fs_1300_26_PartA_FINAL 12-4

The Supporting Statement for OMB 0596-0010

Forest Industries, Residential Fuelwood, and Post Data Collection Systems

November 2009

Note: The supporting statement includes revisions to 05696-0010 Forest Industry census and incorporates previously approved discontinued information collection 0596-0009, Residential Fuelwood and Post Data Collection. Additionally, the statement requests to use statistical methods to analyze Residential Fuelwood and Post harvest and usage.

A. Justification

1. Explain the circumstances that make the col­lection of information necessary. Iden­tify any legal or administrative require­ments that necessitate the collection. Attach a copy of the appropriate section of each statute and regulation mandating or authorizing the col­lection of information.

Statues and Regulations: Resources Planning Act (RPA) of 1974 (PL 93-278) and the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C 1600 and PL 95-307, STAT. 353) amended by the Energy Security Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 8701).

The Resources Planning Act (RPA) of 1974 and the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978 amended by the Energy Security Act of 1980 assigned responsibility for the inventory of timberland resources to the USDA Forest Service. Specifically, the legislation calls for: (1) an analysis of present and anticipated uses, demand for, and supply of the renewable resources of the Nation’s forest and rangelands, and (2) an inventory, based on information developed by the Forest Service and other federal agencies, of present and potential renewable resources. The Act requires the Secretary of Agriculture to:

“…make and keep current a comprehensive survey and analysis of the present and prospective conditions and requirements for the renewable resources of the forest and rangelands of the United States…and of the supplies of such renewable resources, including a determination of the present and potential productivity of the land, and of such other facts as may be necessary and useful in the determination of ways and means needed to balance the demand for and supply of these renewable resources, benefits and uses meeting the needs of the people of the United States.”

The Act also calls for:

“resource management research activities related to managing forests and rangelands for energy production” and for “resource utilization research activities related to harvesting, transporting processing, marketing, distributing, and utilizing wood from forest and rangeland renewable resources; [and utilization research activities related to] producing and conserving energy…”

The current consumptive and non-consumptive timber use levels from public and private lands are a necessary factor in this assessment. These research activities will aid the Forest Service in preparation of future state and nationwide renewable resource assessments and programs.

2. Indicate how, by whom, and for what pur­pose the information is to be used. Except for a new collec­tion, indicate the actual use the agency has made of the infor­ma­tion received from the current collec­tion.

1. What information will be collected - reported or recorded? (If there are pieces of information that are especially burdensome in the collection, a specific explanation should be provided.)

The information collected includes the types, species, volumes, and sources of the timber products harvested throughout the United States.

Industrial respondents answer questions regarding:

• The type of logs or wood chips that have been harvested,

• The volume of logs or wood chips that have been received by the mill,

• The geographic locations from which the logs or wood chips have been harvested,

• The variety of tree species that have been harvested and received by the mill,

• The prices the mill has paid for logs or wood chips, and

• The volume of byproducts that have been produced because of the manufacturing process, such as bark, sawdust, and slabs.

Residential respondents answer questions regarding:

• The product that was harvested,

• The volume of product that was harvested,

• The geographic locations from which the product was harvested,

• The tree species that were harvested,

• The source (land use) where the product was harvested, and

• The volume, wood type, species, geographic location, and building type that residential fuelwood was consumed.

2. From whom will the information be collected? If there are different respondent categories (e.g., loan applicant versus a bank versus an appraiser), each should be described along with the type of collection activity that applies.

Industrial roundwood information is collected from forest product and other primary wood-using industries throughout the United States and mills in Canada that directly receive wood from the United States. Data is collected from all primary wood-using mills including small, part-time mills as well as large corporate entities that use harvested wood in log or chip form, such as sawlogs, veneer logs, pulpwood, and pulp chips, to manufacture products such as lumber, paper, and biomass energy. Since all primary wood-using mills are canvassed, the industrial roundwood data collection is not included in Part B of this Supporting Statement. The industrial roundwood canvasses are:

• The Pulpwood Received Questionnaire is sent annually for Eastern States and every five years in Western States. It is a complete mail canvass of wood pulp and wood composite board producers in the United States. The form is completed by all mills. The information provides an annual barometer of timber industry activity and specific data of current pulpwood demand.

