[Federal Register: November 27, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 229)]
[Notices]
[Page 70923-70924]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr27no02-31]
[[Page 70923]]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Information Collection; Baseline and Trend Information on
Wilderness Use and Users
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice; request for comment.
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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 of an existing information collection
that has, since 1990, collected data about wilderness recreation users
in the United States. The information is necessary to help the Forest
Service and other Federal wilderness management agencies meet the needs
and expectations of visitors, who look to the National Wilderness
Preservation System for recreational experiences that are dependent
upon natural wilderness conditions away from human development and
devoid of crowds. Respondents will be visitors, or potential visitors,
to the National Wilderness Preservation System.
DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before January 27,
2003.
ADDRESSES: Written comments concerning this notice should be addressed
to Forest Service, USDA, Attn: Alan Watson, Aldo Leopold Wilderness
Research Institute, P.O. Box 8089, Missoula, Montana 59807. Comments
may also be sent via e-mail to awatson@fs.fed.us.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alan Watson, Aldo Leopold Wilderness
Research Institute, (406) 542-4197.
Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD)
may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339
between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through
Friday.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Forest Service is seeking an extension
of an existing information collection authorized under Office of
Management and Budget Control Number 0596-0108. This information
collection approval allows the Forest Service to collect information
from visitors, or potential visitors, to the lands of the National
Wilderness Preservation System.
The Wilderness Act of 1964 directs that the National Wilderness
Preservation System be managed to protect natural wilderness conditions
and to provide outstanding opportunities for the public to find
solitude or primitive and unconfined types of recreational experiences.
To meet the requirements of the Wilderness Act of 1964 and to help
the Forest Service enhance visitors' recreational experiences, the
agency monitors trends of visitor recreational activities. Forest
Service personnel also want to ensure that visitors' recreational
activities do not harm the natural resources of the National Wilderness
Preservation System. The agency is expanding the scope of the survey to
include wilderness areas about which the agency has little information
in regard to visitor recreational trends.
The Forest Service will use information from this collection to:
(1) Establish visitor recreational use baselines; (2) monitor visitor
recreational use trends; (3) gain an understanding of how the agency's
management of the National Wilderness Preservation System influences a
visitor's wilderness experience; and (4) help understand how to educate
visitors, so that they may enjoy their wilderness experience without
leaving permanent reminders of their visits, such as damaged
vegetation, litter, and polluted streams. The information also will be
used for planning management direction for various wilderness areas
managed by the agencies in the Departments of Agriculture and Interior.
Data from this information collection are not available from other
sources and will be maintained at the interagency (Agriculture and
Interior) Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute in Missoula,
Montana.
Description of Information Collection
The following describes the information collection to be extended:
Title: Baseline and Trend Information on Wilderness Use and Users.
OMB Number: 0596-0108.
Expiration Date of Approval: January 31, 2003.
Type of request: Extension of a currently approved information
collection.
Abstract: Respondents will be visitors, or potential visitors, to
the National Wilderness Preservation System (System). Forest Service
personnel will conduct face-to-face, on-site interviews with visitors
as they enter the System or will send mailback survey forms to visitors
at their homes using addresses that visitors provide when visiting the
System. Forest Service personnel will contact visitors at nonwilderness
sites to ask if they have plans to visit the System. When unable to
conduct face-to-face interviews with potential visitors, the agency
will send mailback survey forms to the homes of those who visited
nonwilderness areas, using addresses provided by them as they entered
the nonwilderness sites. In some cases, the agency forms will be made
available on a self-service basis to visitors in trailhead displays.
Respondents will be asked questions that include how many times
they visit, when they plan their next visit, or if they plan to visit
at all. Respondents will be asked, when visiting, if they come in
groups and, if so, the size of those groups. Respondents will be asked
how long they stay when visiting. Do they use equipment, such as
stoves, or use wood for fires while visiting? Do they have preferences
for social conditions? For example, do they like or will they accept
crowded conditions, such as crowded camping areas and areas designed to
limit the negative effects of visitor use on natural resources, such as
soil compaction, damage to tree roots, and negative impacts to water
quality? Do respondents support various wilderness management
strategies (such as limiting visitor use of wilderness areas) to lessen
negative effects to the wilderness environment? Do they support
separating uses (such as designating some campsites for use only by
groups with pack animals) to avoid conflict?
Estimate of Annual Burden: 15 minutes.
Types of Respondents: Visitors or potential visitors to the
National Wilderness Preservation System.
Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 3,000.
Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 750 hours.
Comment Is Invited
Comment is invited on: (1) Whether this 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 automated, electronic, mechanical, or
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information
technology.
[[Page 70924]]
Use of Comments
All comments received in response to this notice, including name
and address when provided, will become a matter of public record.
Comments received in response to this notice will be summarized and
included in the request for Office of Management and Budget approval.
Dated: November 20, 2002.
Robert Lewis, Jr.,
Deputy Chief, Research and Development.
[FR Doc. 02-30017 Filed 11-26-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P
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