This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains documents other than rules or

proposed rules that are applicable to the

public. Notices of hearings and investigations,

committee meetings, agency decisions and

rulings, delegations of authority, filing of

petitions and applications and agency

statements of organization and functions are

examples of documents appearing in this

section.

Notices Federal Register

85488 

Vol. 89, No. 208 

Monday, October 28, 2024 

1 Kessler C., Bryant A., Munkacsy K., and Gray K. 

(2024). National- and State-Level Estimates of the 

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for 

Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Eligibility and 

WIC Program Reach in 2022. Prepared by Insight 

Policy Research, Contract No. 12319819A0005. 

Alexandria, VA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

Food and Nutrition Service, Office of Policy 

Support, Project Officer: Grant Lovellette. Available 

online at: www.fns.usda.gov/research-analysis. 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Food and Nutrition Service 

Agency Information Collection 

Activities: WIC & FMNP Outreach, 

Innovation, and Modernization 

Evaluation 

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service 

(FNS), Department of Agriculture 

(USDA). 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 

notice invites the general public and 

other public agencies to comment on 

this proposed information collection. 

This collection is a new collection. The 

purpose of this information collection is 

to provide information on the 

implementation and effectiveness of 

modernization projects across all 88 

Special Supplemental Nutrition 

Program for Women, Infants, and 

Children (WIC) State agencies to help 

identify successes, opportunities for 

improvement, and areas for additional 

support from FNS to strengthen project 

implementation. 

DATES: Written comments must be 

received on or before December 27, 

2024. 

ADDRESSES: Comments may be emailed 

to Carol.Dreibelbis@usda.gov. 

Comments will also be accepted through 

the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to 

http://www.regulations.gov, and follow 

the online instructions for submitting 

comments electronically. 

All responses to this notice will be 

summarized and included in the request 

for Office of Management and Budget 

approval. All comments will be a matter 

of public record. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Requests for additional information or 

requests for copies of this information 

collection should be directed to Carol 

Dreibelbis at Carol.Dreibelbis@usda.gov 

or 703–305–2161. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 

(ARPA), which was signed into law in 

March 2021, provided USDA with $390 

million and waiver authority for 

outreach, innovation, and program 

modernization in WIC and the WIC 

Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program 

(FMNP). FNS is interested in 

understanding the implementation and 

outcomes related to these modernization 

efforts. 

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether 

the proposed collection of information 

is necessary for the proper performance 

of the functions of the agency, including 

whether the information shall have 

practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the 

agency’s estimate of the burden of the 

proposed collection of information, 

including the validity of the 

methodology and assumptions that were 

used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 

utility, and clarity of the information to 

be collected; and (d) ways to minimize 

the burden of the collection of 

information on those who are to 

respond, including use of appropriate 

automated, electronic, mechanical, or 

other technological collection 

techniques or other forms of information 

technology. 

Title: WIC & FMNP Outreach, 

Innovation, and Modernization 

Evaluation. 

Form Number: N/A. 

OMB Number: 0584–NEW. 

Expiration Date: Not Yet Determined. 

Type of Request: New collection. 

Abstract: The Special Supplemental 

Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, 

and Children (WIC) provides 

supplemental food, nutrition education, 

and referrals to health and social 

services to pregnant and postpartum 

women, infants, and children up to age 

5 who are living in households with low 

incomes and are at nutritional risk. The 

WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program 

(FMNP) provides eligible WIC 

participants with FMNP benefits, in 

addition to their regular WIC benefits, 

which can be used to buy eligible foods 

from farmers, farmers’ markets, or 

roadside stands that have been 

approved by the WIC State agency. 

While the benefits of participating in 

WIC have been well documented, WIC 

continues to reach only about half of 

those eligible to participate.1 WIC has 

relied on a traditional service delivery 

model that includes potentially 

challenging requirements for 

participants—such as regular in-persononly appointments to determine 

eligibility and to continue receiving 

services; limited or no online or digital 

services; and in-person shopping only. 