• The Logs and Other Roundwood Received Questionnaire is used by cooperating State agencies to canvass all primary wood products industries in an individual state. The cooperating State agencies visit the primary wood products industries in person, mail the questionnaire, or call the primary wood products industries to collect the mills information.

Residential use information is collected to determine the harvest of forest resources for residential use (non-industrial). Data collection questionnaires are sent to a random sample of households in an individual state by the cooperating State agency. This questionnaire is sent to a random sample of all households (please see Part B of this Supporting Statement for details about survey design and the statistical methods performed). The residential use canvass is:

• The Residential Fuelwood and Post Questionnaire is collected by the cooperating State agency by mailing the questionnaire to a random sample of all households in an individual state throughout the United States.

3. What will this information be used for - provide ALL uses?

The data collected provides essential information to analyze current supply and drain on Nation’s timber resources for use as industrial and residential products as required by the Resources Planning Act (RPA) of 1974 (PL 93-278) and the Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978 (PL 95-307). Specifically, the information is used to identify current and potential timber supply problems and opportunities. This enables the development and modification of both public and private forest management programs and investments. In more detail:

• The Pulpwood Received Questionnaire provides an annual barometer of timber industry activity as well as information specific to current pulpwood demand.

• The Logs and Other Roundwood Received Questionnaire is used on a periodic basis every 2-5 years in the Eastern United States and about every five years in the Western United States. This canvass captures the State’s harvest of forest resources for industrial wood products not included in the Pulpwood Received Questionnaire.

• The Residential Fuelwood and Post Questionnaire is used on a periodic basis every 5-10 years to collect residential use of a State’s forest resources.

This information collection and analysis performed on the data is used by state foresters and the U.S. Forest Service in the development of state forest resource plans. General uses of the data are to provide information describing the timber resource and its use in detail, to evaluate trends in resource use, to forecast future anticipated level of drain on the resource, and to analyze the ramifications of any changes in timber drain (demand).

Specifically, the data is used in conjunction with economic indicators by:

• State foresters and the Forest Service in the development of state forest resource and economic development plans,

• All levels of the Federal government in the development of policy,

• The timber industry to develop long-range plans, make decisions, and identify raw material problems and opportunities,

• State government and industry to develop specific economic development plans for new forest-related industries, and

• Forestry and economic development agencies, as well as experts in the private sector.

4. How will the information be collected (e.g., forms, non-forms, electronically, face-to-face, over the phone, over the Internet)? Does the respondent have multiple options for providing the information? If so, what are they?

The information is collected by the U. S. Forest Service, Forest Inventory and Analysis [FIA] Program, agents of the FIA Program, or cooperating State agencies using regionally standardized questionnaires that ensure uniformity of results and places the minimum burden on the public. The information is collected from primary wood processors and residential households in a number of different states in a given calendar year. The number of primary wood processors canvassed varies as new mills come on line and existing mills close temporarily or go out of business. The number also varies by which states are scheduled to be canvassed in a particular year. When indicated, follow-up visits to obtain the information will be scheduled. The number of residential households surveyed varies with the population of the state.

The Pulpwood Received Questionnaire is sent annually to Eastern States and every five years to Western States in a complete mail canvass of pulpwood producers in the United States. Also, pulpwood processors in Canada that receive pulpwood from the United States are canvassed. The form is completed by all mills and provides an annual barometer of timber industry activity as well as information specific to current pulpwood demand. In the Northern Region, the questionnaires are sent and received by e-mail with a MS Excel workbook. Other Regions mail the questionnaire to pulpwood producers. The attached questionnaires will be updated to reflect the year that the information is collected.

