59718 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 196 / Wednesday, October 11, 2006 / Notices 

for debt instruments, loan agreements, 

and security, and other material 

necessary for prudent credit decisions 

and reasonable program monitoring. 

Description of Respondents: Not-forprofit institutions; Business or other forprofit. 

Number of Respondents: 202. 

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: 

On occasion. 

Total Burden Hours: 17,959. 

Charlene Parker, 

Departmental Information Collection 

Clearance Officer. 

[FR Doc. E6–16752 Filed 10–10–06; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–XT–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Farm Service Agency 

Finding of No Significant Impact 

AGENCY: Farm Service Agency, USDA. 

SUMMARY: The Farm Service Agency 

(FSA) is issuing a Finding of No 

Significant Impact (FONSI) consistent 

with the National Environmental Policy 

Act of 1969 with respect to the 

implementation of the following 

Disaster Assistance Programs: (1) 

Hurricane Indemnity Program, (2) Feed 

Indemnity Program, (3) Livestock 

Indemnity Program, (4) Tree Indemnity 

Program, and (5) Aquaculture Grant 

Program as well as (6) the 2006 

Livestock Assistance Grant Program. 

DATES: This action is effective 

November 13, 2006. 

ADDRESSES: The Final Programmatic 

Environmental Assessment and FONSI 

may be reviewed at http:// 

www.fsa.usda.gov/dafp/cepd/epb/ 

assessments.htm. Written comments 

should be directed to Mike Linsenbigler, 

USDA/FSA/CEPD/Stop 0513, 1400 

Independence Ave., SW., Washington, 

DC 20250–0513. Electronic comments 

may be submitted to 

Mike.Linsenbigler@wdc.usda.gov. 

Persons with disabilities who require 

alternative means for communication 

(Braille, large print, audio tape, etc.) 

should contact the USDA Target Center 

at (202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD). 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FSA 

prepared a Final Programmatic 

Environmental Assessment for disaster 

assistance programs supporting 

production loss and damage caused by 

damaging weather that occurred 

between 2005 and 2006. Consistent with 

the National Environmental Policy Act 

of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321, et 

seq.) (NEPA), the Council on 

Environmental Quality (CEQ) 

Regulations for Implementing the 

Procedural Provisions of NEPA (40 CFR 

parts 1500–1508), and FSA’s policy and 

procedures (7 CFR part 799), FSA is 

issuing a Finding of No Significant 

Impact (FONSI) with respect to the 

implementation of the Proposed Action 

under consideration here. These actions 

involve 2005–2006 disaster assistance 

programs that solely transfer funds to 

offset production and disaster related 

losses with no site-specific or grounddisturbing actions occurring as an 

immediate result of implementing these 

programs. These programs include the 

following Disaster Assistance Programs: 

(1) Hurricane Indemnity Program, (2) 

Feed Indemnity Program, (3) Livestock 

Indemnity Program, (4) Tree Indemnity 

Program, (5) Aquaculture Grant 

Program, and (6) the 2006 Livestock 

Assistance Grant Program. Because 

normal agricultural related production 

was hindered by the widespread and 

significant destruction caused by the 

2005 hurricanes and the severe droughts 

occurring from March 7, 2006, to August 

31, 2006, the Secretary is responding by 

utilizing the equivalent of 30 percent of 

annual customs revenues available 

under Section 32 to restore purchasing 

power to affected eligible producers. 

Current disaster programs operated by 

USDA and other Federal and State 

agencies do not fully cover the types of 

loss and destruction experienced by a 

majority of producers within the States 

affected by these hurricanes and 

drought. Without the immediate 

financial assistance provided by these 

programs, producers would face delays 

and experience additional financial 

hardships in their efforts to return their 

farming or livestock operations to predisaster or pre-drought levels. 

Under the Proposed Action 

Alternative, FSA would disburse up to 

$300 million either through direct 

payments to eligible producers or 

through grants administered by State 

agencies for the grant programs. In 

making direct payments, FSA does not 

require that payments be used for 

specific purposes. These programs 

solely provide payments to eligible 

producers for weather-related losses. 

The direct-payment programs are based 

on the producers documenting the type 

and amount of the weather-related loss. 

