0596-0078 NWOS Supporting Statement A

The Supporting Statement A for OMB # 0596-0078
National Woodland Owner Survey

Note: This request is for the renewal of the previously approved information collection OMB 0596-0078, the National Woodland Owner Survey (NWOS). The USDA Forest Service has completed the assessment in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and requests approval from OMB to continue the collection of information from the owners and managers of forestland across the United States.

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.

Statutes and Regulations:

• Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (Pub. L. 93-278 Sec. 3)

• Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Research Act of 1978 (Pub. L. 95-307 Sec. 3)

• Agriculture Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (Pub. L. 105-185 Sec. 253)

• Food Security Act of 1985 as amended through Public Law 106–580 (Pub. L. 99-198 Sec. 1770)

• Agricultural Act of 2014, aka 2014 Farm Bill (Pub. L. 113-79 Sec. 8301)

In the United States, there are an estimated 816 million acres of forests and other wooded land¹. Over half of this land is privately owned by an estimated 11.5 million private ownerships that control over half of the nation’s forests and other wooded land. The remaining forestland is managed by over a thousand federal, state, and local government agencies. How the forests will be used is ultimately the decision of the owners and managers of the forestland, operating within legal, economic, and other constraints. To better understand this critical link in the forest system, the USDA Forest Service requests permission to survey owners and managers of forestland on why they own/manage their land, how they use it, and what they intend to do with it. The collection provides vital up-to-date information on these topics.

The main authority for this collection is the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974. The Act states that the Forest Service is tasked with “assessing the Nation’s renewable resources” and this “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 forests.” A “comprehensive assessment” and a statement that “the majority of the Nation’s forests and rangeland is under private, State, and local governmental management and the Nation’s major capacity to produce goods and services is based on these non-federally managed renewable resources, the Federal Government should be a catalyst to encourage and assist these owners in the efficient long-term use and improvement of these lands and their renewable resources consistent with the principles of sustained yield multiple use” has been interpreted to mean the need to understand land ownership patterns and the attitudes and behaviors of owners and managers. A survey of owners and managers was deemed appropriate for meeting this mandate. This was reaffirmed in the 2014 Farm Bill which included a statement directing the Forest Inventory and Analysis program, which implements the National Woodland Owner Survey, to provide an “increased understanding … of the over 10,000,000 family forest owners, their demographics, and the barriers to forest stewardship.”

Rationale for Renewal: The Forest Service seeks to renew OMB 0596-0078, the National Woodland Owner Survey (NWOS), in order to keep statistics on forest owners of the United States up to date. The program will continue to analyze and publish results on a timely basis.

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.)

For the next iteration of the NWOS, the Forest Service proposes the continued use of several, interrelated forms: long, short, state-specific, science modules, corporate, public, and urban. The long form most closely matches surveys from past iterations of NWOS and forms the basis for all other forms. All of these forms/modules were included in the previously approved information collection package. Most private rural owners will receive the full long form survey. A subset of rural private owners, as described below, may receive either a state-specific version of the survey or one of the science modules. These are based on the short form survey, a subset of the long form, with additional questions, but designed so there is not more respondent burden than the long form. Science modules are intended to focus more intensely on a specific theme, including wildfire, invasive plants, climate change, landowner values, and decision making. Because not all issues are relevant for all regions of the country, the state-specific forms will allow for questions to be asked in particular states. Large corporate rural owners will receive a corporate version of the survey that excludes questions that are not relevant to them, such as demographics, and addresses other issues that are more relevant to these types of ownerships. A separate survey will go out to a sample of public land managers. Per direction of the 2014 Farm Bill (Section 8301), the Forest Inventory and Analysis program is expanding into urban areas. As part of these efforts, landowners with green space in designated urban areas will receive a survey focused on topics relevant to their land. The objectives of these different forms is to collect comparable information that is most relevant to different types of owners in different areas and collect information on an array of relevant topics without putting undue burden on any one respondent.

In addition to the quantitative data collected through these survey instruments, focus groups and cognitive interviews will also be utilized. The focus groups will be used for initial exploration of new topics, such as the science modules. The cognitive interviews will be used to test survey instruments.

Below are summaries of the elements that are being proposed for collection under each of the survey forms. Wording of specific questions are included the attached appendix.