The Logs and Other Roundwood Received Questionnaire is used to canvass all primary wood products industries in each state and is conducted 2-10 years for a given state. In some regions, the canvass is done entirely by mail. In other regions, all mills are visited by cooperating state and/or Forest Service personnel trained in the collection of the data. Follow-up visits are sometimes necessary. In most regions, the majority of the larger mills have been contacted concurrently with the state forest resource inventory. In the Southeast, data is collected more frequently due to an increased demand for information. In the Pacific Northwest, separate forms are sent to sawmills; veneer mills; shake and shingle mills; manufacturers of posts, poles, and pilings; and to log exporters. In other regions, these differences are accounted for on a single form. The attached questionnaires will be updated to reflect the data year and State that information is being collected for.

The Residential Fuelwood and Post Questionnaire is a mail survey of a random sample of households in a State, and is collect by cooperating State agencies. This survey is currently only conducted in one State on a five year cycle. This survey is currently conducted by mail but, in the past, has been done as a phone survey. The attached questionnaire will be updated to reflect the data year and State that information is being collected for.

5. How frequently will the information be collected?

See table 1 for the number of industrial roundwood mills and residential households that will be canvassed by questionnaire type, Region, and data collection year. The attached questionnaires will be updated for each survey by including the State name on the questionnaire for the State that is being canvassed. The Year will be added to the form for the Year that the data is being collected for.

The Pulpwood Received Questionnaire is sent annually to Eastern States, in a complete mail canvass of all pulpwood producers in the United States, and to pulpwood processors in Canada that receive pulpwood from the United States. In Western States, the Pulpwood Received Questionnaire is sent at the same time as all other primary wood products facilities in a given state on about a five year cycle.

The Logs and Other Roundwood Received Questionnaire is used to canvass all primary wood products industries in each state and is conducted every 2-5 years in the Eastern United States. In the Western United States, all primary wood processors are canvassed on a 5-year cycle.

The Residential Fuelwood and Post Questionnaire is currently only conducted in one State on a 5-year cycle.

Table 1 - Number of surveys by survey type, Region, data collection year¹, and data collection questionnaire used.

Survey type and Region					Data collection year						Data collection questionnaire
		Total			2010		2011		2012
Pulpwood Received Questionnaire
North	237		79			79		79		Pulpwood Received Questionnaire - North
South	261		87			87		87		Pulpwood Received Questionnaire - South
West	15		0			5		10		Pulpwood Received Questionnaire - West
Total	513		166			171		176
Logs and Other Roundwood Received Questionnaire
North	2,065		949			869		247		Logs & Roundwood Questionnaire - North Logs & Roundwood Questionnaire - Short
South	3,279		1,751			0		1,528		Logs & Roundwood Questionnaire - South
West	1,300		300			450		550		Logs & Roundwood Questionnaire - West, Bark - WEST, and Biomass - West
Total	6,644		3,000			1,319		2,325
Residential Fuelwood and Post Questionnaire
North	4,874			0		0		4,874		Residential Fuelwood & Post Questionnaire
South	0			0		0		0
West	0			0		0		0
Total	4,874			0		0		4,874

¹ Data collection year is the date that information is collected. The date of the information is for the prior year.

6. Will the information be shared with any other organizations inside or outside USDA or the government?

The results of these canvasses will be published as Research Notes, General Technical Reports, and Resource Bulletins. Such reports will contain tabular summaries of the information collected along with appropriate analysis of the information and impacts on particular resource supply and demand situations. Data may be presented in both graphic and tabular form. Each unit has individual versatility to present and analyze data. Information will be combined and summarized to avoid disclosure of individual respondent’s consumption.

The collected information is shared with state, regional, and national policy makers and program developers. Compiled and summarized results may be made available over the internet and will be available by contacting Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) units at each research station. In some instances, data may be retrieved and summarized for specific groups of counties or regions, for specific products, or for a specific size-class of mills.