Determination: In consideration of the 

analysis documented in the Final 

Programmatic Environmental 

Assessment and the reasons outlined in 

this FONSI, the preferred alternative 

would not constitute a major State or 

Federal action that would significantly 

affect the human environment. In 

accordance with the National 

Environmental Policy Act regulations at 

40 CFR part 1502.4, ‘‘Major Federal 

actions requiring the preparation of 

Environmental Impact Statements,’’ and 

7 CFR Part 799, ‘‘Environmental Quality 

and Related Environmental Concerns—

Compliance with NEPA implementing 

the regulations of the Council on 

Environmental Quality,’’ and 40 CFR 

parts 1500–1508, I find that neither the 

proposed action nor any of the 

alternatives analyzed constitute a major 

Federal action significantly affecting the 

quality of the human environment. 

Therefore, no environmental impact 

statement will be prepared. 

Signed in Washington DC on October 2, 

2006. 

Glen L. Keppy, 

Acting Administrator, Farm Service Agency. 

[FR Doc. E6–16734 Filed 10–10–06; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–05–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Forest Service 

Notice of New Fees; Federal Lands 

Recreation Enhancement Act (Title VIII, 

Pub. L. 108–447) 

AGENCY: Chugach National Forest, 

USDA Forest Service. 

ACTION: Notice of new fees. 

SUMMARY: The Chugach National Forest 

will begin charging fees for a group 

campsite, cabins, individual campsites, 

and a backcountry permit for the 

Whistle Stop project area. Fees for other 

group campsites, cabins, and individual 

campsites on the Chugach National 

Forest have shown that the public 

values the availability of these facilities. 

In addition, market research conducted 

for the Whistle Stop project shows that 

people understand the need for 

backcountry permits given the remote 

nature of the area. Fees will be 

commensurate with the benefits and 

services provided. Funds received from 

the fees will be used for the continued 

operation and maintenance of the 

facilities and enhanced services of the 

area. 

DATES: Backcountry Permits will be 

available spring 2007 for the 2007 

Whistle Stop season. The group 

campsite, individual campsites, and 

cabins are expected to be available in 

2008. 

ADDRESSES: Forest Supervisor, Chugach 

National Forest, 3301 C Street, 

Anchorage, AK 9503. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Adam McClory, Whistle Stop Project 

Manager, 907–754–2352. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

Federal Recreation Lands Enhancement 


pwalker on PRODPC60 with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 196 / Wednesday, October 11, 2006 / Notices 59719 

Act (Title VII, Public Law 108–447) 

directed the Secretary of Agriculture to 

publish a six month advance notice in 

the Federal Register whenever new 

recreation fee areas are established. 

The Whistle Stop project is a 

partnership between the Forest Service 

and Alaska Railroad that will provide 

additional recreation opportunities 

using alternative transportation. This 

new service will allow the opportunity 

for visitors to access National Forest 

lands which were previously 

inaccessible to the majority of forest 

visitors. Market research demonstrates a 

demand for these sorts of recreation 

opportunities on the Kenai Peninsula. 

The Forest Service has identified a goal 

of achieving cost recovery through a 

combination of revenue sharing with the 

Alaska Railroad; fees from public-use 

cabin rentals and campsites; and fees 

obtained through backcountry permits. 

Implementation of backcountry 

permits, as described in the Record of 

Decision, will provide the Forest 

Service with the ability to accurately 

track recreation use and ensure that use 

levels and numbers of encounters are 

not exceeding thresholds established in 

the Forest Plan and Recreation 

Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) 

guidelines. Chugach National Forest 

goals include maintaining a backcountry 

social experience and protecting the 

natural and cultural resources 

throughout the area. Backcountry 

permits will be required for visitors 

utilizing the enhanced amenities 

provided through the Whistle Stop 

Project area. Amenities include a 

developed trail system, backcountry 

campsites, interpretive materials, and 

Whistle Stop stations that will include 

a shelter, restroom facilities and bearproof food storage containers. Issuance 

of the backcountry permit will allow for 

better public safety and result in 

improved visitor education and 

information about proper camping 

techniques, fir prevention, safety in bear 

country, and sanitation. Members of the 

public are welcome to comment. 

Dated: October 4, 2006. 

Joe Meade, 

Chugach National Forest Supervisor. 

[FR Doc. 06–8591 Filed 10–10–06; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–11–M 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

Submission for OMB Review; 

Comment Request 

DOC will submit to the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) for 

clearance the following proposal for 

collection of information under the 

provisions of the Paperwork Reduction 

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

Agency: U.S. Census Bureau. 

