Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

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: 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; the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and 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 November 25, 2026 will be considered. Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be submitted within 30 days of the publication of this notice on the following website www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting “Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments” or by using the search function. 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: Special Uses—SF-299 Application for Transportation, Utility Systems, Telecommunications and Facilities on Federal Lands and Property.

OMB Control Number: 0596-0249.

Summary of Collection: This information collection is used by the Forest Service to evaluate and ensure that authorized uses of National Forest System (NFS) lands are in the public interest and are compatible with the agency's mission. The information helps the agency identify environmental and social impacts of special uses for ( printed page 67265) purposes of compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and program administration. In addition, the agency uses the information to ascertain whether the land use fee being charged for special use authorizations is based on market value. The information is collected through application forms and terms and conditions in special use authorizations and operating plans. Ongoing uses must be monitored to ensure compliance with the terms of the corresponding authorizations. In certain situations, information from the authorization holder is the only way the Forest Service can verify compliance with the terms of an authorization.

This information collection is used by the Forest Service to provide a standard application for the use of National Forest System lands for transportation systems, utility systems, telecommunications facilities, and other facilities and uses that do not have a specific agency application. The form can be used by other federal land management agencies for similar purposes. This request is for revision of a currently approved common form, the SF-299, Application for Transportation, Utility Systems, Telecommunications and Facilities on Federal Lands and Property. It includes the burden and cost estimates for the Forest Service's use of the SF-299 and does not include burden or cost estimates for other agencies' use of the common form.

Subsequent to the publication of the 60-day notice, Forest Service has decided to offer an electronic submission option. Respondents may complete and submit the Application for Transportation, Utility Systems, Telecommunications and Facilities on Federal Lands and Property (SF-299) either in paper format or electronically through a digital portal that the Forest Service is developing and plans to make available on a public website. This electronic content may be mirrored or otherwise displayed on other government portals configured to transmit information to the Forest Service or other agencies that use SF-299. The electronic version will generally collect the same information as the paper form; no substantive new data elements will be added at this time. Use of the electronic option will be voluntary. The Forest Service estimates that this change will not increase and may modestly to moderately reduce the overall burden of the collection. Once the portal is operational, the Forest Service will post the form and instructions on its website and, if necessary, notify OMB of the final URL through a non-substantive change request.

Several statutes authorize the Forest Service to issue and administer authorizations for use and occupancy of National Forest System (NFS) lands and require the collection of information from the public for those purposes. The laws for authorizing the use and managing these uses of NFS lands 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 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 (FRTA, 16 U.S.C. 532-538);

Section 7 of the Granger-Thye Act (16 U.S.C. 480d);

The Act of May 26, 2000 (16 U.S.C. 460l-6d) as amended January 4, 2025;

The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6801-6814);

Act of September 3, 1954 (68 Stat. 1146; 43 U.S.C. 931c, 931d);

Archeological Resource Protection Act of October 31st, 1979 (16 U.S.C.1996);

The Rural Electrification Act of 1936, as amended;

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Forest Service regulations implementing these authorities, found at 36 CFR part 251, subpart B, contain information collection requirements, including submission of applications, execution of forms, and imposition of terms and conditions that entail information collection requirements, such as the requirement to submit annual financial information; to prepare and update an operating plan; to prepare and update a maintenance plan; and to submit compliance reports and information updates. The information collection requirements described in this request are necessary for the Forest Service to issue and administer special use authorizations to use and occupy NFS lands under these authorities.

From time to time, the agency may make minor changes to the SF-299 that do not materially change the information collection, but rather the terms and conditions and legal authorities that govern special use permits. These revisions will be submitted to OMB for approval as non-substantive changes, and the revision date of the form will be updated upon approval.

Need and Use of the Information: Information requests for the issuance and administration of special use authorizations can be categorized as information required from proponents and applicants to evaluate proposals and applications to use or occupy federal lands. None of the requested information is especially burdensome. When requested, financial information is the same information, and in the same level of detail, that must be supplied to the IRS or maintained under traditional sound business management practices.

The application includes both the proposal to use federal lands and the application for an authorization. When a proposal is accepted it moves forward as an application. The information in this process identifies the applicant and is used to determine if a requested use can be authorized and provides the required information for the authorization. The typical application information in the application process is:

(1) identification of the applicant;

(2) a description of the proposed use;

(3) the location and duration of the proposed use;

(4) the technical and financial capability of the applicant;

(5) alternative locations considered for the proposed use, including non-federal lands;

(6) anticipated environmental impacts associated with the proposed use and proposed mitigation of those impacts; and

(7) information needed to recover agency costs to process an application and monitor a special use authorization. The authorized officer evaluates this information and makes a decision to grant or deny the application.

Description of Respondents: Private Sector; Federal Government; State, Local, and Tribal Government; Individuals or households.

Number of Respondents: 2,753.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Annually.

Total Burden Hours: 22,024.