7. If this is an ongoing collection, how have the collection requirements changed over time?

The collection requirements have not changed over time, though the questionnaires have evolved. The attached questionnaires have been developed with the cooperation of representatives of State forestry organizations and various primary wood using industries. Modifications, additions, and deletions have been based on respondent comments during the past decades of use and by identifying information needs. In their present form, the questionnaires are easily completed. Since the questionnaires are essentially the same as those previously used, it will not be necessary to pre-test before additional use.

3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of auto­mat­ed, elec­tronic, mechani­cal, or other techno­log­ical collection techniques or other forms of information technol­o­gy, e.g. permit­ting elec­tronic sub­mission of respons­es, and the basis for the decision for adopting this means of collection. Also describe any con­sideration of using in­fo­r­m­a­t­ion technolo­gy to re­duce bur­den.

The Northern Region is currently e-mailing the Pulpwood Received Questionnaire to all of the States in the Northern Region and Canadian pulp and composite panel mills that extract wood from this area. The e-mail has an attached MS Excel workbook with the instructions and the form for the mill to fill out and e-mail back; or print, fill out, and mail back to the Station.

The Northern Region attempted to collect mill information over the internet four years ago. A website was developed to collect individual mill information. The response rate was very low because mills did log into the site and fill out the online survey. The larger mills prefer to use e-mail with a survey form attached. The small mills that are operated by only a few people also had a low response rate due to low internet accessibility.

The Northern Region is currently considering trying to restart a Mill Canvass website to initially be used as a data entry site for canvassed mills. The data entry site will be used by USFS personnel and cooperators to enter in data collected by other means. This is still in the planning stages and will be a couple years until implemented. Once the data entry site is completed, USFS plans to again attempt collecting information from mills.

No technical or legal obstacles are interfering with burden reduction.

4. Describe efforts to identify duplica­tion. Show specifically why any sim­ilar in­for­mation already avail­able cannot be used or modified for use for the purpos­es de­scri­bed in Item 2 above.

This specific data is not available from any other source or study. No other Federal or state mandate or procedure assures the consistency and continuance of the information collected; or that the information is available to Federal, state, and private policymakers on a continuing and timely basis as called for by the Resources Protection Act (RPA).

Close contact between personnel from the U.S. Forest Service Research Stations, other Federal agencies, State forestry services, state agricultural extension offices, and universities keeps Forest Service personnel aware of other studies or surveys that might accomplish the objectives of this data collection. As available, alternative information is used to avoid duplication and minimize the public’s burden.

The Forest Service and State agencies cooperate in collecting this information. Sharing the collection burden and study results with State forestry personnel eliminates duplication of effort and the burden on the public. Some formal agreements exist between State agencies, the Forest Service, and other federal agencies outlining cooperative responsibilities in the collection and dissemination of data.

5. If the collection of information im­pacts small businesses or other small entities, describe any methods used to mini­mize burden.

The forms are designed to minimize the burden to businesses and entities of all sizes. Please note, as the size of the firm decreases, the types and volumes of the timber products decreases, such that the burden decreases substantially. Canvassing of small mills may involve personal contact with either State or Federal employees involved in data collection. These persons are able to assist mill owners or managers in completing the questionnaires. Return addressed and stamped envelopes are provided when personal contact is not possible or necessary. This is often the case with larger mills and corporations which may have more than one mill site across a broad geographic area.

6. Describe the consequence to Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not conducted or is con­ducted less fre­quent­ly, as well as any technical or legal obstacles to reducing burden.

