service, USDA doing similar work in their area so there
proposed action and will be available Forest Service, NYC Urban Field may be lost opportunities for
for public inspection. Station, 431 Walter Reed Rd., Bayside, collaboration between groups.
Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; NY 11359 during normal business The purpose of this research is to
Forest Service Handbook 1909.15, Section hours. Visitors are encouraged to call gather information on civic stewardship
21). ahead to 718–225–3061 to facilitate groups and their efforts such as where
entry to the building. The public may they work, the types of projects they
Dated: February 16, 2018.
request an electronic copy of the draft focus on, and how they are organize.
Glenn P. Casamassa, This information will be summarized
supporting statement and/or any
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest comments received be sent via return and made publicly available online for
System. use by policy makers, land managers,
email. Requests should be emailed to
[FR Doc. 2018–06002 Filed 3–22–18; 8:45 am] environmental professionals, the general
esvendsen@fs.fed.us.
BILLING CODE 3411–15–P
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: public, stewards themselves, and other
Erika Svendsen at 718–225–3061 x301. natural resource management
Individuals who use telecommunication stakeholders.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE There are three phases to a STEW–
devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the
MAP project:
Forest Service Federal Information Relay Service • Phase One (Census) is a census of
(FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 twenty-four stewardship groups in the target region,
Information Collection: Stewardship hours a day, every day of the year, generating a master list of known
Mapping and Assessment Project including holidays. stewardship groups and their contact
(STEW–MAP) SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: information.
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. Title: Information Collection • Phase Two (Survey) is a survey
Clearance for the Stewardship Mapping which is distributed to all of the
ACTION: Notice; request for comment. and Assessment Project (STEW–MAP). organizations identified in Phase One to
SUMMARY: In accordance with the OMB Number: 0596–0240. collect information about what they
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Type of Request: Renewal. work on, how their group is structured,
Forest Service is seeking comments Abstract: Local environmental where they work, and what other groups
from all interested individuals and stewardship groups are essential for they collaborate with.
organizations on the renewal of the ensuring the vibrancy of natural areas in • Phase Three (Follow-Up Interviews)
Stewardship Mapping and Assessment cities, suburbs, towns, and rural areas, is follow-up interviews with key
Project (STEW–MAP) information including National Forest lands and the responding organizations identified
collection. surrounding areas. Natural areas during Phase Two to collect more
provide a range of benefits and services detailed information about the
DATES: Comments must be received in including storm water management, air organizations and their histories.
writing on or before May 22, 2018 to be pollution removal, urban heat island A primary goal of STEW–MAP is to
assured of consideration. Comments mitigation, carbon storage, wildlife visualize stewardship activities, which
received after that date will be habitat, recreation opportunities, stress can span across the urban to rural
considered to the extent practicable. reduction, aesthetic beauty, noise landscape. The geographic information
ADDRESSES: Comments concerning this reduction, increased property values, provided by stewardship groups on the
notice should be addressed to Erika and reduced energy use. The work of survey (Phase Two) will allow the
Svendsen, USDA Forest Service, NYC civic environmental stewards leverages researchers to do a spatial analysis of
Urban Field Station, 431 Walter Reed the efforts of local government officials where stewardship groups are working,
Rd., Bayside, NY 11359. Comments also in maintaining these resources, identify ‘‘gaps’’ where little to no
may be submitted by email to especially in lean budget times. Civic stewardship is being done, and provide
esvendsen@fs.fed.us. Please put stewardship organizations, including locally relevant geographic information
‘‘Comments re: STEW–MAP’’ in the nonprofits, faith-based groups, formal like what kinds of stewardship groups
subject line. Comments submitted in and informal community groups, and are working in particular places. This
response to this notice may be made coalitions, are often involved in, for geographic information will be
available to the public through relevant example, planting trees, organizing displayed on maps to show stewards,
websites and upon request. For this community gardens, offering local land managers, policy makers, and
reason, please do not include in your environment-themed classes, engaging other interested stakeholders how
comments information of a confidential with local officials on behalf of the stewardship work is distributed across
nature, such as sensitive personal environment, monitoring plants or the region with the goal of encouraging
information or proprietary information. animals, and cleaning up nearby parks collaboration, building innovative
If you send an email comment, your or natural areas. People who do this partnerships, increasing organizational
email address will be automatically work are stewards of their local capacities, and generally making
captured and included as part of the environments, even if they do not stewardship efforts more effective.
comment that is placed in the public normally use the word ‘‘steward’’ or Information from STEW–MAP will
amozie on DSK30RV082PROD with NOTICES

docket and made available on the think of what they do as ‘‘stewardship.’’ help planners, natural resource decision
internet. Please note that responses to The roles of civic environmental makers, land managers, and the general
this public comment request containing stewards and their levels of engagement public work across property
any routine notice about the and commitment are often not jurisdictions, management regimes and
confidentiality of the communication understood by land managers and other political boundaries to conserve,
will be treated as public comments that decision makers. This means that the protect, and manage natural resources
may be made available to the public valuable services they provide may not effectively. It will also be used to

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Document Created: 2018-11-01 08:53:51
Document Modified: 2018-11-01 08:53:51

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 May 22, 2018 to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date will be considered to the extent practicable.
Contact		Erika Svendsen at 718-225-3061 x301. 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		83 FR 12715

83 FR 12715 - Information Collection: Stewardship Mapping and Assessment Project (STEW-MAP)

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREForest Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 57 (March 23, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service