In an effort to improve service delivery 

and permanently modernize WIC, the 

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 

2021 provided FNS with $390 million 

and waiver authority to support WIC 

modernization. Under ARPA, FNS 

supports WIC modernization efforts by 

providing grants to all State agencies, 

offering waivers that support 

modernization efforts, collaborating 

with partners via cooperative 

agreements and contracts, and 

conducting projects. WIC modernization 

efforts seek to improve the WIC 

participant experience, reduce 

disparities in WIC service delivery, and 

increase WIC participation and 

retention. 

The WIC & FMNP Outreach, 

Innovation, and Modernization 

Evaluation (WIC modernization 

evaluation) will help FNS understand 

the implementation and impacts of 

ARPA-funded projects and waivers to 

inform current and future 

modernization efforts. The WIC 

modernization evaluation has three 

components: an implementation study, 

a waiver study, and an impact study. 

The implementation study will provide 

a comprehensive understanding of 

project implementation while 

accommodating variations in the timing 

of projects within different program 

areas, implementation within and 

between State agencies, and innovative 

approaches. The implementation study 

component will collect a broad range of 

data from WIC State agencies, local 

agencies, clinics, vendors and 

authorized outlets (including farmers, 

farmers’ markets, and roadside stands), 

and WIC participants. These data will 

provide current and ongoing 

information about modernization efforts 

in all 88 WIC State agencies. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 208 / Monday, October 28, 2024 / Notices 85489 

The waiver study component will 

provide an understanding of waiver 

issuance and how State agencies used 

waivers. The waiver study will rely on 

many of the same data sources as the 

implementation study, especially the 

interviews with WIC State agencies. The 

study will also collect information on 

whether and how unique waivers were 

implemented by WIC State agencies to 

conduct the modernization projects. 

The impact study component of the 

evaluation will measure the impact of 

the WIC and FMNP modernization 

projects on participants through key 

short-term and intermediate-term 

outcome measures, including 

enrollment, participation, retention, 

benefit redemption, participant 

experience (e.g., satisfaction), and 

disparities in program delivery. It will 

address whether the modernization 

projects improved these key outcome 

measures and how changes in these 

outcomes were related to the number 

and type of modernization projects. 

While most outcomes will be measured 

with administrative data (collected 

under existing projects), the impact 

study will also use surveys to learn 

about the experiences and satisfaction of 

WIC program staff, vendor/authorized 

outlet staff, and participants with the 

changes to the WIC program because of 

the modernization activities. In 

addition, the impact study will rely on 

information from the implementation 

and waiver studies regarding where and 

when projects and waivers were 

implemented. 

Affected Public: Identified respondent 

groups include the following: 

1. State, local, and tribal governments: 

WIC State agency staff in all 88 State 

agencies and local agency and clinic 

staff in every State agency jurisdiction. 

2. Business (profit, non-profit, or 

farm) respondents: WIC and FMNP 

vendors and authorized outlet staff in 

every State agency jurisdiction. 

3. Individual/household respondents: 

WIC participants in every State agency 

jurisdiction. 

Estimated Number of Respondents: 

The total estimated number of 

respondents is 186,608. Of the 186,608 

respondents to be contacted, 24,564 are 

expected to be responsive and 162,044 

are expected to be nonresponsive. The 

breakout is as follows: 

1. 5,938 State, local, and tribal 

government staff: Of the 132 State 

agency staff contacted for an interview, 

132 are expected to be responsive. Of 

the 222 local agency and clinic staff 

contacted for a case study interview, 

160 are expected to be responsive. Of 

the 5,200 State agency, local agency, 

and clinic staff contacted for a survey, 

4,160 are expected to be responsive. Of 

the 88 State agency staff invited for a 

webinar, 88 are expected to be 

responsive. Of the 176 State agency staff 

invited for a data collection planning 

meeting, 176 are expected to be 

responsive. Of the 88 State agency staff 

asked to support data collection, 88 are 

expected to be responsive. Of the 32 

local agency staff invited for a data 

collection planning meeting and 

support data collection, 32 are expected 

to be responsive. 

