Wood Products Infrastructure Assistance Information Collection Extension

Content

ACTION:

Notice; request for comment.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Forest Service (Agency) is seeking comments from all interested
individuals and organizations on the extension with no revision of a currently approved information collection, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Financial Assistance to Facilities that Purchase and Process Byproducts for Ecosystem
Restoration (ALN 10.725) Wood Products Infrastructure Assistance (WPIA).

DATES:

Comments must be received in writing on or before June 1, 2026 to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES:

Comments concerning this notice should be addressed to Jeff High, USDA Forest Service, Ouachita National Forest, P.O. Box
1270, Hot Springs, AR 71901. Comments also may be submitted by email to Jeffrey.c.high@usda.gov.

Comments submitted in response to this notice may be made available to the public through relevant websites and upon request.
For this reason, please do not include in your comments information of a confidential nature, such as sensitive personal information
or proprietary information. If you send an email comment, your email address will be automatically captured and included as
part of the comment that is placed in the public docket and made available for public viewing. Please note that comments containing
any routine notice about the confidentiality of the communication will be treated as public comments that may be made available
to the public notwithstanding the inclusion of the routine notice.

The public may request that an electronic copy of the supporting documents for the information collection and/or any comments
received be sent via return email. Requests should be emailed to jeffrey.c.high@usda.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jeff High, USDA Forest Service, Ouachita National Forest, P.O. Box 1270, Hot Springs, AR 71901, 501-802-7412, jeffrey.c.high@usda.gov. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may call 711 to reach the Telecommunications Relay
Service then provide the phone number of the person named as a point of contact for further information.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Financial Assistance to Facilities that Purchase and Process Byproducts for Ecosystem
Restoration (ALN 10.725) Wood Products Infrastructure Assistance (WPIA).

OMB Number: 0596-0254.

Expiration Date of Approval: October 31, 2026.

Type of Review: Extension with no Revision of a currently approved information collection.

Abstract: The grants and agreements awarded under this announcement will support the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA),
2021. Section 40804(b)3 directs the USDA Forest Service to provide financial assistance to an entity seeking to establish,
reopen, expand, or improve a sawmill or other wood processing facility in close proximity to a unit of Federal or Indian land
that has been identified as high or very high priority for ecological restoration for the purpose of reducing the cost of
forest management. Eligible applicants are for-profit entities; State, local governments; Indian Tribes; school districts;
community, not-for-profit organizations; institutions of higher education; and special purpose districts (e.g., public utilities districts, fire districts, conservation districts, and ports). The need and process to collect information
from applicants is detailed in 2 CFR part 200 and Forest Service Handbook 1509.11, Chapter 20, which prescribes administrative
requirements and processes applicable to all Forest Service Domestic Federal Financial Assistance awards. Specifically, collection
of information will be completed by applicants seeking financial assistance under the WPIA program using a simple form to
gather required metrics that demonstrate proximity of project facility locations to Federal and Tribal lands and ties of project
outcomes to ecological restoration on Federal and Tribal lands. Information collected will be reviewed by Forest Service staff
to evaluate eligibility of applicants and the merits of proposals submitted. Without the information collection, determining
applicant eligibility and whether proposals meet legislative requirements would be difficult or impossible, and applicant
success would be diminished.

Affected Public: Individuals and Households; the Private Sector (Businesses and Non-Profit Organizations); and State, Local or Tribal Government.

Estimated Annual Burden per Response: 8.25 hours.

Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 78.

Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 643.5 hours.

Comment is Invited: Comment is invited on (1) whether this collection of information is necessary for the stated purposes and the proper performance
of the functions of the Agency, including whether the information will have practical or scientific utility; (2) the accuracy
of the Agency's estimate of the burden of the collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions
used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information on respondents, including the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

All comments received in response to this notice, including names and addresses when provided, will be a matter of public
record. Comments will be summarized and included in the submission request for Office of Management and Budget approval.

Lisa Northrop, Associate Deputy Chief, State and Private Forestry and National Forest System. [FR Doc. 2026-06139 Filed 3-30-26; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3411-15-P

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