The Forest Management Act of 1976 (RPA) states that: “to serve the national interest, the renewable resources program must be based on a comprehensive assessment of present and anticipated uses, demand for, and supply of renewable resources from the Nation’s public and private forest and rangelands …” To assure the necessary data for the periodic national assessments required by the RPA, this means:

1. Updating a current comprehensive inventory and analysis of timber resource use.

2. Applying scientific knowledge to support the inventory and analysis.

3. Providing related information for the development of the periodic assessments.

If the data were collected less frequently, Federal and State agencies, legislators, industrial firms and associations, colleges and universities, Congressional staffers, and researchers would not have the insight into national and regional trends in timber resource use and industry development needed to influence the policy decisions of the legislature and executive branches of both Federal and State governments.

7. Explain any special circumstances that would cause an information collecti­on to be con­ducted in a manner:

• Requiring respondents to report informa­tion to the agency more often than quarterly;

• Requiring respondents to prepare a writ­ten response to a collection of infor­ma­tion in fewer than 30 days after receipt of it;

• Requiring respondents to submit more than an original and two copies of any docu­ment;

• Requiring respondents to retain re­cords, other than health, medical, governm­ent contract, grant-in-aid, or tax records for more than three years;

• In connection with a statisti­cal sur­vey, that is not de­signed to produce valid and reli­able results that can be general­ized to the uni­verse of study;

• Requiring the use of a statis­tical data classi­fication that has not been re­vie­wed and approved by OMB;

• That includes a pledge of confidentiality that is not supported by au­thority estab­lished in statute or regu­la­tion, that is not sup­ported by dis­closure and data security policies that are consistent with the pledge, or which unneces­sarily impedes shar­ing of data with other agencies for com­patible confiden­tial use; or

• Requiring respondents to submit propri­etary trade secret, or other confidential information unless the agency can demon­strate that it has instituted procedures to protect the information's confidentiality to the extent permit­ted by law.

There are no special circumstances. The collection of information is conducted in a manner consistent with the guidelines in 5 CFR 1320.6.

8. If applicable, provide a copy and iden­tify the date and page number of publication in the Federal Register of the agency's notice, required by 5 CFR 1320.8 (d), soliciting com­ments on the information collection prior to submission to OMB. Summarize public com­ments received in response to that notice and describe actions taken by the agency in response to these comments. Specifically address com­ments received on cost and hour burden.

The Federal Register 60-day Notice for the renewal of this information collection was published on Thursday, October 1, 2009, in Volume 74, on pages 50762-50763. One comment was received from Jean Public on October 1, 2009, and reads as follows:

“THE TAXPAYERS OF THIS COUNTRY DID NOT DECIDE TO PAY FOR A FOREST SERVICE AGENCY SO THEY COULD BECOME PANDERERS TO THE LOGGING INDUSTRY. THAT WAS NEVER THE MISSION FOR THE GENERAL TAXPAYERS TO BE FUNDING FOR THE LOGGING INDUSTRY OR THE MINING INDUSTRY OR THE CATTLE GRAZING INDUSTRY, ALL OF WHOM ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF PUBLIC LANDS PAID FOR BY THE SWEAT AND BLOOD OF ALL TAXPAYERS OF THIS NATION.  THIS AGENCY HAS GOTTEN WAY OUT OF LINE AND HAS BECOME A ROGUE INDUSTRY WORKING ONLY FOR INDUSTRY.  YOU GET QUESTIONNAIRES ONLY FROM PROFITEERS - NOTHING IS GOTTEN FROM PROTECTORS OF THE FOREST SO YOU ARE GATHERING BIASED, SKEWED INFORMATION. IT IS TIME TO REACH OUT TO PROTECTORS OF THE FOREST SO THAT YOUR INFORMATION THAT YOU GATHER IS BALANCED. RIGHT NOW IT IS SERIOUSLY SKEWED AND BIASED.

JEAN PUBLIC 15 ELM ST FLORHAM PARK NJ07932”

On October 8, 2009, Jean Public was sent a letter explaining that the Forest Inventory and Analysis program has collected information concerning the status of the Nation’s forests since the 1930’s. The census and surveys that are covered by this OMB renewal process are important in determining the amount and uses of what is being harvested from these forests. The letter went on to explain that he FIA program has no regulatory authority and is dedicated to providing unbiased data on the status and trends of all forests in the United States for all citizens.