2. 4,200 business respondents: Of the 

100 WIC vendor/outlet staff contacted 

for a case study interview, 68 are 

expected to be responsive. Of the 4,100 

WIC vendor/outlet staff contacted for a 

survey, 3,280 are expected to be 

responsive. 

3. 176,470 individual respondents: Of 

the 920 WIC participants contacted for 

a case study focus group, 580 are 

expected to be responsive. Of the 

175,550 WIC participants contacted for 

a survey, 15,800 are expected to be 

responsive. 

Estimated Number of Responses per 

Respondent: 9.2 across the entire 

collection, including respondents who 

receive communications but do not 

provide data for the study. The breakout 

is as follows: 

1. State agency staff: 6.3 responses per 

respondent. 132 State agency staff will 

be asked to complete a virtual interview 

(each year, for three years) and 1,300 

State agency staff will be asked to 

complete a survey. Prior to data 

collection, they will receive advanced 

communications about the study. 88 

State agency staff will be invited to 

attend a webinar. 176 State agency staff 

will be invited to attend a planning 

meeting. 88 State agency staff will be 

asked to support data collection. 

2. Local agency and clinic staff: 6.6 

responses per respondent. 222 local 

agency and clinic staff will be asked to 

complete an in-person interview and 

3,900 will be asked to complete a 

survey. Prior to data collection, they 

will receive advanced communications 

about the study. 32 local agency staff 

will be asked to attend a planning 

meeting and support data collection. 

3. WIC vendor/outlet staff: 10.8 

responses per respondent. 100 vendor/ 

outlet staff will be asked to complete an 

in-person case study interview and 

4,100 will be asked to complete a 

survey. Prior to data collection, they 

will receive advanced communications 

about the study. 

4. Individual respondents: 9.3 

responses per respondent. 920 WIC 

participants will be asked to participate 

in a case study focus group and 175,550 

will be asked to complete a survey. Prior 

to data collection, they will receive 

advanced communications about the 

study. 

Estimated Total Annual Responses: 

Including respondents who receive 

communications but do not provide 

data for the study, there are an 

estimated 1,717,385 total responses and 

572,462 annual responses. This is an 

estimated annual average, as data 

collection activities will take place over 

the course of three years: 2025, 2026, 

and 2027. 

Estimated Time per Response: The 

estimated time of responses varies from 

1 minute (0.0167 hours) for receipt of a 

text or email to 3.0167 hours for local 

agency staff planning and supporting 

data collection for case studies. 

Including respondents who receive 

communications but do not provide 

data for the study, the estimated average 

response time is about 1.2 minutes (0.02 

hours). 

Estimated Total Annual Burden on 

Respondents: Including burden on 

respondents who receive 

communications but do not provide 

data for the study, there is an estimated 

32,108 hours of total burden and 10,703 

hours of annual burden on respondents. 

This is an estimated annual average, as 

data collection activities will take place 

over the course of three years: 2025, 

2026, and 2027. Please see the table 

below for estimated total annual burden 

for each type of respondent. 

BILLING CODE 3410–30–P 


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EN28OC24.006</GPH>lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1

Total Number of Frequency 

Respondent Type of Sample Number of Frequency Total Hours per burden Non• of 

Category respondents Instruments Appendix Size respondents of response responses response (hours) respondents response 

WI C Participant Gase Study Focus Group Recruitment Email from Appendix N.2 State/Local Agency 920 920 I 920 0.0167 15 0 0 WI C Participant Gase Study Focus Group Scheduling Email Append0< N.3 920 644 1 644 0.0167 11 276 1 WI C Participant Gase Study Focus Group Confinnation Email AppendD< N.5 644 644 1 644 0.0167 11 0 0 

WIC WI C Participant Gase Study Focus Group Confinnation Text Append0< N.6 644 644 1 644 0.0167 11 0 0 

participants 

participating in WI C Participant Case Study Focus Group Reminder Email Appendix N. 7 644 644 I 644 0.0167 11 0 0 

case study WI C Participant Gase Study Focus Group Reminder Text Appendix N.8 644 644 1 644 0.0167 11 0 0 

locus groups WI C Participant Gase Study Focus Group Guide Appendix F.4 644 580 1 580 1.5000 870 64 1 

