Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 195 / Tuesday, October 7, 2008 / Notices 58531 

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 those who are to respond, including 

through the use of appropriate 

automated, electronic, mechanical, or 

other technological collection 

techniques, or other forms of 

information technology. Comments may 

be sent to both FSIS, at the addresses 

provided above, and the Desk Officer for 

Agriculture, Office of Information and 

Regulatory Affairs, Office of 

Management and Budget, Washington, 

DC 20253. 

All responses to this notice will be 

summarized and included in the request 

for OMB approval. All comments will 

also become a matter of public record. 

Additional Public Notification 

Public awareness of all segments of 

rulemaking and policy development is 

important. Consequently, in an effort to 

ensure that minorities, women, and 

persons with disabilities are aware of 

this notice, FSIS will announce it online through the FSIS Web page located 

at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations/ 

2008_Notices_Index/. 

FSIS also will make copies of this 

Federal Register publication available 

through the FSIS Constituent Update, 

which is used to provide information 

regarding FSIS policies, procedures, 

regulations, Federal Register notices, 

FSIS public meetings, and other types of 

information that could affect or would 

be of interest to constituents and 

stakeholders. The Update is 

communicated via Listserv, a free 

electronic mail subscription service for 

industry, trade groups, consumer 

interest groups, health professionals and 

other individuals who have asked to be 

included. The Update is available on the 

FSIS Web page. Through the Listserv 

and the Web page, FSIS is able to 

provide information to a much broader 

and more diverse audience. In addition, 

FSIS offers an e-mail subscription 

service which provides automatic and 

customized access to selected food 

safety news and information. This 

service is available at http:// 

www.fsis.usda.gov/news_and_events/ 

email_subscription/. Options range from 

recalls to export information to 

regulations, directives and notices. 

Customers can add or delete 

subscriptions themselves and have the 

option to password protect their 

account. 

Done at Washington, DC on: October 2, 

2008. 

Alfred V. Almanza, 

Administrator. 

[FR Doc. E8–23681 Filed 10–6–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–DM–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Forest Service 

Klamath National Forest, CA, Klamath 

National Forest Motorized Route 

Designation EIS 

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an 

Environmental Impact Statement. 

SUMMARY: The Klamath National Forest 

(Klamath NF) will prepare an 

Environmental Impact Statement to 

disclose the impacts associated with the 

following proposed actions: 

1. The prohibition of cross-country 

motorized vehicle travel (with the 

exception of snowmobiles) off 

designated National Forest System 

(NFS) roads, trails, and areas by the 

public except as allowed by permit or 

other authorization (Travel Management 

Rule, 36 CFR Part 212 Subpart B). 

2. Make a non-significant amendment 

to the Klamath NF Land and Resource 

Management Plan (Klamath Forest Plan) 

to conform with the Travel Management 

Rule, Subpart B, by removing reference 

to OHV cross-country travel in the 

Forest Plan and including a Forest-wide 

standard: ‘‘Prohibit motorized vehicle 

travel (with the exception of 

snowmobiles) off designated roads, 

trails and areas except as allowed by 

permit or other authorization.’’ 

3. Add approximately 54 miles (84 

segments) of existing unauthorized 

routes to the National Forest 

Transportation System (NFTS) as roads 

open to the public for motorized vehicle 

use by vehicle class and season of use. 

Add approximately 24 miles (258 

routes) of existing unauthorized routes 

to the NFTS as roads open to the public 

for motorized vehicle use to access 

dispersed recreation opportunities (e.g. 

river access, dispersed camping, etc.), 

by vehicle class and season of use. 

4. Add approximately 14 miles (22 

segments) of existing unauthorized 

routes to the NFTS as motorized trails 

open to the public for motorized vehicle 

use by vehicle class and season of use. 

5. Allow motorized vehicle use on 

two areas (65 acres) where use of 

motorized vehicles by the public would 

be allowed anywhere within that 

delineated area. 

6. Make the following changes to 

existing Forest roads: 

a. Allow non-highway legal vehicle 

use on approximately 88 miles (24 

segments) of existing NFTS roads where 

such use is currently prohibited. 

b. Prohibit non-highway legal vehicle 

use on approximately 10 miles (8 

segments) of existing NFTS roads where 

such use is currently allowed. 

c. Open NFTS roads 41S10 and 40N51 

to public use where such use is 

currently prohibited to enhance 

motorized recreation by creating a loop 

opportunity. 

