Information Collection: Forest Industries and Logging Operations Data Collection Systems
| Published date | 13 August 2021 |
| Citation | 86 FR 44685 |
| Record Number | 2021-17319 |
| Section | Notices |
| Court | Forest Service |
Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 154 (Friday, August 13, 2021)
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 154 (Friday, August 13, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44685-44686]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-17319]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Information Collection: Forest Industries and Logging Operations
Data Collection Systems
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 with revision of a currently approved
information collection, Forest Industries and Logging Operations Data
Collection Systems.
DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before October 12,
2021 to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date
will be considered to the extent practicable.
ADDRESSES: Comments concerning this notice should be addressed to:
Email: [email protected].
Mail: Consuelo Brandeis, Southern Research Station, Forest
Inventory and Analysis, Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 4700
Old Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919.
Telephone: 865-862-2028.
Facsimile: 865-862-0262.
Comments submitted in response to this notice may be made available
to the public through relevant websites and upon request. For this
reason, please do not include any information of a confidential nature,
such as sensitive personal information or proprietary information. If
you send an email comment, your email address will be automatically
captured and included as part of the comment that is placed in the
public docket and made available on the internet. Please note that
responses to this public comment request containing any routine notice
about the confidentiality of the communication will be treated as
public comments that may be made available to the public
notwithstanding the inclusion of the routine notice.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Consuelo Brandeis, Southern Research
Station, at 865-862-2028. Individuals who use telecommunication devices
for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-
877-8339 twenty-four hours a day, every day of the year, including
holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Forest Industries and Logging Operations Data Collection
Systems.
OMB Number: 0596-0010.
Expiration Date of Approval: February 28, 2022.
Type of Request: Extension with revision of a currently approved
information collection.
Abstract: The Forest and Range Renewable Resources Planning Act of
1974 and the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act of
1978 require the Forest Service to evaluate trends in the use of
roundwood (logs in whole or chipped form), to forecast anticipated
levels of roundwood use and availability, and to analyze changes in the
harvest of these resources from the United States' forests. This data
collection effort has been conducted since the mid-1970s, with various
adjustments through time to accommodate new questions, sampling
approaches, and/or data collection needs. Data collection is performed
by Forest Service personnel and cooperators from State natural resource
agencies and universities. Currently, the data collection gathers
information from two groups: Primary wood industry and logging
operations.
Primary Wood Industry Questionnaire: This questionnaire is used by
the Forest Service to collect and evaluate information from primary
wood-using mills, including small, part-time mills, as well as large
corporate
[[Page 44686]]
entities. Primary wood-using mills are facilities that use roundwood to
manufacture a primary product, such as lumber, wood pulp, veneer, etc.
Forest Service personnel evaluate the information collected and use it
to monitor volume of roundwood harvested throughout the Nation by
primary product type, tree species, and origin. The information
gathered is not available from other sources and provides baseline data
for resource analyses, which are a key component in the formulation of
forestry programs, industrial expansion decisions, and forest policy.
Primary wood industry questionnaires are delivered to mills via regular
mail or through email. Responses are collected through email, regular
mail, phone interviews, or personal mill visits.
Logging Operations Questionnaire: This questionnaire is used by the
Forest Service to collect and evaluate information from logging
operations to help characterize the logging industry and its response
to outside influences. The information is used to measure the `health'
of the logging industry as well as to provide background information
for decision-making. The logging operations questionnaire is
administered in person by field personnel during tree utilization data
collection at sampled logging sites.
For this extension, we are proposing to revise the questionnaire
for the primary wood industry survey to simplify the format and
eliminate questions that are no longer needed. At the same time, we
propose to test a few survey mechanisms that could help improve survey
response and lower respondents' burden by piloting various survey
structures including different questionnaire lengths (e.g., a three-
question post-card or a short version of the traditional survey). We
also propose using a cognitive survey to assess respondent's
understanding of the survey questions and to identify areas of
potential clarification. These proposed tests are in direct response to
comments from data users, state partners, and other stakeholders
indicating the need to adopt new approaches to motivate higher response
rates. The logging operations survey will remain unchanged from the
currently approved version.
In summary, this information collection will generate
scientifically based, statistically reliable, up-to-date information
about utilization of timber resources of the United States. Our testing
efforts will allow us to improve the quality of data obtained. The
results of these efforts contribute to the availability of reliable
information on timber resource use, facilitating more complete and
accurate assessments of forest resources at state, regional, and
national levels.
Affected Public: Individuals and the Private Sector (Businesses).
In particular, mill owners and representatives, procurement foresters
and loggers.
Estimate of Burden per Response: Accounting for the proposed tests,
the primary wood industry questionnaire's estimated burdens are 41
minutes for the traditional format, to be delivered to a sample of
2,500 mills; 25 minutes for the short-form test version going to a
sample of 98 mills; five minutes for the three-question post-card test
to be sent to a sample of 2,500 mills; five minutes to a sample of 500
mills which will be screened for the cognitive interview; and 60
minutes for the cognitive interviews to be conducted for 20 mills
identified during the screening process. Estimated time burden for the
logging operations questionnaire is 11 minutes to be distributed to a
sample of 150 logging operations.
Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 5,768.
Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2,060 hours.
Comment is invited on: (1) Whether this collection of information
is necessary for the stated purposes and 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 information collection, including
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 information collection on
respondents, including the use of 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 submission request
toward Office of Management and Budget approval.
Alexander L. Friend,
Deputy Chief, Research and Development.
[FR Doc. 2021-17319 Filed 8-12-21; 8:45 am]
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