Information Collection; SF-299 Application for Transportation, Utility Systems, Telecommunications and Facilities on Federal Lands and Property

[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 73 (Thursday, April 16, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20398-20399]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-07408]


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                                                Federal Register
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Federal Register / Vol. 91, No. 73 / Thursday, April 16, 2026 / 
Notices

[[Page 20398]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; SF-299 Application for Transportation, 
Utility Systems, Telecommunications and Facilities on Federal Lands and 
Property

AGENCY: Forest Service, Agriculture (USDA).

ACTION: Notice; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Forest Service (Agency) is seeking comments from all interested 
individuals and organizations on the extension without revision of a 
currently approved information collection, SF-299 Application for 
Transportation, Utility Systems, Telecommunications and Facilities on 
Federal Lands and Property.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before June 15, 2026 
to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Comments concerning this notice should be addressed to USDA 
Forest Service, Attention: Lands--Special Uses, Mail Stop 1124, Forest 
Service, USDA, P.O. Box 96090, Washington, DC 20090-6090. Comments also 
may be submitted by email to reply_lands_staff@usda.gov.
    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 for 
public viewing. Please note that comments 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 request that an electronic copy of the supporting 
documents for the information collection and/or any comments received 
be sent via return email. Requests should be emailed to 
sm.fs.wo_landstaff@usda.gov. The information collection request is 
posted online at https://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Chandler, Realty Specialist, 
Lands, National Forest Systems, can be reached by phone at 202-205-
1117, or by email at mark.chandler@usda.gov. Individuals who are deaf, 
hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may call 711 to reach the 
Telecommunications Relay Service then provide the phone number of the 
person named as a point of contact for further information.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: SF-299 Application for Transportation, Utility Systems, 
Telecommunications and Facilities on Federal Lands and Property.
    OMB Number: 0596-0249.
    Expiration Date of Approval: January 31, 2027.
    Type of Review: Extension without revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Abstract: This information collection covers the Forest Service's 
use of SF-299, Application for Transportation, Utility Systems, 
Telecommunications and Facilities on Federal Lands and Property. The 
Forest Service uses SF-299 and related supporting information to 
evaluate proposals and applications for special use authorizations on 
National Forest System lands and to administer those authorizations 
under applicable statutory and regulatory authorities. This notice 
concerns only Forest Service's use of SF-299 and the associated Forest 
Service burden and cost estimates.
    Several statutes authorize the Forest Service to issue and 
administer authorizations for use and occupancy of National Forest 
System lands and to collect information from the public for those 
purposes. These authorities include the Organic Administration Act of 
1897 (16 U.S.C. 551); Title V of the Federal Land Policy and Management 
Act of 1976 (FLPMA, 43 U.S.C. 1761-1771); the Act of March 4, 1915 (16 
U.S.C. 497); the Alaska Term Permit Act of March 30, 1948 (16 U.S.C. 
497a); the Act of September 3, 1954 (43 U.S.C. 931c, 931d); the 
National Forest Ski Area Permit Act (16 U.S.C. 497b); section 28 of the 
Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 185); the National Forest Roads and 
Trails Act (16 U.S.C. 532-538); section 7 of the Granger-Thye Act (16 
U.S.C. 580d); the Act of May 26, 2000 (16 U.S.C. 460l-6d); the Federal 
Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6801-6814); the 
Archeological Resource Protection Act of 1979 (16 U.S.C. 470aa-470mm); 
and the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 901 et seq.).
    Forest Service regulations implementing these authorities, found at 
36 CFR part 251, subpart B, contain information collection requirements 
related to proposals, applications, administration of authorizations, 
operating plans, maintenance plans, financial information, compliance 
reporting, and information updates. The information collected through 
SF-299 and related submissions is used to evaluate proposals and 
applications, assess technical and financial capability, support 
required environmental review and program administration, recover 
agency processing and monitoring costs where applicable, and administer 
special use authorizations on National Forest System lands.
    The information is collected from proponents, applicants, and 
holders of special use authorizations. The Forest Service uses the 
information to determine whether a proposed use may be authorized under 
applicable law and regulation; to evaluate the applicant's technical 
and financial capability; to support environmental review and 
consultation where required; to issue and administer authorizations; 
and to recover agency processing and monitoring costs where applicable. 
Proposals for special uses must be filled in writing with or presented 
orally to the responsible Forest Service official, and proponents 
generally must provide the information identified in 36 CFR 251.54(d). 
If the collection were not conducted, the Forest Service would lack 
information necessary to evaluate proposals and applications, 
administer authorizations, and carry out associated statutory and 
regulatory responsibilities.

[[Page 20399]]

    Affected Public: Individuals and Households; the Private Sector 
(Businesses and Non-Profit Organizations); and State, Local or Tribal 
Government.
    Estimated Annual Burden per Response: 8 hours per response.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 2,753.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 22,024.

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 part of the public record. 
Comments will be summarized and included in the submission request for 
Office of Management and Budget approval.

John Crockett,
Deputy Chief, National Forest System, State, Private, and Tribal 
Forestry.
[FR Doc. 2026-07408 Filed 4-15-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P