DATES: The comment period on the 

proposed action will extend 30 days 

from the date the Notice of Intent is 

published in the Federal Register. 

Completion of the Draft 

Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) 

is expected in May 2009 and the Final 

Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) 

is expected in July 2009. 

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: 

Route Designation Team, Klamath 

National Forest, 1312 Fairlane Road, 

Yreka, California 96097. Electronic 

comments, in acceptable plain text 

(.txt), rich text (.rtf), or Word (.doc) may 

be submitted to commentspacificsouthwest-klamath@fs.fed.us 

with Subject: Route Designation. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Emelia Barnum, Klamath National 

Forest, 1312 Fairlane Road, Yreka, 

California 96097. Phone: 530–841–4470. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

Over the past few decades, the 

availability and capability of motorized 

vehicles, particularly off-highway 

vehicles (OHVs) and sport utility 

vehicles (SUVs) has increased 

tremendously. Nationally, the number 

of OHV users has climbed sevenfold in 

the past 30 years, from approximately 5 

million in 1972 to 36 million in 2000. 

The ten states with the largest 

population also have the most OHV 

users. California has 4.35 million OHV 

users accounting for almost 11 percent 

of the U.S. total (Off-Highway Vehicle 

Recreation in the United States, Regions 

and States: A National Report from the 

National Survey on Recreation and the 

Environment (NSRE) Cordell, Betz, 

Green and Owens June 2005). There 

were 786,914 all terrain vehicles (ATVs) 

and OHV motorcycles registered in 

2004, up 330 percent since 1980. 

Annual sales of ATVs and OHV 

motorcycles in California were the 

highest in the U.S. for the last 5 years. 

Four-wheel drive vehicle sales in 

California also increased by 1500 

percent to 3,046,866 from 1989 to 2002. 

Unmanaged OHV use has resulted in 

unplanned roads and trails, erosion, 

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58532 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 195 / Tuesday, October 7, 2008 / Notices 

watershed and habitat degradation, and 

impacts to cultural resource sites. 

Compaction and erosion are the primary 

effects of OHV use on soils. Riparian 

areas and aquatic dependent species are 

particularly vulnerable to OHV use. 

Unmanaged recreation, including 

impacts from OHVs, is one of ‘‘Four Key 

Threats Facing the Nation’s Forests and 

Grasslands.’’ (USDA Forest Service, 

June 2004). 

On August 11, 2003, the Pacific 

Southwest Region of the Forest Service 

entered into a Memorandum of Intent 

(MOI) with the California Off-Highway 

Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission, 

and the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle 

Recreation Division of the California 

Department of Parks and Recreation. 

That MOI set in motion a region-wide 

effort to ‘‘Designate OHV roads, trails, 

and any specifically defined open areas 

for motorized wheeled vehicles on maps 

of the 19 National Forests in California 

by 2007.’’ On November 9, 2005, the 

Forest Service published final travel 

management regulations in the Federal 

Register (FR Vol. 70, No. 216—Nov. 9, 

2005, pp. 68264–68291). Subpart B of 

the final Travel Management Rule 

requires designation of those roads, 

trails, and areas that are open to motor 

vehicle use on National Forests. Route 

designations will be made by class of 

vehicle and, if appropriate, by time of 

year. The final rule allows for motor 

vehicle use only on designated system 

routes and in designated areas. 

On some NFS lands, long managed as 

open to cross-country motor vehicle 

travel, repeated use has resulted in 

unplanned, unauthorized, roads and 

trails. These routes generally developed 

without environmental analysis or 

public involvement, and do not have the 

same status as NFS roads and NFS trails 

included in the forest transportation 

system. Nevertheless, some 

unauthorized routes are well-sited, 

provide excellent opportunities for 

outdoor recreation by motorized and 

non-motorized users, and would 

enhance the National Forest system of 

designated roads, trails and areas. Other 

unauthorized routes are poorly located 

and cause unacceptable impacts. Only 

NFS roads and NFS trails can be 

designated for wheeled motorized 

vehicle use. In order for an 

unauthorized route to be designated, it 

must first be added to the NFTS. 