The NWOS Long Form will ask information pertaining to:

• Size of holdings of forestland

• Reasons for owning forestland

• Whether the forestland is part of a primary home, secondary home, and/or farm

• Type of ownership (e.g., individual, trust, corporation, etc.)

• Primary decision maker

• Land acquisition and sale history

• Awareness of and participation in conservation programs

• Harvesting of timber products

• Collection of non-timber forest products

• Written forest management plans

• Forestland management activities in the past five years

• Anticipated forestland management activities in the next five years

• Recreational activities

• Public access

• Management advice

• Concerns about potential threats

• Plans for selling or otherwise passing on land

• Conservation attitudes

• Demographics

The NWOS Short Form will be a subset of the Long Form. Many of the same questions will be asked, but less detail will be collected. The Short Form will collect data related to:

• Size of forestland holdings

• Reasons for owning forestland

• Whether the forestland is part of a primary home, secondary home, and/or farm

• Type of ownership

• Primary decision maker

• Land acquisition and sale history

• Awareness of and participation in conservation programs

• Harvesting of timber products

• Written forest management plans

• Forestland management activities in the past five years

• Anticipated forestland management activities in the next five years

• Recreational activities

• Public access

• Concerns about potential threats

• Plans for selling or otherwise passing on land

• Conservation attitudes

• Demographics

The following topics will be included in one or more of the NWOS State-specific Forms, but no state will include all of the elements. If a state chooses to intensify (provide support and funds to sample more than the standard NWOS sample size), the additional surveys that will go to the landowners in their state will include the NWOS Short Form and a subset of the questions related to the following topics:

• Proximity to public forestland

• Awareness of details of tax programs and decision making regarding taxes

• Awareness and use of state programs, opportunities and resources available to landowners

• Awareness of, participation in, and barriers to ecosystem services markets

• Willingness to pay for management services

• Intentions of landowners to use cost-share programs in the next five years

• Acres covered by management plans and whether they are certified Stewardship Plans

• Details on written forest management plans

• Details on specific management activities

• Importance of reasons for managing land

• Mining/extracting of resources on their lands and neighboring lands

• Presence of fish-bearing streams on their forestland and management actions related to the streams

• Details on planning for and conducting timber harvests

• Experience with loggers approaching landowners to harvest timber

• Trees cut/removed for fence posts

• Experience with theft of timber and non-timber forest products

• Attitudes about the impacts of timber harvesting on the environment, aesthetics, and local economy

• Awareness of and experience with agroforestry

• Interest in landscape-scale planning and management

• Interactions with neighbors and willingness to cooperate

• If they know a forester, service forester, or land trust

• Involvement and satisfaction with forestry professionals

• Membership in natural resource and landowner organizations

• Preferred sources of news and information

• The quality of the advice received.

• Interest in information or advice on specific topics (e.g. timber markets, planting seedlings, markets for non-timber forest products)

• Level of concern and awareness about the health of their forestland

• Future of their forestland in next 50 years

• Attitudes on keeping land intact for community and for improving the environment

• Details of land transfer to the next generation or another family member

• Inclusion of will, trust, or limited liability company in future land transfer plans

The NWOS Science Modules will be appended to the Short Form and will be administered to a random sample of landowners. The five science modules include: wildfire, invasive plants, climate change, landowner decision-making, and landowner values. Below are the topics proposed for each module. These will be utilized contingent on additional funding.

• Wildfire

  • Personal experience with wildfire in the past five years

  • Level of concern about wildfire on or near their forestland

  • Activities done to reduce the risk of wildfire on forestland

  • How landowner disposed of leftover woody material on their forestland

  • Communication between other private landowners and public land managers regarding wildfire

  • Cooperation between private landowners when reducing wildfire risk

• Invasive plants

  • Familiarity with invasive plants

  • Extent of invasive plants on their forestland

  • Level of concern over invasive plants on their forestland and nearby land

  • Level of confidence in ability to remove invasive plants

  • Activities related to control of invasive plants

• Climate change

  • Beliefs regarding the general phenomenon of climate change

  • Beliefs of the cause of climate change

  • Views on the state of science regarding climate change

  • Views on the behaviors related to reducing climate change

  • Concerns over climate change in general

  • Concerns over climate change on the landowner’s forestland

  • Attitudes towards the effects of climate change on the landowner’s forestland

  • Past management activities related to climate change

  • Future management activities related to climate change

• Landowner decision making

  • Ownership structure

  • Age range of owners

  • Number of owners that reside on the forestland

  • Number of owners that use the forestland as a second home

  • Communication regarding tree harvesting

  • Communication regarding selling land

• Landowner values

  • Level and frequency of enjoyment of the beauty the forestland affords

  • Level and frequency of enjoyment of the peace and quiet the forestland affords

  • Level of enjoyment from knowing forestland provides learning opportunities

  • Level of enjoyment regarding the ecosystem services provided by their forestland

