Justification Form





Justification for an Information Collection under the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service’s Federal Lands Transportation Generic Clearance (OMB Control No. 0596-0236)



March 2024



Introduction: Federal Lands Transportation Generic Clearance Submission, OMB Control Number 0596-0236



The Interagency Generic Clearance for Federal Land Management Agencies Collaborative Visitor Feedback Surveys on Recreation and Transportation Related Programs and Systems (Forest Service, Federal Lands Transportation Generic Clearance) is intended to help Federal Land Management Agencies (FLMAs) measure customers’ transportation-related experiences in order to improve on any transportation-related issues or problems and to promote planning across land units, regionally and nationally.

A brief overview of the steps involved in submitting an Information Collection Request (ICR) is provided below. For more detailed information, along with a list of bureau/office contacts, please see the Best Practices and Guidance document developed specifically for this generic clearance.

(See: https://flh.fhwa.dot.gov/other/documents/flpp/CVTS-Best-Practices-and-Guidance-May-2022.pdf).

1. If more than one bureau/office (e.g., FWS and BLM) is collaborating on an IC, the partners must select a “lead” bureau/office to spearhead the effort, along with a contact person from the lead bureau/office.

2. The Information Collection Clearance Officer (ICCO) from the lead bureau/office must review the ICR and provide feedback to the lead bureau/office contact.

3. After the ICCO review has been completed (including a review by the DOI Information Collection Clearance Coordinator), the ICCO must forward the ICR to the USDA Forest Service and copy the CVTS FLMA Generic Clearance Coordinator ([email protected]).

4. After the Forest Service ICCO review, the USDA Departmental Clearance Officer submits the ICR to the OMB desk officer for the Forest Service via ROCIS.

5. The OMB desk officer reviews the ICR and provides comments. The lead bureau/office revises the ICR as necessary. Upon approval by OMB, a Notice of Action is issued.

Instructions for Completing the Justification Form

1. Information Collection (IC) Title/Date Submitted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, Office of Regulatory and Management Services: Insert title for the proposed IC (e.g., survey, focus group, comment card, etc.). Insert date that the expedited approval package will be submitted to Forest Service. Reminder: Please submit the package through the lead bureau/office Information Collection Clearance Officer and copy the FLMA Generic Clearance Coordinator.

2. Lead Bureau/Office: Insert the name of the lead bureau/office conducting the survey.

3. Abstract: Summarize the proposed study with an abstract not to exceed 150 words.

4. Bureau/Office Point of Contact Information: Complete the bureau/office contact information. Forest Service will communicate with OMB initially and then direct them to the point of contact listed here (and to the IC Clearance Officer listed in #6 below) throughout the remainder of the approval process. Forest Service should be included on any correspondence pertaining to this IC.

5. Principal Investigator (PI) Conducting the IC: Complete information about the PI who will be conducting the IC, if different than Point of Contact listed in #4. Otherwise note: Same as #4.

6. Lead bureau/office IC Clearance Officer Reviewing the IC: Provide the name and contact information for the ICCO from the lead bureau/office who reviewed the IC.

7. IC Dates: List the time period in which the IC will be conducted, including specific starting and ending dates. The starting date should be at least 45 days after the submission date. The request for expedited approval, and submission of a complete and accurate approval package, must be made at least 45 calendar days prior to the first day the PI wishes to begin the IC.

8. Type of IC Instrument: Check the type(s) of information collection instrument(s) that will be used. If other, please explain.

9. Data Collection Instrument: Explain how the data collection method and instrument (e.g., survey, interview guides, discussion guides, etc.) were developed. With whom did you consult during the development? Who were the social science and/or statistical experts who reviewed the instruments? How did you address any concerns raised or improvements suggested? Did you pretest the data collection instrument? If yes, how did you address any concerns raised or improvements suggested? (Note: A description of any pre-testing and peer review of the methods and/or instrument is highly recommended.)