WIC Participant Gase Study Focus Group Thank You Bnail Append"' N.9 580 580 1 580 0.0167 10 0 0 WIC Participant Gase Study Focus Group Thank You Text Appendix N.10 580 580 1 580 0.0167 10 0 0 WI C Participant Gase Study Focus Group Recruitment Flyer Appendix N. t t,600 1,600 I 1,600 0.0167 27 0 0 

Individual/ WI C Participant Experience Survey Recruitment Email from WIC Appendix T.2 Household State Agency 175,550 175,550 1 175,550 0.0167 2,932 0 0 

WIC Participant Experience Survey lnvitaion Email from WIC Stats AppendixT.3 Agency 175,550 175,550 1 175,550 0.0167 2,932 0 0 WI C Participant Experience Survey lnvitaion Text AppendixT.4 175,550 175,550 1 175,550 0.0167 2,932 0 0 

\VIC WI C Participant Experience Survey Reminder Email Append0< T.5 175,550 175,550 2 351,100 0.0167 5,863 0 0 

participants WIC Participant Experience Survey Reminder Text Appendix T.6 175,550 175,550 2 351,IOO 0.0167 5,863 0 0 

participating in 

experience WI C Participant Experience Survey Reminder Phone Call Append"' T.5 175,550 8,778 1 8,778 0.0334 293 0 0 

surveys WI C Participant Experience Survey Reminder Postcard Appendix T.5 175,550 5,267 1 5,267 0.0167 88 0 0 

WI C Participant Experience Survey AppendixQ 175,550 15,800 1 15,800 0.1670 2,639 159,750 1 WI C Participant Experience Survey Thank You Email Appendix T.7 15,800 15,800 1 15,800 0.0167 264 0 0 WIC Participant Experience Survey Thank You Text Appendix T.8 15,800 15,800 I 15,800 0.0167 264 0 0 

St11dv for VIIC Partir,inani. Annandix N.4 175550 175,550 I 175.550 0.0167 2,932 0 0 

'.ln!ff~ldu~tlflouaeho)II SUb-'l'otai . • .. : •. /,::'!i_'{//'.- 'f,•;',/;'i/ii:')2{,•;i; , . ., .... ;;;;(t\11.~': Y}hit;,..,i e .,;:. ''~il\£ij\r.: ' :;,: ;t;;o:oc 

WI C & FMNP Vendor/Outlet Staff Case Study lnlerview AppendixM.1 Recruitment Email from State or Local Agency 100 100 1 100 0.0167 2 0 0 WI C & FMNP Vendor/Outlet Staff Case Study lnlerview Appendix M.2 Recruitment Email from the Mathematica Study Team 100 75 1 75 0.0167 1 25 1 WI C & FMNP Vendor/Outlet Staff Case Study lnlerview AppendixM.4 Confirmation Email 75 75 I 75 0.0167 1 0 0 

WIC & FMNP WI C & FMNP Vendor/Outlet Staff Case Study lnlerview Appendix M.5 vendor/outlet Confirmation Text 75 75 I 75 0.0167 1 0 0 

staff WI C & FMNP Vendor/Outlet Staff Case Study lnlerview Reminder participating in Email Appendix M.6 75 75 1 75 0.0167 1 0 0 

case study WI C & FMNP Vendor/Outlet Staff Case Study lnlerview Reminder interviews Text Appendix M. 7 75 75 1 75 0.0167 1 0 0 

WI C & FMNP Vendor/Outlet Staff Case Study lnlerview Protocol Append0< F.2 75 68 1 68 1.0000 68 7 7 WI C & FMNP Vendor/Outlet Staff Case Study lnlerview Thank You Appendix M.8 Email 68 68 1 68 0.0167 1 0 0 

Business WI C & FMNP Vendor/Outlet Staff Case Study lnlerview Thank You (Profit, Non- Appendix M.9 

Profit, or Text 68 68 1 68 0.0167 1 0 0 

Farm) WI C & FMNP Vendor/Outlet Staff Experience Survey Recruitment Appendix S.2 Email from WIC Stats Agency 4,100 4,100 I 4,100 0.0167 68 0 0 