  • Level of enjoyment related to forestland providing open and undeveloped space

  • Level of enjoyment related to owning forestland for its own right and its own purposes

  • Level of enjoyment of owning forestland to provide benefits to other people in the current generation

  • Level of enjoyment of owning forestland for others to benefit from in the future

  • Level of enjoyment of owning forestland for the benefits it would provide in the future

The NWOS Urban Form will be a modified subset of the Long Form and will be used to survey owners of green space in geographic areas considered to be urban by the USDA Forest Service’s Forest Inventory and Analysis program. Some of the questions from the long form will be asked, but much of the survey will focus on aspects of the social context and landscape unique to urban locations. The topics for the Urban Form will include:

• Ownership structure

• Housing type

• Number of properties owned

• Features of the property

• Reasons for owning

• Number of people who are a part of the household

• When the property was acquired

• Property use and management activities in the past five years

• Anticipated property use and management activities in the next five years

• Involvement and familiarity with the neighborhood/community

• Perceptions of neighborhood and/or community status

• Perceptions of urban greenscape benefits

• Awareness of local property management ordinances and services

• Property management advice received

• Attitudes towards wildlife, trees, landscaping, and community

• Concerns relating to the urban greenscape

• Demographic information

The NWOS Corporate Form will be based on a modified subset of the Short Form and will be implemented nationally to corporate forest owners with holdings of at least 45,000 acres of forestland. Some of the questions from the short form will be asked so that national estimates on all private forestland ownerships can be obtained, but much of the survey will focus on aspects relevant to large, corporate forest ownerships. The Corporate Form topics will include:

• Size of holdings

• Company structure

• When the land was acquired

• If the company has transferred land in the past five years

• Reasons for owning and managing the land

• Details about employing logging crews

• Resources dedicated to wildfire suppression

• Resources dedicated to research and development

• Details on who manages the forestland

• Written management plans

• Timber products harvested

• Forest management activities in the past five years

• Anticipated forest management activities in the next five years

• Details about stand structure, tree planting, and timber stand improvement practices

• Awareness of and participation in conservation programs

• Recreational activities

• Public access

• Perception of benefits their land provides to their community

• Activities the company engages in with its community

• Percentage of company’s revenue derived from forestland operations

• Sources of revenue from the company’s forested and other wooded land

• Details about long-term timber or fiber supply agreements

• Plans to sell land in the next five years

The NWOS Public Form will be based on a modified subset of the Short Form and will be implemented nationally to managers of public forests. The topics for Public Lands Form will include:

• Size of holdings

• Reasons for owning/managing

• Forest management activities in the past five years

• Anticipated management activities on forestland in the next five years

• Recreational activities

• Public access

• Written forest management plans

• Awareness of and participation in green certification programs

• Concerns about potential threats from forestland

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.

Information will be collected from a statistically selected sample of the individuals, families, businesses, tribes, and other private groups that own management activities in the United States. In addition, we will collect data from a statistical sample of managers of public lands.

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

Data from the National Woodland Owner Survey will be used by federal and state forestry agencies, academics, private consultants, landowners, non-governmental organizations, and other groups interested in understanding the owners and managers of forestland in the United States. This information will be used to describe ownership patterns in national reports, such as Forest Resources of the United States, 2012, and it will be included in many state-level forest resource reports. Federal and state agencies use this information to design, implement, and monitor forestry assistance programs, such as the U.S. Forest Service’s Forest Stewardship Program.

Forestry consultants, non-governmental organizations, and the forest industry use this information to make strategic planning decisions, such as where to site new biomass processing facilities, what services to offer, or where to concentrate conservation efforts. Extension agents and other educators use the information to design educational materials and programs. University and other researchers use the data for a myriad of reasons, ranging from assessments of minority landowners to factors influencing participation rates.

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?

