From: Subject: FR Doc E7-361 Date: Sun, 14 Jan 2007 22:32:42 -0800 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/E7-361.htm X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3028 FR Doc E7-361 
[Federal Register: January 12, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 8)]
[Notices]              =20
[Page 1486-1487]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12ja07-28]                        =20

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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,=20
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and =
agency=20
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents=20
appearing in this section.

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[[Page 1486]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

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Information Collection; Trends in Use and Users in the Boundary=20
Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, MN

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the=20
Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals and=20
organizations on the new information collection entitled, Trends in Use=20
and Users in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Minnesota.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before March 13, 2007=20
to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date will=20
be considered to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: Comments concerning this notice should be addressed to Alan=20
E. Watson, Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute, USDA Forest=20
Service Rocky Mountain Research Station, 790 E. Beckwith Ave.,=20
Missoula, MT 59801.
    Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to (406) 542-4196 or=20
by e-mail to: awatson@fs.fed.us.
    The public may inspect comments received at the Aldo Leopold=20
Wilderness Research Institute, USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain=20
Station, 790 E. Beckwith Ave., Missoula, MT 59801 during normal=20
business hours. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to (406) 542-4197=20
to facilitate entry to the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alan E. Watson, Aldo Leopold=20
Wilderness Research Institute at (406) 542-4197. Individuals who use=20
TDD may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339, 24=20
hours a day, every day of the year, including holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Trends in Use and Users in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area=20
Wilderness, Minnesota.
    OMB Number: 0596-NEW.
    Type of Request: New.
    Abstract: The Wilderness Act of 1964 directs the National=20
Wilderness Preservation System (System) be managed to protect natural=20
wilderness conditions and to provide outstanding opportunities for the=20
public to find solitude or primitive and unconfined types of=20
recreational experiences.
    To meet the requirements of the Act and help the Forest Service=20
enhance visitors' recreational experiences at the Boundary Waters Canoe=20
Area Wilderness in Minnesota, agency scientists periodically monitor=20
and report, to managers and the public, changes in visitor use and user=20
characteristics over time. Forest Service personnel use the collected=20
information to mitigate the impact of visitors' recreational activities=20
on the natural resources of the National Wilderness Preservation=20
System. The agency intends to record visitor responses in 2007 for=20
comparison to similar surveys in 1969 and 1991, and expand the scope of=20
the survey to include things that have potentially influenced visits=20
since 1991. Potential influences include new recreation fees,=20
widespread natural disturbances (e.g., fire and wind thrown trees) and=20
changes in agency policies. The data from this information collection=20
will be stored at the Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute in=20
Missoula, Montana. Scientists working at the Research Institute will=20
conduct the data analysis.
    The Forest Service will use information from this collection to:
    (1) Understand changes in:
    a. Individual visitor demographics, frequency of wilderness visits,=20
and residence, and
    b. changes in recreational visits such as group size, difficulty in=20
finding campsites, evaluations of conditions encountered, etc. since=20
previous studies;
    (2) Gain an understanding of how the agency's management of the=20
National Wilderness Preservation System influences a visitor's=20
wilderness experience;
    (3) Help understand how to educate visitors, so they may enjoy=20
their wilderness experience without leaving permanent reminders of=20
their visits, such as damaged vegetation, litter, and polluted lakes=20
and streams; and
    (4) Provide information that will assist in planning management=20
direction for many other wilderness areas managed by the Forest=20
Service.
    Respondents will be visitors to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area=20
Wilderness. Forest Service or university cooperator personnel will=20
conduct face-to-face, on-site interviews with visitors as they enter=20
the System and will send mail-back survey forms to visitors at their=20
homes, using addresses that visitors voluntarily provide when=20
interviewed.
    Interview questions will cover number of visits, length of visits,=20
and plans (if any) for future visits. Visitors will be asked:
     Number of times they have visited, length of visits, and=20
plans (if any) for future visits;
     If they are part of a group, and if so, the size of the=20
group;
     Whether they use equipment, such as stoves, or use wood=20
for fires while visiting;
     Preferences for social conditions (i.e. acceptance of=20
crowded conditions designed to limit negative effects to the natural=20
resources); and
     Ideas for reducing the burden of information collected=20
(i.e. suggestions for distribution of permits and collection of fees);=20
and protecting resources.

Data collected in this information collection are not available from=20
other sources.
    The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is one of four areas, in=20
different regions of the country, where more than one study has=20
occurred in the past. The studies have sought to understand how use and=20
user characteristics are changing. Periodic evaluations of responses by=20
visitors about conditions and experiences, contributes to a systematic=20
effort to understand the effects of management policies and societal=20
influences on wilderness protection.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: 20 minutes for each respondent.
    Type of Respondents: Visitors to the Boundary Waters Canoe=20
Wilderness Area, Minnesota.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 500.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: Once.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 167 hours.

[[Page 1487]]

    Comment is invited on: (1) Whether this collection of information=20
is necessary for the stated purposes and the proper performance of the=20
functions of the agency, including whether the information will have=20
practical or scientific utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's=20
estimate of the burden of the collection of information, including the=20
validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance=20
the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected;=20
and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on=20
respondents, including the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or=20
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information=20
technology.
    All comments received in response to this notice, including names=20
and addresses when provided, will be a matter of public record.=20
Comments will be summarized and included in the request for Office of=20
Management and Budget approval.

    Dated: January 4, 2007.
Ann M. Bartuska,
Deputy Chief for Research & Development.
 [FR Doc. E7-361 Filed 1-11-07; 8:45 am]

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