USFS informed Ms. Jean Public that the program has been reviewed and monitored by environmental organizations such as the Wilderness Society and Environmental Defense Fund as well as forest industry groups and public agencies to assure collection of unbiased information. During the 1990s, national Blue Ribbon Panels, including representatives from all of these groups and other citizen organizations, reviewed the FIA program and continue to provide input to protect the unbiased nature of data collected.

In addition to the letter, Ms. Jean Public was sent a copy of a brochure about historic trends in U.S. forests, a copy of the recent report on the forest resources of the United States, and a copy of a Blue Ribbon Panel report reviewing the FIA program.

Describe efforts to consult with persons out­side the agency to obtain their views on the availability of data, frequency of collection, the clarity of instructions and record keeping, disclosure, or reporting format (if any), and on the data elements to be recorded, disclosed, or reported.

Consultation with representatives of those from whom information is to be obtained or those who must compile records should occur at least once every 3 years even if the col­lection of information activity is the same as in prior periods. There may be circumstances that may preclude consultation in a specific situation. These circumstances should be explained.

The Forest Service contact eight previous respondents and asked them for comments on this information collection. Specifically, they were asked the following:

• How would you rate data availability: __Good __Fair __Poor

• How would you rate questionnaire clarity? __Good __Fair __Poor

• How would you rate client service? __Good __Fair __Poor

• Issues or concerns about data security?

Table 2 - Received Responses

Client	How would you rate data availability?	How would you rate questionnaire clarity?	How would you rate client service?	Issues or concerns about data security?	Additional issues/comments received?
Bud DeLano Thilmany LLC 600 Thilmany Rd. Kaukauna, WI 54130 Respondent	Fair	Fair	Fair	None	Lots of effort to work data down to the species level.
Nick Monkevich NewPage Corp. PO BOX 1008 Gladstone, MI 49829 Respondent	Good	Good	Good	None
Brian Lochner Georgia-Pacific Wood Products LLC 1220 W. Railroad St. Duluth, MN 55802 Respondent	Fair	Fair	Good	None
Hank Stelzer State Forestry Extension Specialist University of Missouri 203 ABNR Columbia, MO 65211 Data user	Good	Good	Excellent	None
Maxson Hence Consultant 6 Haversham Rd Westerly, RI 02891 Data user	Good	Good	Good	None
Tom Treiman Missouri Dept. of Conservation 1110 S. College Ave. Columbia, MO 65201 State Cooperator	Fair	Good	Good	None

Note: The Forest Service has taken these remarks into consideration for this collection renewal.

9. Explain any decision to provide any payment or gift to respondents, other than re-enumeration of contractors or grantees.

Participation is voluntary. No financial incentive (payment or gift) will be used to garner responses.

10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for the assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.

The Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) governs the confidentiality to be provided for information received by the Forest Service. This information collection is not covered by a Privacy Act System of Records. A statement on Roundwood Received for Processing and Wood Received for Pulp Manufacturing survey forms reads:

• ALL VOLUMES REPORTED WILL BE HELD CONFIDENTIAL AND WILL ONLY BE USED TO AGGREGATE TO THE COUNTY AND STATE LEVEL. Other information may be used to compile “Regional/Statewide Industry” directories.

• Please check the box to be omitted from “Regional/Statewide Industry” directories. __ “

The forest industry, through its various product associations, has assured voluntary submission of the data by its member firms.

Respondents to the Residential Fuelwood and Post Assessment are assured on the mailed survey form, and at the beginning of any phone interview that all information they provide is voluntary and will be held confidential. No names or addresses are placed on the questionnaires. Information concerning individual respondent’s identity or usage has never been released to the public.