A self-administered, mail-back questionnaire will be the primary data collection method. Owners of forestland will also have the option to respond online. Telephone follow-ups will be used to test for non-response biases (see Supporting Statement part B: Question 3) and increase response rates. Standard survey methods (i.e., Internet, Phone, Mail, and Mixed-Mode Surveys: The Tailored Design Method by D. Dillman, J. Smyth, and L. Christian) will be used to contact owners and maximize response rates. In addition to the self-administered questionnaires, cognitive interviews and focus groups will be conducted. Prior to the first mail-out of the self-administered questionnaires, the cognitive interviews and focus groups will be used to test questions, get a deeper understanding of the responses, and to investigate emerging topics.

5. How frequently will the information be collected?

The complete dataset will be refreshed once every five years. No forestland ownership will be asked to respond more than once every five years.

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

The record-level (raw) data will not be available outside the research team and no statistical summaries will be released that could potentially be used to identify individual respondents. The statistical summaries will be widely distributed through publications, online data access tools, and custom analyses. These products will be available to public agencies, private organizations, and individuals.

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

The NWOS is a renewal of a previously approved information collection, and the basic data collection requirements have remained constant. The questions will remain the same from the previous reinstatement of the NWOS. This will provide consistency through time and allow for trend analyses.

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 primary data collection instrument is a self-administered survey. All respondents will be given the option to complete the form online or to complete a hard-copy survey. The multi-modal approach will reduce burden by allowing respondents to select the method that is easiest and most convenient for them.

In the telephone interview follow-ups, computer aided telephone interview (CATI) instruments will be used. These computer programs include predefined skip patterns based on the answers already provided by the respondent. These automated skip patterns can significantly reduce the amount of burden placed on respondents by limiting the number of questions they are asked.

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.

The NWOS personnel work closely with other federal and state agencies as well as universities to constantly monitor research related to forestland owners. There are no other studies of similar extent or content. Some smaller-scale (e.g., state or sub-state) studies have been conducted. However, these smaller studies are generally incompatible with each other because the sampling procedures are different and the data collected usually vary. Most of these smaller studies use the NWOS to provide the context for their studies. There are no other surveys that address the concerns and activities of forestland owners from a national perspective.

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

The population of interest for the NWOS is all forestland owners of in the United States, which includes some small businesses. This collection will contact approximately 100 small-businesses per year. No small business will be asked to participate more than once every five years. The collection has limited the number of responses requested, the length of the survey, and provides multiple response options (e.g., paper and electronic) to minimize the burden on small businesses.

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.

Data gathered from this information collection are not available from other sources. If these data are not collected or collected on a less frequent basis, the Forest Service would not be able to meet its legislative requirements. In particular, the Forest Service’s information and knowledge of owners of forestland and their concerns and activities will be severely limited. The ability of researchers and others to analyze trends and ascertaining emerging issues would be nonexistent. The gaps in information would result in poor planning and implementation of federal programs, such as federal landowner assistance programs, incomplete assessments of the country’s resources, and a general lack of data about this important and dynamic group of owners who control a substantial portion of the nation’s natural resources. The Forest Service’s inability to assess issues and activities associated with owners of forestland would be problematical because society is placing increasing demands on these lands through demand for recreational access, ecosystem services, etc. The annual implementation of the NWOS, as described in detail in Part B, is necessary to fully integrate with the underlying Forest Inventory and Analysis sampling frame, on which the NWOS is based.

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.

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

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 notice of the Agency’s intent to renew this collection was published in the Federal Register on December 19, 2017 (Vol. 82, No. 242, pages 60174-60175).

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.

We consulted with groups and individuals who conduct research in this field and who have a familiarity with the National Woodland Owner Survey. Individuals who provided feedback included:

• Paul Catanzaro Professor and Extension Forester, University of Massachusetts;

• Emily Huff, Assistant Professor in Human Dimensions Michigan State University;

• Zhao Ma, Associate Professor, Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University.

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.

We consulted with following forestland owners about the survey instrument:

• Sara Leiman, Oregon;

• Ginny and Allen Nipper, Louisiana;

• Harry Chandler, Vermont.

In addition to consultation with the people listed above, the Forest Service is seeking permission to conduct cognitive interviews and focus groups, as outlined in this information collection proposal, to solicit feedback from additional potential respondents.

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

Responses are voluntary, and no payments or gifts are made to any respondents. Logistic constraints hamper our ability to use monetary incentives.

