[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 208 (Monday, October 28, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 85492-85493]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-24996]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Significant Cave Nomination Application

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 is seeking comments from all interested individuals and 
organizations on the extension without change to a currently approved 
collection information collection, Significant Cave Nominations under 
the Federal Cave Resources Protection Act.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before December 27, 
2024 to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date 
will be considered to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: Comments concerning this notice should be addressed to 
Limaris Soto, Lands, Minerals, and Geology, 1617 Cole Boulevard, 
Building 17, Lakewood CO 80401. Comments also may be submitted via 
facsimile to 303-275-5122 or by email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#09656064687b607a277a667d66497c7a6d68276e667f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="fe9297939f8c978dd08d918a91be8b8d9a9fd0999188">[email protected]</span></a>.
    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 on the 
internet. Please note that responses to this public comment request 
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 inspect the draft supporting statement and/or 
comments received at 1617 Cole Boulevard, Building 17, Lakewood, CO 
80401, during normal business hours. Visitors are encouraged to call 
ahead to 720-827-8912 to facilitate entry to the building. The public 
may request an electronic copy of the draft supporting statement and/or 
any comments received be sent via return email. Requests should be 
emailed to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7b1712161a0912085508140f143b0e081f1a551c140d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="365a5f5b57445f451845594259764345525718515940">[email protected]</span></a>.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Limaris Soto, Lands, Minerals, and 
Geology, by phone at 720-827-8912 or email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#026e6b6f63706b712c716d766d42777166632c656d74"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="85e9ece8e4f7ecf6abf6eaf1eac5f0f6e1e4abe2eaf3">[email protected]</span></a>. 
Individuals who use telecommunications devices for the deaf and hard of 
hearing may call 711 to reach the Telecommunications Relay Service, 24 
hours a day, every day of the year, including holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Significant Cave Nomination Application.
    OMB Number: 0596-0244.
    Expiration Date of Approval: December 31, 2024.
    Type of Request: Extension without change to a currently approved 
collection.
    Abstract: The information covered in this request applies to caves 
on Federal lands administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
Forest Service. The Forest Service proposes to collect the information 
in this request in accordance with the Federal Cave Resources 
Protection Act (FCRPA) [Pub. L. 100-691, 107 Stat. 4546] and 
regulations at 36 CFR 290 (Cave Resources Management) which require the 
Secretary of Agriculture to identify and protect significant caves on 
National Forest System lands.
    The Forest Service must collect this information to comply with the 
FCRPA (16 U.S.C. 4301-4310) and its implementing regulations at 36 CFR 
290 that contain criteria for the identification of significant caves. 
The information collection is also responsive to requirements of the 36 
CFR part 290--Cave Management regulations that specify the process for 
nomination of significant caves and assessment of whether the listed 
criteria for a cave to be considered significant have been met. 36 CFR 
290.3(a) states that significant cave nominations will be accepted by 
the Forest Supervisor where the cave is located.
    The Forest Service uses the information in a cave nomination to 
determine if specified criteria are met for the nominated cave to be 
listed as significant in accordance with the FCRPA and regulations at 
36 CFR 290.3. The information is necessary for full compliance with 
agencies' responsibilities to identify and protect significant caves 
and their resources. Nominations are voluntary. The information 
collected in the Significant Cave Nomination Worksheet includes:
    <bullet> The name, address, and telephone number of the individual 
or organization submitting the nomination. This allows us to confirm 
the source of the information;
    <bullet> The name of the cave, which is necessary for the listing 
of caves and to ensure there are no duplications;
    <bullet> The location of the cave, which is essential for 
verification, management, and future planning purposes;
    <bullet> The name of the agency and the administrative unit, which 
is necessary to ensure that the application is forwarded to the 
appropriate agency office;
    <bullet> A discussion of how the cave meets the criteria, which is 
the key aspect of the nomination, and is used to determine whether the 
cave should be designated as significant;
    <bullet> Studies, maps, research papers, and other supporting 
documentation, which are important in the significance evaluation;
    <bullet> The name, address, and telephone number of the individual 
who is knowledgeable about the resources in the cave, which are 
necessary in case the information in the nomination is unclear or there 
is a need for additional information to complete the evaluation;
    <bullet> The date that the nomination is submitted, which is 
essential for tracking purposes; and
    <bullet> The signature and title of the individual submitting the 
nomination, which is necessary to confirm that it is an official 
nomination.
    The Forest Service collects the information from anyone who wishes 
to nominate a cave to be considered significant. Caves can be nominated 
by the public, Forest Service partners, other government agencies, and 
Forest Service staff. The information collected is used to determine 
whether a nominated cave meets specified criteria to be considered 
significant per the FCRPA and 36 CFR 290.
    Forest Service Manual 2880.43 states that the Forest Supervisor 
must ensure that all caves within their jurisdictions are evaluated in 
accordance with the FCRPA and 36 CFR 290 and make a determination of 
significant caves nominated for such designation. Under the FCRPA the 
Secretary shall request that the list of significant caves shall be 
updated periodically, after consultation with appropriate private 
sector interest, including cavers. If agencies did not collect cave 
nominations, they might not become aware of potentially significant 
caves' existence or might have insufficient information upon which to 
base a judgment as to their significance. As a result, it is likely 
that agencies would not be able to comply fully with their statutory 
responsibilities to identify and protect significant caves

[[Page 85493]]

and their resources. The information is collected on occasion, which is 
the minimum frequency necessary to comply with the statute.
    Affected Public: Individuals and Households.
    Estimate of Burden per Response: 11 hours.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 10.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 110.

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

Christopher French,
Deputy Chief for National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2024-24996 Filed 10-25-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P


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