In accordance with the MOI, the 

Klamath NF completed an inventory of 

unauthorized routes on National Forest 

lands and identified approximately 400 

miles (1079 segments) of unauthorized 

routes. The Klamath NF then used an 

interdisciplinary process to evaluate the 

routes that included working with the 

public to determine whether any of the 

unauthorized routes should be proposed 

for addition to the NFTS in this 

proposed action. Roads, trails, and areas 

that are currently part of the Klamath 

NF transportation system and are open 

to wheeled motorized vehicle travel will 

remain designated for such unless 

changed by this proposal. This proposal 

focuses only on the prohibition of 

wheeled motorized vehicle travel off 

designated routes and needed changes 

to the Klamath NF transportation 

system, including the addition of some 

unauthorized routes to the Klamath NF 

transportation system and minor 

changes to existing motor vehicle 

restrictions. The proposed action is 

being carried forward in accordance 

with the Travel Management Rule (36 

CFR Part 212, Subpart B). In accordance 

with the Travel Management Rule, 

following a decision on this proposal, 

the Klamath NF will publish a Motor 

Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) identifying 

all Klamath NF roads, trails, and areas 

that are designated for motor vehicle 

use. The MVUM shall specify the 

classes of vehicles and, if appropriate, 

the times of year for which use is 

designated. 

Unauthorized routes not included in 

this proposal are not precluded from 

future consideration for addition to the 

NFTS and inclusion in a MVUM. Future 

decisions associated with changes to the 

MVUM may trigger the need for 

documentation of environmental 

analysis. 

Purpose and Need for Action 

The following needs have been 

identified for this proposal: 

1. There is a need for regulation of 

unmanaged motor vehicle travel by the 

public. The proliferation of unplanned, 

unauthorized, non-sustainable roads, 

trails and areas adversely impacts the 

environment. The 2005 Travel 

Management Rule, 36 CFR Section 212, 

Subpart B, provides for a system of NFS 

roads, NFS trails and areas on NFS 

lands that are designated for motor 

vehicle use. After roads, trails and areas 

are designated, motor vehicle use off 

designated roads and trails and outside 

designated areas is prohibited by 36 

CFR 261.13. Subpart B is intended to 

prevent resource damage caused by 

unmanaged motor vehicle use by the 

public. 

2. There is a need for the Klamath 

Forest Plan to conform to the Travel 

Management Rule, 36 CFR 212, Subpart 

B. A review of the Forest Plan has found 

that it is not fully consistent with the 

Travel Management Rule, Subpart B. 

For example, the Klamath Forest Plan 

EIS states that off highway vehicle use 

is allowed where it is not (1) 

Legislatively restricted, (2) causing 

unacceptable resource damage, or (3) in 

conflict with other activities. The 

objective is to restrict use only where 

there is a demonstrated need. The 

Klamath Forest Plan includes standards 

and guidelines that prohibit or restrict 

OHV use in certain land allocations 

(e.g., research natural areas, backcountry 

areas), but OHV use is generally allowed 

in the other land allocations. About 70 

percent of the Forest is open to 

unrestricted OHV use. These Forest Plan 

standards and guidelines are in conflict 

with the Travel Management Rule, at 36 

CFR 212.50(a) (Motor vehicle use off 

designated roads and trails and outside 

designated areas is prohibited by 36 

CFR 261.13). 

3. There is a need for limited changes 

to the Klamath NF transportation system 

to: 

3.1. Provide wheeled motorized 

access to dispersed recreation 

opportunities (camping, hunting, 

fishing, hiking, horseback riding, etc.). 

There is a need to maintain motor 

vehicle access to dispersed recreation 

activities that historically have been 

accessed by motor vehicles. A portion of 

known dispersed recreation activities 

are not located directly adjacent to an 

existing NFTS road or NFTS motorized 

trail. Some dispersed recreation 

activities depend on foot or horseback 

access, and some depend on motor 

vehicle access. Those activities accessed 

by motor vehicles consist of short spurs 

that have been created and maintained 

primarily by the passage of motorized 

vehicles. Many such ‘user-created’ 

routes are not currently part of the 

NFTS. Without adding them to the 

NFTS, the regulatory changes noted 

above would make continued use of 

such routes illegal through the 

prohibition of cross country travel and 

would preclude access to many 

dispersed recreation activities. 

3.2. Provide a diversity of wheeled 

motorized recreation opportunities (4x4 

vehicles, motorcycles, ATVs, passenger 

vehicles, etc.). It is Forest Service policy 

to provide a diversity of road and trail 

opportunities for experiencing a variety 

of environments and modes of travel 

consistent with the National Forest 

recreation role and land capability (FSM 

2353.03(2)). Implementation of Subpart 

B of the Travel Management Rule will 

severely reduce motorized recreation 

opportunities relative to current levels. 

