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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 230 (Friday, November 29, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 94703-94704]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-27884]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

Information Collection; National Visitor Use Monitoring

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 (Forest Service or Agency) is requesting public comment 
on reapproval and proposed revisions of an approved information 
collection request (ICR), 0596-0110, National Visitor Use Monitoring.

DATES: Comments on reapproval and the proposed revisions of the ICR 
must be received in writing by January 28, 2025.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to Dr. Sarah Cline, Mail Stop 1125, 
Forest Service, USDA, P.O. Box 96090, Washington, DC 20090-6090. 
Comments also may be submitted via email to [email protected]. 
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be available to the 
public through relevant websites and upon request. Therefore, do not 
include confidential information, such as sensitive personal 
information or proprietary information. An email address associated 
with a comment will be included with the comment when it is made 
publicly available online.
    The public may inspect the supporting statements for the ICR and 
comments received at 201 14th Street SW, Washington, DC 20250, Suite 
2nd Floor Southwest, on business days between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. 
Visitors are encouraged to call ahead at 202-205-0444 to facilitate 
entry into the building. The public may request an electronic copy of 
the supporting statements and comments via return email. Requests 
should be emailed to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Sarah Cline, Recreation, Heritage, 
and Volunteer Resources staff, at 202-734-9686 or [email protected]. 
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: National Visitor Use Monitoring.
    OMB Number: 0596-0110.
    Expiration Date of Approval: February 28, 2025.
    Type of Request: Reapproval and proposed revisions of an approved 
ICR.
    Abstract: The Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 
requires that Federal agencies establish measurable goals and monitor 
their success at meeting those goals. Two of the items the Forest 
Service must measure are (1) the number of visits that occur on 
National Forest System lands for recreation and other purposes; and (2) 
the views and satisfaction levels of recreation visitors to National 
Forest System lands regarding the recreational services, facilities, 
and settings they experience. The Agency receives requests for this 
kind of information from a variety of organizations, including 
Congressional staffs, newspapers, magazines, and recreation trade 
organizations.
    The data from this ICR provide vital information for strategic 
planning efforts, decisions regarding allocation of resources, and 
revisions of Forest Service land management plans. The data provide 
managers with reliable estimates of the number of visitors recreating 
in an Agency administrative unit, recreational activities conducted by 
those visitors, visitor satisfaction, and visitor needs, trends, and 
desires. The information obtained from the ICR helps identify 
recreation markets, as well as the contributions made to local 
economies by visitors' spending on recreational activities on National 
Forest System lands. The information is collected over a five-year to 
align with Agency land management planning and other data collection 
and reporting.
    At developed recreation sites or access points, Agency personnel or 
contractors conduct interviews with visitors as they complete their 
visit. Interviewers ask about the purpose and length of the visit, the 
origin of the trip, the composition of the visitor's party, and the 
visitor's annual visitation rates, activities during the visit, trip-
related spending patterns, use of recreational facilities, and 
satisfaction with Agency services and facilities. Primary analysis of 
the information collected is performed by staff in the Agency's 
Washington Office and by scientists in one or more of the Agency's 
research stations. The Forest Service is proposing to revise the list 
of survey questions to reflect recently updated Office of Management 
and Budget guidance on questions related to race, ethnicity, and gender 
identity. The Agency is also proposing to add questions about veteran 
and retirement status and special uses. The Forest Service is also 
proposing to provide a full Spanish translation of the survey.
    Estimated Annual Burden per Response: 10 minutes.
    Type of Respondents: Visitors to National Forest System lands.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 45,000.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 5,870 hours.
    Comment is invited on (1) whether the 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

[[Page 94704]]

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 package submitted to 
the Office of Management and Budget for reapproval of the ICR as 
revised.

Jacqueline Emanuel,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2024-27884 Filed 11-27-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P
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