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

As mandated by Section 1770 of the Food Security Act of 1985 (Pub. L. 99-198), any data collected by the USDA Forest Service, Forest Inventory and Analysis program, of which the National Woodland Owner Survey is a component, that allows “the identification of the person who supplied particular information” to be identified is explicitly prohibited from being disclosed.

A confidentiality statement is included with each questionnaire that states: “Your participation in this survey is voluntary. Your answers to the questions will be kept confidential and will be combined with those of others. The results will only be used to determine patterns and trends.”

All records that include personally identifiable information will be protected as described in the NWOS System of Records.

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.

No information of a sensitive nature will be collected or asked.

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.

• 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)

Please see supplemental document entitled 0596-0078 2018 National Woodland Owners Survey Burden-Cost Spreadsheet for burden estimates and cost.

An estimated 4,188 owners and managers of forestland will participate in this information collection on an annual basis. Each respondent will be instructed to complete the questionnaire for the land that they own/manage in a given state or for large corporate owners, region. No ownership will be contacted more than once every five years. The estimated burden for each respondent varies from 15 to 30 minutes depending on which form they receive. This burden was calculated by timing how long it took a sample of individuals to complete the survey instrument, as well as read pre-notice letters and thank-you notes. The estimated total annual burden for respondents is 1,956 hours. We estimate that an additional 1,047 owners and managers of forestland will be asked to participate in the information collection on an annual basis, but will opt to not participate. The estimated burden for nonrespondents varies from 2 to 10 minutes depending on which information collection method they are asked to participate in. The estimated total annual burden for nonrespondents is 433 hours. The total annual burden estimate for respondents and nonrespondents is 2,492 hours.

• 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): 0

No record keeping is required by respondents for this information collection.

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

Please see supplemental document entitled 0596-0078 2018 National Woodland Owners Survey Burden-Cost Spreadsheet for burden estimates and cost.

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.

There are no capital operation and maintenance 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

The total cost to the Federal government for implementing the NWOS will be $158,417 per year. This cost includes:

* To be conducted by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service

Labor costs are based on the estimated number of hours to complete each task, the grade level of the people required to complete it, and the salaries as reported in the Office of Personnel Management – 2017 Salary Tables. Other expenses were based on the proposed sample size and the prevailing costs for procuring the necessary materials.

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

This information collection is a renewal of a previously approved information collection. The previous information collection was approved for an annual burden of 4,452 hours. The annual burden for this approval is 2,492 hours. Annual burden was decreased, in part, because the data being proposed for collection will be done so on a less frequent basis. NOTE: The data provided is merely an estimation.

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

Following data processing, the results will be distributed in tabular format. These tables will be available online and in publications in multiple formats. An online data access tool will allow end users to generate custom tables. The Forest Service has developed the NWOS Table Maker for the previous iteration of the NWOS and plans to update this tool when the new data become available. (The link to the Table Maker is http://apps.fs.fed.us/fia/nwos/tablemaker.jsp).

The results will be published in technical reports, scientific articles, and popular articles. Tabular results will be provided in national and state reports. A stand-alone report, such as USDA Forest Service National Woodland Owner Survey: National, regional, and state statistics for family forest and woodland ownerships with 10+ acres, 2011-2013 (Resource Bulletin NRS-99; www.treesearch.fs.fed.us/pubs/50674) published as part of a previous iteration of the NWOS, will be produced, and chapters will be submitted to other national reports, such as Forest Resources of the United States, 2012 (WO-GTR-91; http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/47322). Data will also be distributed in state-level reports produced by the Forest Inventory and Analysis program. In addition, publications will be produced that document the methods used to conduct the NWOS, similar to USDA Forest Service, National Woodland Owner Survey 2011-2013: Design, Implementation, and Estimation Methods by Butler et al. (2016) (https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/50675) and Methods for Estimating Private Forest Ownership Statistics: Revised Methods for the USDA Forest Service's National Woodland Owner Survey by Dickinson and Butler (2013) (https://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/53702).

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 OMB expiration date will be displayed on all survey 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 compliance with all provisions in item 19.

1 The terms forest and other woodland, forestland, and woodland are used synonymously in this document. Private land owners tend to refer to their land as woodland, public agencies and large corporate owners tend to use the term forested land, and the technical Forest Service terminology is forestland.

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