[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 121 (Friday, June 21, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 31911]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-15866]



========================================================================
Notices
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

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.

========================================================================


Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 121 / Friday, June 21, 1996 / 
Notices

[[Page 31911]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Notice and Request for Comments on Information Collection for 
Visitor Information Use Study

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Forest Service announces its intent to establish a new information 
collection. The new collection is necessary to evaluate how agency 
information services, such as visitor centers, interpretive services, 
brochures, or informational flyers, are used by visitors to National 
Forest System lands geographically situated in close proximity to urban 
communities in southern California. The San Bernardino, Angeles, Los 
Padres, and Cleveland National Forests are the focus of this 
information collection. Information also will be collected to determine 
how people living near National Forest System lands in southern 
California urban areas get or receive information about the lands. The 
data will be used to evaluate the accessibility of information about 
the four forests in these urban communities, the usefulness of the 
information, the method or media by which the information was received, 
and the agency's effectiveness in disseminating National Forest System 
information to southern California urban communities.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before August 20, 
1996.

ADDRESSES: All comments should be addressed to: Forest Service, USDA, 
Visitor Information Project, Pacific Southwest Forest and Range 
Experiment Station, 4955 Canyon Crest Dr., Riverside, CA 92507.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. James Absher, Pacific Southwest 
Forest and Range Experiment Station, at (909) 680-1559.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Description of Information Collection

    Title: Visitor Information Use Study.
    OMB Number: New.
    Expiration Date of Approval: New.
    Type of Request: The following describes a new collection 
requirement and has not received approval by the Office of Management 
and Budget.
    Abstract: The data collected will be analyzed to gain an 
understanding of how urban residents in southern California, living 
close to the San Bernadino, Angeles, Los Padres and Cleveland National 
Forest System lands, get or receive information about recreational 
opportunities on the lands; about rules governing the lands, such as 
permits or costs; if residents share the information with others in 
their communities; and how southern California urban residents utilize 
the informational dissemination services provided by the agency, such 
as National Forest System land visitor centers, interpretive services, 
brochures, or informational flyers.
    The data also will be used to identify which agency informational 
services are utilized by southern California urban residents and 
sources by which residents get or receive information about National 
Forest System lands. The data will be evaluated to define agency 
information dissemination and urban communication patterns: for 
example, if southern California urban residents share the information 
they get or receive with other residents in their communities, what 
their informational source preferences are (newspapers, television, 
radio, visitor centers, brochures, or flyers), and if there are 
differences in informational source sharing among culturally diverse 
user groups.
    Southern California urban visitors to National Forest System lands 
will be mailed a postage-paid survey, which the visitor may fill out 
and return. Data gathered in this information collection is not 
available from other sources.
    Estimate of Burden: 20 minutes.
    Type of Respondents: Individuals and groups visiting National 
Forest System lands in southern California.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,400.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 800 hours.
    The agency invites comments on the following: (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 
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 respondents, including the use of 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.

Use of Comments

    All comments received in response to this notice will be summarized 
and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will also 
become a matter of public record.

    Dated: June 14, 1996.
Mark A. Remers,
Acting Chief.
[FR Doc. 96-15866 Filed 6-20-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M