As a result, there is a need to consider 

limited changes and additions to the 

type of use permitted on existing NFTS 

roads as well as potential additions to 

the NFTS. 

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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 195 / Tuesday, October 7, 2008 / Notices 58533 

4. There is a need for socially 

compatible non-highway legal vehicle 

use in the vicinity of Hawkinsville 

where trespass, destruction of private 

property, and other use conflicts 

facilitated by the use of off-highway 

vehicles have become a problem. The 

Forest Plan specifies coordination of 

road management objectives with 

private landowners within the Forest 

(Forest Plan Standard and Guideline 

20–3). Previous complaints from 

residential owners and comments 

during the Steps 1–3 for this project 

focused on needs for management 

changes on all or portions of 40N21, 

43N30, 45N03X, 45N28, 45N29, 45N39, 

46N16, and 46N16A. 

In meeting these needs, the proposed 

action must also achieve the following 

purposes: 

A. Provide for public safety. 

B. Provide access to public and 

private lands. 

C. Administer and maintain roads, 

trails, and areas based on availability of 

resources. 

D. Minimize damage to soil, 

vegetation and other forest resources. 

E. Avoid impacts to cultural 

resources. 

F. Minimize harassment of wildlife 

and significant disruption of wildlife 

habitat. 

G. Minimize conflicts between motor 

vehicles and existing or proposed 

recreational uses of NFS lands. 

H. Minimize conflicts among different 

classes of motor vehicle uses of NFS 

lands or neighboring federal lands. 

I. Assure compatibility of motor 

vehicle use with existing conditions in 

populated areas, taking into account 

sound, emissions, etc. 

J. Maintain valid existing rights of use 

and access (rights-of-way). 

K. Constrain the proposal to that 

which is within the capability of the 

Forest to analyze given: 1. The national 

schedule for regions to publish their 

Forest Motor Vehicle Use Maps. For the 

Klamath National Forest the publication 

deadline is approximately September 

2009. 2. Available funding (road and 

trail management budgets). 3. Available 

resources (resource data and staff time). 

Proposed Action 

1. Prohibit cross-country motorized 

vehicle travel (with the exception of 

snowmobiles) off designated Forest 

roads, trails, and areas by the public 

except as allowed by permit or other 

authorization. 

2. Make a non-significant amendment 

to the Klamath Forest Plan to be 

consistent with the Travel Management 

Rule (36 CFR Part 212, Subpart B), 

prohibiting cross-country motorized 

vehicle travel off designated NFS roads 

and NFS trails outside of designated 

areas by removing reference to OHV 

cross-country travel in the Forest Plan 

and including a forest-wide standard: 

‘‘Prohibit wheeled vehicle travel off 

designated roads and trails except for 

administrative use or uses under 

permitted activities or within 

designated areas.’’ 

3. Add approximately 54 miles (84 

routes) of existing unauthorized routes 

as NFTS roads classified as open to all 

vehicle classes, both highway legal and 

non-highway legal, by season of use. 

The season of use for approximately 8 

miles (14 routes) of road is from May 1– 

October 31 (the remainder will be open 

year round). Add approximately 24 

miles (258 routes) of existing 

unauthorized routes to the NFTS as 

roads open to the public for wheeled 

motorized vehicle use to access 

dispersed recreation opportunities (e.g., 

river access, dispersed camping, etc.), 

by vehicle class and season of use. With 

these additions, roads open to all 

vehicle classes will be approximately 

2618 miles. 

4. Add approximately 14 miles (22 

routes) of existing unauthorized routes 

as NFTS motorized trails. This would 

bring the total NFTS motorized trails to 

15 miles. Approximately 2 miles of 

motorized trails would be classified as 

open for ‘‘All Trail Class Vehicles’’. 

About 4 miles of motorized trails would 

be classified as open for ‘‘Motorcycle 

only’’. The remaining 8 miles of 

motorized trails would be classified as 

open for ‘‘Vehicles 50 inches or less in 

width’’. The season of use for all 14 

miles of trail is from May 1–October 31. 

5. Add two areas (Humbug [13 acres] 

and Juniper Flat [52 acres]) where use 

of motorized vehicles by the public 

would be allowed anywhere within that 

delineated area. 

