Federal Register: August 31, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 167)
DOCID: fr31au09-49 FR Doc E9-20918
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
NOTICE: NOTICES
DOCID: fr31au09-49
DOCUMENT ACTION: Notice; request for comment.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Information Collection; Application for Permit, Non-Federal Commercial Use of Roads
DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before October 30, 2009 to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date will be considered to the extent practicable.
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals and organizations on the extension of a currently approved information collection, OMB 05960016, Application for Permit, NonFederal Commercial Use of Roads Restricted by Order.
SUMMARY:
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Title: Application for Permit, NonFederal Commercial Use of Roads Restricted by Order
OMB Number: 05960016.
Expiration Date of Approval: Three years after OMB approves the information collection.
Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection
Abstract: Authority for road use permits is derived from the National Forest Roads and Trails Act (Pub. L. 88657, 16 U.S.C. 532 538, as amended). The law authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to establish procedures for sharing investments in roads and to require commercial users to perform road maintenance commensurate with their use of roads. Detailed implementing regulations are contained in Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, sections 212.5, 212.9, and 261.54. Title 36, CFR 212.5 and 212.9 authorizes the Chief of the Forest Service to establish procedures for investment sharing and to require commercial users to perform road maintenance commensurate with use. Title 36, CFR 261.54 contains a national prohibition against using a National Forest System road for commercial hauling without a permit or written authorization when so provided by order. Forest Service policies implementing the regulations are found in Forest Service Manual chapter 7730 and Forest Service Handbook 7709.59, chapter 24. The policies require forest supervisors to enter into appropriate investment sharing arrangements, to require commercial users of National Forest System roads to perform road maintenance commensurate with their use, and to issue orders that implement the national prohibition at 36 CFR 261.54. These policies assure that those commercial haulers not already operating under investment and maintenance sharing provisions contained in Forest Service permits and contracts will obtain road use permits. The road use permits they obtain contain requirements for maintenance and investment sharing.
FS770040Application for Permit for NonFederal Commercial Use of Roads Restricted by Order. This form is used by individuals, corporations, or organizations that apply for a permit to use National Forest System roads for nonFederal commercial use. The following information is collected: (1) Name, address, and telephone number; (2) identification by Forest Service route number of roads to be used; (3) purpose of use; (4) use schedule; and (5) plans for future use. The requester submits the information to the forest supervisor or district ranger responsible for the National Forest System roads on which commercial vehicular use is requested. Engineering personnel on the staff of the responsible National Forest System unit evaluate the information. The information is used by the local offices to identify road maintenance required as a direct result of the applicant's vehicular traffic and to calculate the applicant's commensurate share of road maintenance. The information is also used to calculate collections for recovery of past Federal investments in roads when that method of sharing investment is appropriate. The information is only used by the Forest Service's local offices. It is not reported to or summarized at higher levels of the organization.
The identifying information collected on FS770040 is used on FS
770041Road Use Permit to identify the permittee and the routes
authorized for use. Road maintenance requirements, road use schedules,
and any necessary fees developed from the data submitted on FS770040
are also included in provisions of the 770041. A copy of the 770041 must be carried in commercial
[[Page 44816]]
vehicles authorized to use roads by the permit.
While no information over and above that collected on the FS7700
40 is collected on the FS770041, the FS770041 is also an OMB
approved form. The approval number is OMB 05960016 and expires January 31, 2010.
Estimate of Annual Burden: 15 minutes.
Type of Respondents: Commercial users of National Forest System roads.
Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 2,000.
Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 500 hours.
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 for Office of Management and Budget approval.
Dated: August 25, 2009.
Gloria Manning,
Associate Deputy Chief, NFS.
[FR Doc. E920918 Filed 82809; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 341011P
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Dan Hager, Engineering Staff, at 703- 6054612. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 18008778339 twentyfour hours a day, every day of the year, including holidays.