11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual behavior or attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered private. This justification should include the reasons why the agency considers the questions necessary, the specific uses to be made of the information, the explanation to be given to persons from whom the information is requested, and any steps to be taken to obtain their consent.

There are no questions of a sensitive nature, such as those pertaining to sexual behavior, attitudes, religious beliefs, or other matters commonly considered private.

12. Provide estimates of the hour burden of the collection of information. Indicate the number of respondents, frequency of response, annual hour burden, and an explanation of how the burden was estimated.

Statistics pertaining to number of respondents and burden by each form used by the Regions are given in Table 3. The burden is calculated at 0.50 hours per Pulpwood Received Questionnaire and 0.84 hours per Logs and Other Roundwood Received Questionnaire to complete; and 0.07 hours per Residential Fuelwood and Post Questionnaire to complete. Column C is the total number of respondents which is an average of respondents over the three years covered by this approval.

For the industrial roundwood surveys, these estimates were developed from experience and consultations with Region personnel, past and potential industry respondents, State Forestry personnel, and forest products personnel familiar with these similar forms.

Past respondents were also questioned regarding the time taken to complete specific forms. One of the best continuing tests has been the voluntary completion of a form by a former non-respondent. The wide variation in time required to complete the forms is due to differences in length and detail of the forms based on the type of industry contacted; the type, volume, and species of the timber product used; user classes; and other information sought from each class of respondent and type of form.

For the residential use survey, the estimate is based on past experience from interviews of phone surveys. The wide variation in time required to complete the residential use form is due to the response time for non-users of forest resources for fuelwood or posts compared to the users of forest resources for fuelwood or posts.

• Indicate the number of respondents, frequency of response, annual hour burden, and an explanation of how the burden was estimated. If this request for approval covers more than one form, provide separate hour burden estimates for each form.

a) Description of the collection activity

b) Corresponding form number (if applicable)

c) Number of respondents

d) Number of responses annually per respondent,

e) Total annual responses (columns c x d)

f) Estimated hours per response

g) Total annual burden hours (columns e x f)

Table 3

(a) Description of the Collection Activity	(b) Form Number	(c) Number of Respondents (average per year)	(d) Number of responses annually per Respondent	(e) Total annual responses (c x d)	(f) Estimate of Burden Hours per response	(g) Total Annual Burden Hours (e x f)
Pulpwood Received Questionnaire	N/A	171	1	171	30 minutes (0.5 hour)	86
Logs and Other Roundwood Received Questionnaire	N/A	2,215	1	2,215	50 minutes (0.84 hour)	1,861
Residential Fuelwood and Post Questionnaire
Number of responses from 4,874 questionnaire mailed with 30% return rate	N/A	487	1	487	4 minutes (0.07 hour)	34
Number of non-responses from 4,874 questionnaire mailed with 30% return rate	N/A	1,138	1	1,138	2 minutes seconds (.033 hour)	38
Totals	- -	4,011	- -	4,011	- -	2,019

Record keeping burden should be addressed separately and should include columns for:

a) Description of record keeping activity: None

b) Number of record keepers: None

c) Annual hours per record keeper: None

d) Total annual record keeping hours (columns b x c): Zero

Provide estimates of annualized cost to respondents for the hour burdens for collections of information, identifying and using appropriate wage rate categories.

Table 4

(a) Description of the Collection Activity	(b) Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents (Hours)	(c)* Estimated Average Income per Hour	(d) Estimated Cost to Respondents
Pulpwood Received Questionnaire	86	$19.46	$1,674
Logs and Other Roundwood Received Questionnaire	1,861	$15.09	$28,082
Residential Fuelwood and Post Questionnaire
Costs to respondents	34	$18.68	$635.12
Cost to non-respondents	9	$18.68	$168.12
Totals	1,990	---	$30,559

*Estimated average income per hour is from “Table B-3. Average hourly and weekly earnings of production and nonsupervisory workers (1) on private nonfarm payrolls by industry sector and selected industry detail” for September 2009, from the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics website at http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t16.htm. (Accessed October 27, 2009).

13. Provide estimates of the total annual cost burden to respondents or record keepers resulting from the collection of information, (do not include the cost of any hour burden shown in items 12 and 14). The cost estimates should be split into two components: (a) a total capital and start-up cost component annualized over its expected useful life; and (b) a total operation and maintenance and purchase of services component.

The information collection and the data questions are such that no capital or startup costs are incurred. Respondents, other than the time burden, require no special equipment, extra personnel assistance, or incur any costs.

14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal government. Provide a description of the method used to estimate cost and any other expense that would not have been incurred without this collection of information.

The response to this question covers the actual costs the agency will incur as a result of implementing the information collection. The estimate should cover the entire life cycle of the collection and include costs, if applicable, for:

• Employee labor and materials for developing, printing, storing forms

• Employee labor and materials for developing computer systems, screens, or reports to support the collection

• Employee travel costs

• Cost of contractor services or other reimbursements to individuals or organizations assisting in the collection of information

• Employee labor and materials for collecting the information

• Employee labor and materials for analyzing, evaluating, summarizing, and/or reporting on the collected information

Planning	$65,448
Printing Forms (includes changes to forms)	1,500
Correspondence/Postage/Mailing,	1,400
Canvass/Follow-up	144,319
Editing, coding, tabulating, analysis, writing	458,339
Printing/publishing	45,846
Dissemination/Mailing	2,500
Training and Miscellaneous	56,894
Total	$776,246

15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments reported in items 13 or 14 of OMB form 83-I.

Changes to Item 13: This collection is a combination of two separate information collections: the renewal of a previously approved information collection package Forest Industries Data Collection (OMB 0596-0010) and the inclusion of a previously approved information collection package Residential Fuelwood and Post Assessment (OMB 0596-0009).

The estimated total burden of 1,990 hours (Table 3) is an increase of 528 burden hours from the previously approved collection. The change is the result of additional 40 pulp and composite panel mills, annually, and an average of 493 mills per year that were not included in the previous Forest Industries Data Collection OMB 0596-0010. This action will allow for the complete census of the Northern Region. The addition of the Residential Fuelwood and Post Questionnaire will add an additional 43 burden hours.

Changes and adjustments to Item 14: The large increase in annualized total cost to the Federal government from $312,342 per year to $776,246 is based on estimated wages for 6 FTE Federal employees in the Northern and Southern Research Stations, and the estimated amount the Western Research Stations will pay the University of Montana, Bureau of Business and Economic Research, to collect the information. The previously approved information collection package was calculated using only the Southern Region. Also, the addition of the Residential Fuelwood and Post Questionnaire increased the annualized total cost by about $25,000 annually. The total cost to the Federal government for the Residential Fuelwood and Post Questionnaire is not an actual increase as this Data Collection Package was previously a separate OMB approved Data Collection Package.

16. For collections of information whose results are planned to be published, outline plans for tabulation and publication.

Data are summarized by various response categories providing information by location, species, product, and categories. This information is compared, contrasted, and evaluated with earlier collections, timber resource supply statistics, and industrial output information.

The results of this information collection will be published as Forest Service Research Notes, General Technical Reports, and Resource Bulletins. The reports will contain tabular summaries of the information collected along with appropriate analysis of the information and impacts on particular resource supply and demand conditions.

Compiled and summarized results may be available over the internet and will be provided by contacting each research station. In some instances, data may be retrieved and summarized by specific counties or regions, by specific products, or by a specific size-class of mills. Data may be presented in both graphic and tabular form. Each unit has individual versatility in the manner in which data is presented and analyzed.

17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection, explain the reasons that display would be inappropriate.

The expiration date for the OMB approval will be displayed on the forms.

18. Explain each exception to the certification statement identified in item 19, "Certification Requirement for Paperwork Reduction Act."

The agency is able to certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.

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