[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 130 (Monday, July 8, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45075-45076]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-17043]
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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,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
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Federal Register / Vol. 67, No. 130 / Monday, July 8, 2002 /
Notices
[[Page 45075]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Information Collection; Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-
Determination Act of 2000
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 an extension of an information collection associated
with the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of
2000 (Public Law 106-393). Annually, each State Treasurer for those
States containing National Forest System lands is requested to notify
the Forest Service, by September 30, of the projected payment
distributions to each county and, when required, each county's elected
proportion of funds for Title II or for Title III of the act. Every two
years, these States are also asked to provide the Forest Service with
information on which counties elect to continue receiving their share
of the State's payment under the 25 percent fund (16 U.S.C. 500) and
which counties elect to receive their share of the State's full payment
amount under the 2000 act.
DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before September 6,
2002 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 the
Director, Policy Analysis Staff, Forest Service, USDA, Mail Stop 1131,
1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-1131.
Comments also may be submitted to the Director via facsimile
transmission to (202) 205-1074 or by e-mail to [email protected].
The public may inspect comments received at Forest Service
headquarters in the Yates Federal Building, 201 14th Street, SW., Room
1 SW., Washington, DC, during normal business hours. Visitors are
encouraged to call (202) 205-1775 to facilitate entry to the building.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Quinn, Policy Analysis Unit, (202)
205-1775 or [email protected]. Individuals who use telecommunication
devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay
Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern
Standard Time, Monday through Friday.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Description of Information Collection
Title: Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of
2000.
OMB Number: 0596-0165.
Expiration Date of Approval: 3/31/2002.
Type of Request: Extension with no revision.
Abstract: On May 23, 1908, the U.S. Congress enacted 16 U.S.C. 500,
which created what is commonly known as the Twenty-Five Percent Fund.
Under this act, States receive payment from the Federal Government of
twenty-five percent of the revenues generated from the national forests
that are located within their borders. On October 30, 2000, the
Congress enacted the Secure Rural Schools, and Community Self-
Determination Act (Public Law 106-393; hereafter, the act), which is
intended to restore stability and predictability to the annual payments
made to States and counties containing National Forest System lands and
public domain lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Like the
25 percent fund, the counties may use the proceeds only for the benefit
of public schools, roads, and other purposes.
The Secretary of Agriculture is directed to implement the act.
Under the act, eligible counties and their States need to reach an
agreement on the distribution of funds authorized by the act and the
amount that each county will receive as its share of the State's full
payment amount. Counties will need to determine whether they wish to
continue to receive their share of the State's twenty-five percent
payment or whether they choose their share of the State's full payment
amount through the act. A decision to receive a share of the State's 25
percent payment is effective for two years; a decision to receive a
share of the act's full payment amount stays in effect through fiscal
year 2006.
Those counties choosing the full payment and receiving more than
$100,000 under the act are required to make an election regarding the
proportion of their funds (between fifteen and twenty percent) to be
applied to Title II or Title III of the act. Title II allows the funds
paid under the act to be used for special projects on Federal lands
that meet the requirements described in Title II of the act, and Title
III allows the funds to be spent on county projects that meet the
requirements described under Title III of the act. Annually, each State
Treasurer is requested to notify the Forest Service, by September 30,
of the projected payment distributions to each county and, when
required, each county's elected proportion of funds for Title II or for
Title III.
Upon receipt, the Forest Service will evaluate the information from
States in order to properly implement the act. States and counties must
provide the requested information in order for the Forest Service to
properly calculate and distribute the State's full payment amount
authorized by Public Law 106-393 and, by extension, provide counties
with their commensurate share of that full payment amount. This
information collection is a vital and integral part of the Forest
Service's ability to implement the act. Failure to implement the act
would potentially lead to unnecessary harm to those schools and
counties that benefit from the funds.
Estimate of Annual Burden: 30 minutes.
Type of Respondents: State Treasurers and Counties.
Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 41.
Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 22 hours per year.
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
[[Page 45076]]
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.
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 information collection
submission for Office of Management and Budget approval.
Dated: July 2, 2002.
Elizabeth Estill,
Deputy Chief, Programs and Legislation.
[FR Doc. 02-17043 Filed 7-5-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P