WI C & FMNP Vendor/Outlet Staff Experience Survey Invitation Appendix S.3 Email from the Mathematica Study lean 4,100 4,100 1 4,100 0.0167 68 0 0 WIC & FMNP Vendor/Outlet Stal Experience Survey Invitation Text Appendix S.4 4,100 4,100 I 4,100 0.0167 68 0 0 

WIC & FMNP WI C & FMNP Vendor/Outlet Stal Experience Survey Reminder Appendix S.5 vendor/outlet Email 4,100 4,100 2 8,200 0.0167 137 0 0 

staff WI C & FMNP Vendor/Outlet Stal Experience Survey Reminder Appendix S.6 participating In Text 4,100 4,100 2 8,200 0.0167 137 0 0 

experience WI C & FMNP Vendor/Outlet Stal Experience Survey Reminder surveys Phone Gall Appendix S.5 4,100 1,230 1 1,230 0.0334 41 0 0 

WI C & FMNP Vendor/Outlet Stal Experience Survey Appendix P 4,100 3,280 1 3,280 0.1670 548 820 1 WI C & FMNP Vendor/Outlet Staff Experience Survey Thank You Appendix S.7 Email 3,280 3,280 1 3,280 0.0167 55 0 0 WI C & FMNP Vendor/Outlet Staff Experience Survey Thank You Appendix S.8 Text 3,280 3,280 1 3,280 0.0167 55 0 0 

EN28OC24.007</GPH>lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1

Respondent I Type of 

Category respondents I Instruments 

Study Descnption for WIC & FMNP Vendors/Outlets 

'$41irie$9:(Ptofil,Non•l?'roli~ qr Farm} $4~-r~llii\ ?dt 

State, Local, 

or Tribal 

Government 

VIIClocal 

agency/clinic 

staff 

participating in 

case study 

interviews 

VIIClocal 

agency/cllnlc 

staff 

participating in 

experience 

surveys 

WIC State 

agency staff 

participating in 

interviews 

WIG State 

agency staff 

participating in 

experience 

surveys 

WICState 

agency staff 

coordinating 

WIC Local Agency Case Study Recruibnent Emal from State 

Agency 

WIC Local Agency Case Study Planning Call Recruibnent Email 

from the Mathematica Study Team and Planning Call 

WIC Local Agency Staff Case Study lnrerview Scheduling Email WIC Local Agency Staff Case Study lnrerview Reminder Email WIC Local Agency Staff Case Study lnrerview Protocol WIC Local Agency Staff Case Study lnrerview Thank You Email 

Study Descnption for WIC Local Agencies 

WIC Program Staff Experience Survey Invitation Email from 1he 

Mathematica Study Team 

WIC Program Staff Experience Survey Reminder Email WIC Program Staff Experience Survey WIC Program Staff Experience Survey Thank You Emal WIC State Agency Study Recruitment Email from the Mathematica 

Study Team and Planning Call 

WIC State Agency Staff Interview Scheduling Email and 

Prep_aration Time 

WIG State Agency Staff Interview Reminder Email WIG State Agency Staff Interview Protocol WIC State Agency Staff Interview Thank You Email and Follow-up 

Questions Study Descnption for WIC Stale Agencies 

WIG Program Staff Experience Survey Invitation Email from 1he 

Mathematica Study Team 

WIG Pmgram Staff Experience Survey Reminder Email WIG Program Staff Experience Survey WIC Program Staff Experience Survey Thank You Email 

Mathematica Study Team Request to WIC State Agencies for WIC 

Program Staff Contact List for Experience Survey 

Mathematica Study Team Request to WIC State Agencies for WIC 

Participant Contact List for Experience Survey 

Mathematica Study Team Request to WIC State agencies for WIC 

Sample 

Appendix Size 

Appendix M.3 4,100 

''<<l i1M,~M; 

