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Notices Federal Register

29925

Vol. 66, No. 107

Monday, June 4, 2001

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Research Service

United States National Arboretum

(USNA); Notice of Intent To Renew an

Expired Information Collection

AGENCY: Agricultural Research Service;

Research, Education, and Economics;

USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comment.

SUMMARY: The Department of

Agriculture (USDA) seeks comments on

the intent of the USNA to renew an

expired information collection. The

information collection serves as a means

to collect fees to be charged for certain

uses of the facilities, grounds, and

services. This includes fees for the

grounds and facilities, as well as for

commercial photography and

cinematography. Fees generated will be

used to defray USNA expenses or to

promote the mission of the USNA.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on

or before August 8, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Address all correspondence

to Thomas S. Elias, Director, U.S.

National Arboretum, Beltsville Area,

Agricultural Research Service, 3501

New York Avenue, NE., Washington,

D.C. 20002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Director, National Arboretum, Beltsville

Area, ARS, 3501 New York Avenue,

NE., Washington, D.C. 20002; (202) 245–

4539.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title:

Intent to Renew an Expired Information

Collection

OMB Number: 0518–0024.

Expiration Date of Approval: October

31, 2000.

Type of Request: To extend an

approved information collection.

Abstract: The mission of the U.S.

National Arboretum (USNA) is to

conduct research, provide education,

and conserve and display trees, shrubs,

flowers, and other plants to enhance the

environment. The USNA is a 446 acre

public facility, open to the general

public for purposes of education and

passive recreation. Horticulture and

gardening are very important aspects of

American life. The USNA receives

approximately 500,000 visitors each

year. Garden clubs and societies like to

use the USNA grounds to showcase

their activities. The USNA has many

spectacular features and garden displays

which are very popular with the

visitors. In order to administer the use

of the USNA facilities and to determine

if the requested use is consistent with

the mission of the USNA, it is necessary

for the USNA to obtain information

from the requestor. The requestor is

asked to indicate by whom and for what

purpose the USNA facilities are to be

used. This information is collected by

official using applications in the form of

questionnaires. Applications are in hard

copy format received in person, by mail,

and by facsimile. Work is underway to

provide permits, and information at the

USNA website (www-usna.usda.gov).

Completed permit requests can be Emailed, faxed, or delivered to the

USNA.

Paperwork Reduction Act: In

accordance with the Office of

Management and Budget (OMB)

regulations (5 CFR part 1320) which

implement the Paperwork Reduction

Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), the

information collection and record

keeping requirements that will be

imposed will be submitted to OMB for

approval. These requirements will not

become effective prior to OMB approval.

Background: Section 890(b) of the

Federal Agriculture Improvement and

Reform Act of 1996, Public Law 104–

127 (1996 Act), expanded the

authorities of the Secretary of

Agriculture to charge reasonable fees for

the use of USNA facilities and grounds.

These authorities included the ability to

charge fees for temporary use by

individuals or groups of USNA facilities

and grounds in furtherance of the

mission of the USNA. Also, authority

was provided to charge fees for the use

of the USNA for commercial

photography and cinematography. All

rules and regulations noted in 7 CFR

500, subpart A, Conduct on the USNA

property, will apply to individuals or

groups granted approval to use the

facilities and grounds.

Estimate of Burden: The USNA

estimates 200 requests for the use of the

facilities and 20 for photography and

cinematography. Each request will

require the completion of an

application. The application is simple

and requires only information readily

available to the requestor. A copy of the

application can be obtained from the

USNA.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on

Respondents: The estimated completion

time for the application is 15 minutes

for a total of 53 hours.

The photography application requires

less than 10 minutes. The total cost for

responding is $837 for 53 hours of time

at $15.80 per hours. In addition to the

current process of obtaining the permit

requests in person, by mail, and by

facsimile, (and receiving them back in

like manner), the application for

photography and cinematography is

available on its website

(www.usna.usda.gov/information/

photography.html). The application for

the use of facilities will be available on

the website by the end of the calendar

year. Completed permit requests can

then be e-mailed to the Administrative

Officer, National Arboretum, ARS, 3501

New York Avenue, NE, Washington,

D.C. 20002.

Comments: Comments are invited on

whether the proposed collection is

necessary for the proper functioning of

the facility, including whether the

information will have practical ability;

whether the estimate of the burden of

the proposed collection is accurate; how

to enhance the quality, utility and

clarity of the information to be

collected; and whether the burden of

collection could be minimized.

Edward B. Knipling,

Associate Administrator, Agricultural

Research Service.

[FR Doc. 01–13870 Filed 6–1–01; 8:45 am]

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