6. Make the following changes to 

existing Forest roads: 

a. Allow non-highway legal vehicle 

use on approximately 88 miles (24 

segments) of existing NFS roads where 

such use is currently prohibited. 

b. Prohibit non-highway legal vehicle 

use on approximately 10 miles (8 

segments) of existing Forest roads where 

such use is currently allowed. 

c. Open Forest Maintenance Level 1 

roads 41S10 (Doe Peak) and 40N51 

(Yellowjacket Ridge) to public use 

where such use is currently prohibited. 

Maps and tables describing the 

proposed action can be found at 

http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/klamath/ 

projects/ohv/index.shtml. In addition, 

maps will be available for viewing at: 

• Klamath National Forest 

Supervisor’s Office, 1312 Fairlane Road, 

Yreka, CA 96097. 

• Happy Camp/Oak Knoll Ranger 

District, 63822 Highway 96, Happy 

Camp, CA 96039. 

• Goosenest Ranger District, 37805 

Highway 97, Macdoel, CA 96058. 

• Salmon/Scott River Ranger District, 

11263 N. Highway 3, Fort Jones, CA 

96032. 

• Ukonom Ranger District, Highway 

96, Orleans, CA 95556. 

Responsible Official 

Patricia A. Grantham, Forest 

Supervisor, Klamath National Forest, 

1312 Fairlane Road, Yreka, CA 96097. 

Nature of Decision To Be Made 

The responsible official will decide 

whether to adopt and implement the 

proposed action, an alternative to the 

proposed action, or take no action to 

make changes to existing prohibitions 

and allowances for public motorized 

vehicle travel within the existing 

Klamath NF Transportation System and 

prohibit cross country wheeled 

motorized vehicle travel by the public 

off the designated system. Once the 

decision is made, the Klamath NF will 

publish a MVUM identifying the roads, 

trails and areas that are designated for 

motor vehicle use. The MVUM shall 

specify the classes of vehicles and, if 

appropriate, the times of year for which 

use is designated. Future decisions 

associated with changes to the MVUM 

may trigger the need for documentation 

of environmental analysis. 

This proposal does not revisit 

previous administrative decisions that 

resulted in the current NFTS. This 

proposal is focused on implementing 

Subpart B of the Travel Management 

Rule. Previous administrative decisions 

concerning road construction, road 

reconstruction, trail construction, and 

land suitability for motorized use on the 

existing NFTS are outside of the scope 

of this proposal. 

Scoping Process 

Public participation will be especially 

important at several points during the 

analysis. The Forest Service will be 

seeking information, comments, and 

assistance from federal, state, and local 

agencies and other individuals or 

organizations who may be interested in 

or affected by the proposed action. 

The Klamath NF has been meeting 

with local elected officials, Tribes, and 

community groups, including service 

and professional organizations, to 

discuss the Travel Management Rule 

and travel management on the Forest 

since 2005. In March and April of 2005, 

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58534 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 195 / Tuesday, October 7, 2008 / Notices 

and April and May 2007, public 

workshops were held in Fort Jones, 

Happy Camp, Macdoel, and Yreka, CA 

to gather information about which 

routes the public uses. In March 2008, 

public workshops were held in those 

same locations as well as Orleans, CA, 

to continue gathering information about 

which routes the public uses and to 

identify routes missed in the inventory 

of unauthorized routes. Additionally, 

maps of inventoried routes were 

available on the Forest’s Web site and 

Forest Service offices. The public used 

these maps to provide input into the 

process. 

The comment period on the proposed 

action will extend 30 days from the date 

this Notice of Intent is published in the 

Federal Register. 

The draft environmental impact 

statement is expected to be filed with 

the Environmental Protection Agency 

(EPA) and to be available for public 

review by May 2009. EPA will publish 

a notice of availability of the draft EIS 

in the Federal Register. The comment 

period on the draft EIS will extend 45- 

days from the date the EPA notice 

appears in the Federal Register. At that 

time, copies of the draft EIS will be 

distributed to interested and affected 

agencies, organizations, and members of 

the public for their review and 

comment. It is very important that those 

interested in the management of the 

Klamath NF participate at that time. 

The final EIS is scheduled to be 

completed in July 2009. In the final EIS, 

the Forest Service will respond to 

comments received during the comment 

period that are: within the scope of the 

proposed action; specific to the 

proposed action; have a direct 

relationship with the proposed action; 

and include supporting reasons for the 

responsible official to consider. 