Title: American Community Survey, 

2007 Methods Panel. 

Form Number(s): ACS–1(2005), ACS–

1(X)Seq, ACS–1(X)Pro. 

Agency Approval Number: None. 

Type of Request: New collection. 

Burden: 46,000 hours. 

Number of Respondents: Postage 

Test—20,000; Grid vs. Sequential Test—

40,000; Degree Test Reinterview—

32,000. 

Avg. Hours per Response: 

Questionnaires—38 minutes; 

Reinterview—15 minutes. 

Needs and Uses: The U.S. Census 

Bureau requests authorization from the 

Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB) to conduct the American 

Community Survey 2007 Methods Panel 

tests. 

Given the rapid demographic changes 

experienced in recent years and the 

strong expectation that such changes 

will continue and accelerate, the oncea-decade data collection approach of a 

census is no longer acceptable as a 

source for the housing and socioeconomic data collected on the census 

long-form. To meet the needs and 

expectations of the country, the Census 

Bureau developed the American 

Community Survey (ACS). This survey 

collects detailed socioeconomic data 

every month and provides tabulations of 

these data on a yearly basis. The ACS 

allows the Census Bureau to provide 

more timely and relevant housing and 

socio-economic data while also 

reducing operational risks in the census 

by eliminating the long-form historically 

given to one in every six addresses. 

Full implementation of the ACS 

includes an annual sample of 

approximately three million residential 

addresses a year in the 50 states and the 

District of Columbia, and another 36,000 

addresses in Puerto Rico. A sample this 

large allows for annual production and 

release of single-year estimates for areas 

with a population of 65,000 or more. 

Lower levels of geography require 

aggregates of three and five years’ worth 

of data in order to produce estimates of 

comparable reliability to the census 

long-form. However, an ongoing data 

collection effort with an annual sample 

of this magnitude requires that the ACS 

continue to research possible methods 

for maintaining if not reducing data 

collection costs. If costs increase, the 

ACS would have to consider reductions 

in sample thus reducing the reliability 

of the data as compared to the reliability 

of the census long-form, especially at 

lower levels of geography. 

One of the tests included in the 2007 

Methods Panel addresses a method for 

potentially reducing data collection 

costs. In this test, we will implement the 

same mailing strategy as ACS 

production and send each sampled 

address a prenotice letter, an initial 

questionnaire (ACS–1(2005)) packet, 

and a reminder postcard and for those 

who haven’t responded by a certain 

date, we will send a second 

questionnaire packet. However, for this 

test we will send the prenotice letter 

using standard postage. Current ACS 

production procedures send all mail 

pieces using a first-class postage rate. 

Using standard postage rather than firstclass postage for this mail piece can 

potentially save the ACS approximately 

two hundred and thirty thousand 

dollars in data collection costs each 

year. The test will evaluate whether the 

use of standard mailing for the prenotice 

letter impacts mail response rates. 

A second test included in the 2007 

Methods Panel addresses another aspect 

of ACS data collection relative to the 

census. Both the ACS and the census 

collect a core set of basic demographic 

questions (age and date of birth, gender, 

relationship, Hispanic origin and race). 

However, the 2010 Census will use a 

different format (similar to the format 

for the 2000 Census) from the format 

used by the ACS for collecting this 

information on the mail questionnaire. 

The census format, referred to as a 

sequential person design, creates a 

column for each person that includes 

each question and associated response 

categories. The ACS format, referred to 

as the grid design, lists the names of all 

persons down the left side of the form, 

the questions across the top of the page, 

and the response categories fall in the 

‘cells’ created by crossing the person 

names by question. 

This second test will compare the 

sequential person (ACS–1(X)Seq) and 

grid (ACS–1(X)Pro) formats for 

collecting the basic demographic 

information to measure the impact on 

data quality, specifically unit and item 

non-response rates, response 

distributions, and within household 

coverage. The outcome of the test will 

determine whether the different formats 

might contribute to differences in the 

estimates for the basic demographic 

questions. If the format does influence 

how people respond to these basic 

demographic questions, the Census 

Bureau will decide whether the ACS 

should alter its format of the collection 

of these data items to more closely 

reflect the census style format prior to 

the 2010 Census. 

The 2007 Methods Panel may also 

include a third test contingent on the 


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