Appendix L.1 32 

Appendix L.2 32 

Appendix L.3 222 Appendixl.5 178 

Appendli< F.3 178 

Appendix L.6 160 

Appendli<L.4 32 

Appendix R.2 3,900 Appendix R.3 3,900 

AppendixO 3,900 

Appendix R.4 3,120 

Appendix K.1 176 Appendix K.2 132 

Appendix K.3 132 

AppendixF.1 132 

Appendix K.4 132 

Appendix J 176 

Appendix R.2 1,300 

Appendix R.3 1,300 

AppendixO 1,300 

Appendix R.4 1,040 

Appendix R.1 88 Appendix T.1 88 

Number of 

4,100 

·~ 

32 32 

178 178 160 160 

32 

3,900 3,900 3,120 3,120 

176 132 

132 132 

132 

176 

1,300 1,300 

1,040 

1,040 

88 88 

Frequency 

of 

1 

t~;,~ 

Total 

Total I Hours per I burden 

4,100 0.0167 68 

Number of I Frequency Non• of 

0 0 

'·\~~•:rt::;>; ~1!2,?1-/f: }:tb1A~•fh>/ :-<~:r:::,;;: ;.#,,;g

32 0.0167 0.5344 32 3.0167 96.5344 

178 0.0167 2.9726 44 178 0.0167 2.9726 

160 1.0000 160.0000 18 

160 0.0167 2.6720 

32 0.0167 0.5344 

3900 0.0167 65.1300 

15600 0.0167 260.5200 

3120 0.1670 521.0400 780 3120 0.0167 52.1040 

176 0.5167 90.9392 

396 0.2667 105.6132 

398 0.0167 6.6132 396 1.0000 396.0000 

396 0.2667 105.6132 

176 0.0167 2.9392 

1300 0.0167 21.7100 

5200 0.0167 86.8400 

1040 0.1670 173.6800 260 1040 0.0167 17.3680 

88 2.0000 176.0000 88 2.0000 176.0000 

logistics Appendix S.1 &FMNPvendor/ouHetstafcontactlistfaexperiencesurvey •• 88 88 2.0000 176.0000 I '"'t-'vc:s••u•.11.-,.• I 88 I AA I 11 AA I ?nMn I 17Annnn I n 

Appendix I 88 I 88 I 1 I 88 88 I 0.0167 I 1.4696 I o 

WIC State Agency Webinarlnvitalion Email and Webinar 88 88 1 88 1.0167 89.4696 O O 

• $late, L11c.1, or T~1ia1 G~vernmentSup,T!ltal • Fi ,,. : ; 1/:Y ';. ';_>,f 'L ,&tiff: j/(jl;a)&. > 'Jilt {'.f')';;/'.31.~t' .\ ;ftf~:; t ,:J;~t ; .';'' {;;.:; ,t,ttf ;,;y. ;.:.11. 

COMBINED TOTAL 186,608 24,564 8.33 1,555,341 0.021164 32,102 162,1144 1.00 
85492 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 208 / Monday, October 28, 2024 / Notices 

Tameka Owens, 

Acting Administrator and Assistant 

Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service. 

[FR Doc. 2024–25008 Filed 10–25–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–30–C 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Forest Service 

Information Collection; Significant 

Cave Nomination Application 

AGENCY: Forest Service, Agriculture 

(USDA). 

ACTION: Notice; request for comment. 

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 limaris.soto@

usda.gov. 

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 

limaris.soto@usda.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Limaris Soto, Lands, Minerals, and 

Geology, by phone at 720–827–8912 or 

email to limaris.soto@usda.gov. 

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: 

• The name, address, and telephone 

number of the individual or 

organization submitting the nomination. 

This allows us to confirm the source of 

the information; 

• The name of the cave, which is 

necessary for the listing of caves and to 

ensure there are no duplications; 

• The location of the cave, which is 

essential for verification, management, 

and future planning purposes; 

• The name of the agency and the 

administrative unit, which is necessary 

to ensure that the application is 

forwarded to the appropriate agency 

office; 

• 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; 

• Studies, maps, research papers, and 

other supporting documentation, which 

are important in the significance 

evaluation; 

• 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; 

• The date that the nomination is 

submitted, which is essential for 

tracking purposes; and 

• 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 


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