Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 26 / Monday, February 9, 2004 / Notices 5947

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service 

Information Collection; Request for 

Comments; Timber Purchasers’ Costs 

and Sales Data

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 

Forest Service announces its intention 

to extend an information collection. The 

collected information will help the 

Forest Service facilitate the appraisal 

and sale of timber. Information will be 

collected from purchasers of timber 

from National Forest System lands. This 

information is used to assist the Forest 

Service in updating the selling values 

and costs for the appraisal system.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be 

received in writing on or before April 9, 

2004.

ADDRESSES: Comments concerning this 

notice should be sent via the U.S. Postal 

Service to Director, Forest and 

Rangeland Management, MAIL STOP 

1105, Forest Service, USDA, 1400 

Independence Avenue SW., 

Washington, DC 20250–1105. 

Comments also may be submitted via 

facsimile to (202) 205–1045 or e-mail to 

rbaumback@fs.fed.us.

The public may inspect comments 

received in the Office of the Director of 

Forest and Rangeland Management, 

Third Floor, Northwest Wing, Yates 

Building, 201 14th Street SW., 

Washington, DC. Visitors are 

encouraged to call ahead to (202) 205–

0893 to facilitate entry into the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rex 

Baumback, Timber Sale Contract 

Administration Specialist, Forest 

Management at (202) 205–0855.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background 

Timber and other forest products on 

national forest lands are sold for the 

purpose of achieving the policies set 

forth in the Multiple-Use Sustained 

Yield Act of 1960, and the Forest 

Rangeland Renewable Resources 

Planning Act of 1974. Timber must not 

be sold for less than the advertised price 

pursuant to Public Law 94–588. This 

statutory language also requires the 

Forest Service not to sell timber below 

a minimum stumpage rate established 

by the Chief. This minimum value 

provides a way for the Forest Service to 

ensure that timber sales recover at least 

some of the variable costs associated 

with preparing and administering a 

timber sale. 

Forest Service timber appraisals 

develop advertised prices using a 

transaction evidence or residual value 

form of appraisal. Transaction evidence 

appraisals begin with an average of past 

successful bids for timber on the stump 

adjusted to the timber sale and market 

conditions of the sale being appraised. 

Residual value appraisals subtract 

operating costs from the value of 

products sold. 

The following costs and values are 

needed for the transaction evidence and 

residual value appraisal systems in the 

Forest Service: (1) Product value, (2) 

manufacturing cost, (3) falling and 

bucking, (4) skidding and loading, and 

(5) hauling. These costs can be provided 

by mail from purchasers, subject to 

verification. 

The Forest Service collects product 

value and cost data from its timber 

purchasers to develop average value and 

cost information for appraisals. In many 

areas, lumber product values are 

purchased from the Western Wood 

Products Association. These average 

costs help appraisers estimate fair 

market value and develop advertised 

prices for national forest timber. Timber 

purchasers furnish cost and product 

value data in accordance with standard 

timber sale contract Forms FS–2400–6 

and FS–2400–6T. These standard timber 

sale contracts contain the following 

standard contract provision:

B(T)6.9 Records. Upon request, Purchaser 

shall provide access to appropriate annual 

records in Purchaser’s books and accounts to 

enable Forest Service to obtain and analyze 

accurate operating costs and selling price 

data for appropriate use in appraising Federal 

timber. However, upon receiving such a 

request from Contracting Officer, Purchaser 

may make written notice that such data shall 

be provided through an independent certified 

public accountant approved by Contracting 

Officer. Purchaser agrees that the certified 

public accountant shall do such work in 

accordance with specifications provided by 

Contracting Officer. Purchaser shall pay cost 

of such services. Data so provided shall be 

subject to acceptance by Forest Service and 

subject to review and adjustment, where 

needed, by Forest Service. 

Operating cost and selling price data shall 

include that applicable for appraising timber 

obtained from Federal sources in or 

processed in the Region. Purchaser shall 

provide access to such data on behalf of 

subsidiary entities owned or controlled by 

Purchaser to the extent they participate in 

harvesting, manufacturing, or marketing said 

timber into products recognized in National 

Forest timber appraisals in the area. To a like 

extent, Purchaser shall request in writing 

Purchaser’s contractors and subcontractors to 

make such data available to Forest Service. 

Information so obtained shall be treated as 

confidential, as provided in regulations 

issued by the Secretary of Agriculture (7 CFR 

1.12), and shall be available for review by 

parties from whom such data are obtained.

This standard contract provision was 

developed in consultation with timber 

industry groups, including but not 

limited to: Western Wood Products 

Association, National Forest Products 

Association, Western Forest Industries 

Association, and Industrial Forestry 

Association. Cost data are used towards 

the development of advertised rates for 

the sale of National Forest timber. Cost 

information is used by State and other 

agencies in their appraisals. Timber 

purchasers also rely upon cost 

collections to help them independently 

appraise the value of Federal timber and 

to estimate the cost of subcontracting 

certain aspects of harvesting Federal 

timber. 

The Contracting Officer requests data 

from the timber sale purchasers; the 

Regional Office Forest Management 

Staff will analyyze the data. 

Description of Information Collection 

The following describes the 

information collection to be extended: 

Title: Timber Purchasers’ Costs and 

Sales Data. 

OMB Number: 0596–0017. 

Expiration Date of Approval: April 30, 

2004. 

Type of Request: Extension. 

Abstract: Contracting Officers will 

collect and the Regional Office Forest 

Management Staff will evaluate the cost 

data, as provided by timber sale 

purchasers. Such data will remain 

confidential between the Forest Service 

and the timber sale purchaser who 

provided the information. Cost data are 

collected in several formats ranging 

from paper to electronic media. Some 

firms mail cost data to Regional Offices, 

others provide table space and copying 

facilities, still others provide on site 

access to electronic data. Data gathered 

in this information collection are not 

available from other sources. 

Estimate of Annual Burden: 1 hour. 

Type of Respondents: Timber sale 

purchasers. 

Estimated Annual Number of 

Respondents: 20. 

Estimated Annual Number of 

Responses per Respondent: 1. 

Estimated Total Annual Burden on 

Respondents: 20 hours. 

Comment is Invited: Comment is 

invited on: (a) Whether the proposed 

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; (b) the accuracy of the 

agency’s estimate of the burden of the 

proposed collection of information, 

5948 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 26 / Monday, February 9, 2004 / Notices 

including the validity of the 

methodology and assumptions used; (c) 

ways to enhance the quality, utility, and 

clairity of the information to be 

collected; and (d) 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. 

Use of Comments 

All comments received in response to 

this notice, including names and 

addresses when provided, will become 

a matter of public record and will be 

available for public inspection and 

copying. Comments will be summarized 

and included in the request for Office of 

Management and Budget approval.

Dated: January 8, 2004. 

Gloria Manning, 

Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest 

System.

[FR Doc. 04–2664 Filed 2–6–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–11–P

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service 

Deschutes Provincial Advisory 

Committee (DPAC)

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

SUMMARY: The Deschutes Provincial 

Advisory Committee will meet on 

February 26, 2004, starting at 8 a.m. at 

the Redmond New Historic Hotel 

Conference Room on 521 S. 6th Street, 

Redmond, Oregon. Agenda items will 

include an open public forum from 9:15 

a.m. till 9:45 a.m., Review of standing 

subcommittees, and the remaining time 

will be spent identifying present and 

future PAC representation needs. All 

Deschutes Province Advisory 

Committee meetings are open to the 

public.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Chris Mickle, Province Liaison, 

Deschutes NF, Crescent Rd., P.O. Box 

208, Crescent, OR, 97754, phone (541) 

433–3216.

Dated: February 2, 2004. 

Leslie A.C. Weldon, 

Deschutes National Forest Supervisor.

[FR Doc. 04–2674 Filed 2–6–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–11–M

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service 

Siskiyou County Resource Advisory 

Committee

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

SUMMARY: The Siskiyou County 

Resource Advisory Committee will meet 

in Yreka, California, February 16, 2004. 

The meeting will include routine 

business, a discussion of larger scale 

projects, and the review and 

recommendation for implementation of 

submitted project proposals.

DATES: The meeting will be held 

February 16, 2004, from 4 p.m. until 7 

p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at 

the Yreka High School Library, Preece 

Way, Yreka, California.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Don 

Hall, RAC Coordinator, Klamath 

National Forest, (530) 841–4468 or 

electronically at donaldhall@fs.fed.us.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

meeting is open to the public. Public 

comment opportunity will be provided 

and individuals will have the 

opportunity to address the Committee at 

that time.

Dated: February 3, 2004. 

Margaret J. Boland, 

Designated Federal Official.

[FR Doc. 04–2673 Filed 2–6–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–11–M

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Submission for OMB Review; 

Comment Request 

The Department of Commerce (DOC) 

has submitted to the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) for 

clearance the following proposal for 

collection of information under 

provisions of the Paperwork Reduction 

Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35). 

Agency: Bureau of Export 

Administration (BXA). 

Title: Short Supply Regulations—

Unprocessed Western Red Cedar. 

Agency Form Number: None. 

OMB Approval Number: 0694–0025. 

Type of Request: Extension of a 

currently approved collection of 

information. 

Burden: 35 hours. 

Average Time Per Response: 60 

minutes per response. 

Number of Respondents: 35 

respondents. 

Needs and Uses: The information is 

collected as supporting documentation 

for license applications to export 

western red cedar logs to enforce the 

Export Administration Act’s prohibition 

against the export of such logs from 

State or Federal lands. 

Affected Public: Individuals, 

businesses or other for-profit 

institutions. 

Respondent’s Obligation: Required to 

obtain or retain a benefit. 

OMB Desk Officer: David Rostker. 

Copies of the above information 

collection proposal can be obtained by 

calling or writing Diana Hynek, DOC 

Paperwork Clearance Officer, (202) 482–

0266, Department of Commerce, Room 

6625, 14th and Constitution Avenue, 

NW., Washington, DC 20230 or via 

Internet at dhynek@doc.gov.

Written comments and 

recommendations for the proposed 

information collection should be sent 

within 30 days of publication of this 

notice to David Rostker, OMB Desk 

Officer, Room 10202, New Executive 

Office Building, Washington, DC 20230.

Dated: February 3, 2004. 

Madeleine Clayton, 

Management Analyst, Office of the Chief 

Information Officer.

[FR Doc. 04–2648 Filed 2–6–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–33–P

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Submission for OMB Review; 

Comment Request 

The Department of Commerce (DOC) 

has submitted to the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) for 

clearance the following proposal for 

collection of information under 

provisions of the Paperwork Reduction 

Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35). 

Agency: Bureau of Industry and 

Security (BIS). 

Title: Request For Special Priorities 

Assistance. 

Agency Form Number: BIS–999. 

OMB Approval Number: 0694–0057. 

Type of Request: Extension of a 

currently approved collection of 

information. 

Burden: 600 hours. 

Average Time Per Response: 30 

minutes per response. 

Number of Respondents: 1,200 

respondents. 

Needs and Uses: The information 

collected on BIS–999 from defense 

contractors and suppliers, is required 

for the enforcement and administration 

of the Defense production Act and the 

Selective Service Act to provide Special 

Priorities Assistance under the Defense 

Priorities and Allocation System 

Regulations.