Submission of comments to the draft 

EIS is a prerequisite for eligibility to 

appeal under the 36 CFR part 215 

regulations. 

Comment Requested 

This Notice of Intent initiates the 

scoping process which guides the 

development of the environmental 

impact statement. 

Early Notice of Importance of Public 

Participation in Subsequent 

Environmental Review: A draft EIS will 

be prepared for comment. The comment 

period on the draft EIS will be 45 days 

from the date the EPA publishes the 

notice of availability in the Federal 

Register. 

At this early stage, it is important to 

give reviewers notice of several court 

rulings related to public participation in 

the environmental review process. First, 

reviewers of draft EISs must structure 

their participation in the environmental 

review of the proposal so that it is 

meaningful and alerts an agency to the 

reviewer’s position and contentions. 

Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. 

NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978). Also, 

environmental objections that could be 

raised at the draft EIS stage but that are 

not raised until after completion of the 

final EIS may be waived or dismissed by 

the courts. City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 

F.2d 1016, 1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and 

Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490 

F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). 

Because of these court rulings, it is very 

important that those interested in this 

proposed action participate by the close 

of the 45-day comment period so that 

comments and objections are made 

available to the Forest Service at a time 

when it can meaningfully consider them 

and respond to them in the final EIS. 

To assist the Forest Service in 

identifying and considering issues and 

concerns on the proposed action, 

comments on the draft EIS should be as 

specific as possible. It is also helpful if 

comments refer to specific pages or 

chapters of the draft EIS. Comments 

may also address the adequacy of the 

draft EIS or the merits of the alternatives 

formulated and discussed in the 

statement. Reviewers may wish to refer 

to the Council on Environmental 

Quality Regulations for implementing 

the procedural provisions of the 

National Environmental Policy Act at 40 

CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points. 

Comments received, including the 

names and addresses of those who 

comment, will be considered part of the 

public record on this proposal and will 

be available for public inspection. 

Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; 

Forest Service Handbook 1909.15, Section 

21. 

Dated: September 30, 2008. 

Patricia A. Grantham, 

Forest Supervisor. 

[FR Doc. E8–23683 Filed 10–6–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–11–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

Census Bureau 

Proposed Information Collection; 

Comment Request; National 

Immunization Survey Evaluation Study 

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Department of 

Commerce, as part of its continuing 

effort to reduce paperwork and 

respondent burden, invites the general 

public and other Federal agencies to 

take this opportunity to comment on 

proposed and/or continuing information 

collections, as required by the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 

Public Law 104–13 (44 U.S.C. 

3506(c)(2)(A)). 

DATES: To ensure consideration, written 

comments must be submitted on or 

before December 8, 2008. 

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments 

to Diana Hynek, Departmental 

Paperwork Clearance Officer, 

Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 

14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., 

Washington, DC 20230 (or via the 

Internet at dHynek@doc.gov). 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Requests for additional information or 

copies of the information collection 

instrument(s) and instructions should 

be directed to Andrea L. Piani, Census 

Bureau, Room HQ–6H035, Washington, 

DC 20233–8400, (301) 763–5379. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

I. Abstract 

At the behest of the Centers for 

Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 

U.S. Department of Health and Human 

Services, the Census Bureau plans to 

conduct an evaluation study of the 

National Immunization Survey (NIS). 

The purpose of this study is to explore 

how collaborating with the Census 

Bureau and using the American 

Community Survey (ACS) as the 

sampling frame for selecting eligible 

households could result in 

improvements to the current NIS. Use of 

the ACS as a sampling frame, which 

includes non-landline households and 

identifies households with age-eligible 

children, could overcome the current 

NIS non-coverage issue and 

substantially reduce data collection 

costs. 

The NIS is a continuing, nationwide 

random-digit-dialing (RDD) telephone 

survey of families with children ages 19 

to 35 months, or teens ages 13–17 years 

followed by a mailed survey to 

children’s immunization providers. 

Since the survey’s inception to the 

present, private contractors have 

conducted the NIS for the CDC. 

National, state, and local level estimates 

of vaccine-specific coverage, including 

newly licensed vaccines, are produced 

annually. 

The NIS was established to provide an 

on-going, consistent data set for 

analyzing vaccination coverage among 

young children in the United States and 

disseminating this information to state 

and local health departments and other 

interested public health partners. Legal 

authorization to conduct the survey is 

mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES