Federal Timber Purchasers Committee Comments 2007

Federal
Timber
Purchasers
Committee
January 12,2007
Lathrop Smith
Forest~anagement
USDA Forest Service
1400 Independence Ave, S W
~ail Stop 1103
Washington, DC 20250-1103
VIA FAX TO 202-205-1045
RE: Comments on Information Collection; Request for Comment; Operating Plans
(Federal Register: October 19,2006 Volume 71, Number 202, Page 61706)

The Federal Timber Purchasers Committee (FTPC) hereby submits comments in
response to the above referenced Federal Register Notice request for comment. The
FTPC is a nationwide coalition of organizations with interest and expertise in federal
timber sales and related contract issues. Our members purchase, harvest, and process
Forest Service timber and have a direct economic interest in Forest Service rules,
policies, and procedures that affect timber sales.
The FTPC supports the use and requirement of operating plans for timber sales exceeding 2
years in length. The FTPC generally has found that the collection of information in the
operating plan is appropriate and should provide the agency with the information necessary
to oversee and monitor the operation of a timber sale. Information collected includes, but is
not limited to, detailing use of best management practices and measures used to protect
public and environmental safety. The FTPC believes the agencies' estimate of burden, 1.6
hours per response, to be accurate and sufficient, recognizing that more time would be
needed for larger sales or special circumstances. At this time the FTPC does not suggest any
enhancement to the information collection process, nor do we suggest ways to minimize the
collection burden, as we feel this is not a considerable or significant burden to the timber
purchasers and those affected.
In summary, the Federal Timber Purchasers Committee (FTPC) supports the use of
operating plans. We urge the Forest Service to ensure this tool can be successfully

utilized to further the contractual obligations of the Forest Service to the timber
contractor.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment. If you would like to discuss our experience in
the use of the operating plan for federal timber sales, do not hesitate to contact me at 530938-5725 or [email protected].

Sincerely,

Steve Henson
Chairman
Federal Timber Purchasers Committee