83 FR 43843 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 167 (August 28, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 167 (Tuesday, August 28, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43843-43844]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-18586]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

August 23, 2018.
    The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following 
information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments 
are requested regarding (1) whether the collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the 
accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden 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 those who are 
to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques 
and other forms of information technology.
    Comments regarding this information collection received by 
September 27, 2018 will be considered. Written comments should be 
addressed to: Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), New 
Executive Office Building, 725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20503. 
Commentors are encouraged to submit their comments to OMB via email to: 
[email protected] or fax (202) 395-5806 and to Departmental 
Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-
7602. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling (202) 720-
8681.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to 
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not 
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

Forest Service

    Title: National Woodland Owner Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 0596-0078.
    Summary of Collection: The Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources 
Planning Act of 1974 (Pub. L. 93-278 Sec. 3) and the Forest and 
Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978 (Pub. L. 307 Sec. 3) 
are the legal authorities for conducting the National Woodland Owner 
Survey. In the United States, there are an estimated 816 million acres 
of forests and other wooded land. Over half of this land is privately 
owned by an estimated 11.5 million private ownerships that control over 
half of the nation's forests and other wooded land. The remaining 
forestland is managed by over a thousand federal, state, and local 
government agencies. The National Woodland Owner Survey (NWOS) collects 
information to help answer questions related to the characteristics of 
the landholdings and landowners, ownership objectives, the supply of 
timber and non-timber products, forest management practices, climate 
change, wildfires, invasive species, and delivery of the concerns/
constraints perceived by the landowners.
    Need and Use of the Information: The NWOS will utilize a mixed-mode 
survey technique involving cognitive interviews, focus groups, self-
administered questionnaires, and telephone interviews. The Forest 
Service (FS) will use several, interrelated forms: Long, short, state-
specific, science modules, corporate, public and urban versions to 
collect information. Data collected will help FS to determine the 
opportunities and constraints that private woodland owners typically 
face; and facilitate planning and implementing forest policies and 
programs. If the information is not collected the knowledge and 
understanding of private woodland ownerships and their concerns and 
activities will be severely limited.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals or households; Business or 
other for-profit; State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 4,188.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (every 5 years).
    Total Burden Hours: 2,198.

Forest Service

    Title: The Stewardship Mapping and Assessment Project (STEW-MAP).
    OMB Control Number: 0596-0240.
    Summary of Collection: The Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 
1978 (Pub. L. 113-79) Section 9(a); (b)(8); (c) and (d); The Forest and 
Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978 and the National 
Environmental Policy act of 1969 authorize the Forest Service to expand 
and strengthen existing research, education, technical assistance and 
public information and participation in tree planting and maintenance 
programs through stewardship. Civic environmental stewards are involved 
in a range of activities like planting trees, organizing community 
gardens, offering environment-themed classes, leading local 
conservation efforts, monitoring plants and animals, and cleaning up 
nearby parks or natural areas. These stewards may be nonprofit 
organizations, formal or informal community groups, faith-based 
organizations, or academic institutions. STEW-MAP will create a 
publicly available database and map of stewardship groups, their 
activities, and where they work.
    Need and Use of the Information: Information will be gathered on 
civic stewardship groups and their efforts such as where they work, the 
types of projects they focus on, and how they are organized. There are 
three phases to a STEW-MAP project: (1) A census to put together a 
master list of known stewardship groups and their contact information 
in the target city or region; (2) a survey distributed to all of the 
organizations identified in phase one to collect information about what 
they work on, structure of the group and what other groups they 
collaborate with; and (3) follow-up interviews with key longstanding 
organizations identified during phase two, to collect more detailed 
information about organizational histories. Without this information 
collection, FS would be unable to understand the current state of civic 
natural resource stewardship and would be unable to identify the 
organizations that may provide assistance to a given geographical area.
    Description of Respondents: Business or other for-profit; Not-for-
profit institutions; State, Local or Tribal Governments.
    Number of Respondents: 6,050.
    Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.

[[Page 43844]]

    Total Burden Hours: 1,642.

Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018-18586 Filed 8-27-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P