10. Which of the six topic areas from the Compendium of Questions will be addressed in your IC? Check all that apply. For each question in your survey (or discussion guide or comment card), please indicate the Compendium Topic Area and the unique question identifier from the Compendium. For any questions that are not taken from the Compendium, please indicate “NEW” in the table.

Sample table:

Survey Question Number	Compendium Topic Area	Compendium Question Identifier
Q1	#1- Respondent characteristics	GROUP1
Q2	#1- Respondent characteristics	VHIS7
Q3	#2 Traveler Information	TINFO1
Q4	#2 Traveler Information	NEW
Etc.

11. Methodology: Explain how the IC will be conducted. Provide a description of the methodology including: (a) The population of interest (b) How will the users/visitors be sampled? (if fewer than all users/visitors will be surveyed); (c) What percentage of users/visitors asked to participate will respond, and (d) What actions are planned to increase the response rate? If statistics are generated, this description must be specific and include each of the following:

- The respondent universe,

- The sampling plan and all sampling procedures;

- How the instrument will be administered;

- Expected response rate and confidence levels; and

- Strategies for maximizing response rate and dealing with potential non-response bias.



12. Total Number of Initial Contacts and Expected Number of Respondents: Provide an estimated total number of initial contacts and the total number of expected respondents.

13. Estimated Time to Complete Initial Contact and Time to Complete Survey Instrument: Estimate the time to complete the initial contact and the time to complete the information collection (e.g., survey, comment card, focus group, etc.) in minutes.

14. Total Burden Hours: Provide the total number of burden hours. The total burden hours should account for the amount of time required to instruct the respondents and the amount of time required for the respondent to complete the survey or other data collection mechanism.

15. Reporting Plan: Provide a brief description of the reporting plan for the data being collected.

16. Justification, Purpose and Use: Provide a brief justification for the information collection, its purpose, goals, and use (including utility to managers). Specifically, describe how data will be tabulated and what statistical techniques will be used to generalize the results to the entire user population. Describe how data from the survey will be used. Describe how you will acknowledge any limitations related to the data, particularly in cases where we obtain a lower than anticipated response rate. Note whether or not the information collection is intended to measure a Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) performance measure.

Instructions for Checklist

Review the checklist to ensure you have met the requirements for submission and that your approval package includes the required items.

Instructions for Certification Form:

Complete the Form and include the names of those who certify that the Justification Form meets the requirements of the generic clearance (OMB control number 0596-0236).

Justification for Submission under Federal Lands Transportation Generic Clearance (OMB Control Number 0596-0236)

U.S. Department of Agriculture-Forest Service Office of Regulatory and Management Services

Forest Service Tracking Number: (for internal use only)

			Date Submitted to Forest Service/USDA:
1.	IC Title:
2.	Bureau/Office:



3.	Abstract: (not to exceed 150 words)

4.

Bureau/Office Point of Contact Information

First Name:

Last Name:

Title:

Bureau/Office:

Street Address:

City:

State:

Zip code:

Phone:

Fax:

Email:

5.

Principal Investigator (PI) Information [If different from #4]

First Name:

Last Name:

Title:

Bureau/Office:

Address:

City:

State:

Zip code:

Phone:

Fax:

Email:

6.

Lead agency IC Clearance Officer Reviewing the IC:

First Name

Last Name

Title

Phone

Email

7.

IC Dates

(mm/dd/yyyy)

to

(mm/dd/yyyy)

8.

Type of Information Collection Instrument (Check ALL that Apply)

__Intercept

__Telephone

__Mail

__Electronic

__Interviews

__Focus Groups

__Comment Cards

__Other

Explain:

9. Instrument and Method Development: Who assisted in development of the methodology, questionnaire and/or statistics? Describe any pre-testing and/or peer review that was conducted. How were improvements integrated?
10. Which of the six areas from the Compendium of Questions will be addressed in your IC? (Check all that apply). . Topic Area #1: Respondent Characteristics Topic Area #2: Traveler Information Topic Area #3: Trip Behaviors Topic Area #4: Transportation Use and Travel Related Conditions Topic Area #5: Assessment of Visitor Experience Topic Area #6: Economic Impact and Visitor Spending/Costs In addition, for each question in your survey instrument (or discussion guide, comment card, etc), please indicate the Compendium Topic Area and the unique question identifier from the Compendium. If the question is not taken from the Compendium, indicate “NEW.” See the instructions for a sample table.
11. Methodology: (Use as much space as needed; if necessary, include additional explanation on separate page).
Population (i.e., Respondent Universe)
Sampling Plan/Procedure
Instrument Administration
Expected Response Rate and Confidence Levels
Strategies for maximizing response rate and dealing with potential non-response bias
12.	Total Number of Initial Contacts and Expected Number of Respondents
13.	Estimated Time to Complete Initial Contact and Time to Complete Instrument
14.	Total Burden Hours Contacts Respondents ----------------- Total
15. Reporting Plan:

16. Justification, Purpose, and Use:
IC Justification and Purpose
IC Goals
How will the results be used (e.g., utility to Managers)?
How will the data be tabulated and analyzed? What statistical techniques will be used to generalize the results to the entire customer population? How will limitations on use of data be handled? If the survey results in a lower than anticipated response rate, how will you address this when reporting the results? (Use as much space as needed; if necessary include additional explanation on separate page).
Is this survey intended to measure a Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) performance measure? If so, please include an excerpt from the appropriate document. (Use as much space as needed; if necessary, include additional explanation on separate page).

Checklist for Submitting a Request to Use Federal Lands Transportation Generic Clearance, OMB Control Number 0596-0236

• All questions in the survey instrument are within the scope of one of the USDA-Forest Service Generic Clearance topic areas (see Compendium of Questions).



• The approval package is being submitted to the Forest Service Office of Regulatory and Management Services at least 45 days prior to the first day the PI wishes to administer the IC to the public.



• A qualified statistician has reviewed and approved your request [if survey].



• Your bureau/office Information Collection Clearance Officer has reviewed and approved the approval package.

• When you forward the approval package to USDA Forest Service, copy the FLMA Generic Clearance Coordinator ([email protected]).



The approval package includes:

• A completed Justification

•  A signed Certification Form

• A copy of the survey instrument, comment card, or discussion guide.

• Other supporting materials, such as:

• Cover letters

• Introductory scripts for initial contact of respondents

• Necessary Paperwork Reduction Act compliance language

• Follow-up letters/reminders sent to respondents



The survey methodology presented in the Justification includes a specific description of:

• The respondent universe.

• The sampling plan and all sampling procedures, including how respondents will be selected.

• How the instrument will be administered.

• Expected response rate and confidence levels.

•  Strategies for maximizing response rate and dealing with potential non-response bias.

• A description of any pre-testing and peer review of the methods and/or the instrument.

• The burden hours reported in the Justification include the number of burden hours associated with the initial contact of all individuals in the sample (i.e., including refusals), if applicable, and the number of burden hours associated with individuals expected to participate.

The package is properly formatted (Word) and submitted to the Office of Regulatory and Management Services electronically. 

Certification Form for Submission Under OMB Control Number 0596-0236

This form should only be used if you are submitting a collection of information for approval under the

the Federal Lands Transportation Generic Clearance Submission, OMB Control Number 0596-0236.

If the collection does not satisfy the requirements of the Generic Clearance, you should follow the regular PRA clearance procedures described in 5 CFR 1320.

Bureau/Office
IC Title (Please be specific)
Estimated Number Contacts Respondents			Time per Response Contacts Respondents
			Total Burden Hours Contacts Respondents ----------------- Total
Bureau/Office Contact (who can best answer questions about content of the submission):
Name				Phone
Certification: The collection of information requested by this submission meets the requirements of OMB control number 0596-0236
Bureau/Office Qualified Statistician						DATE
Bureau/Office Information Collection Clearance Officer						DATE
Forest Service, Office of Regulatory and Management Services						DATE

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