[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 234 (Tuesday, December 7, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70626-70627]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-26836]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Request for Comment; Homeowner Risk 
Reduction Behaviors Concerning Wildfire Risks

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals and 
organizations on a new, one-time information collection, Homeowner Risk 
Reduction Behaviors Concerning Wildfire Risks. The information will be 
collected from homeowner groups, such as homeowners associations, that 
have been affected by wildfires.
    The information collected will focus on homeowners who live in the 
wildland-urban interface and that were affected by the Hayman fire in 
Colorado, the B&B Complex fire in Oregon, and the Old and Cedar fires 
in California. The information provided by this study will allow Forest 
Service land managers to better understand which risk reduction 
behaviors homeowners choose to undertake, as well as ones they choose 
not to undertake, and factors that influence these choices. This 
information will assist the Forest Service in their risk communication 
efforts with ``at risk'' communities and individuals.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before February 7, 
2005 to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date 
will be considered to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: Comments concerning this notice should be addressed to Dr. 
Brian Kent, Project Leader, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Forest 
Service, USDA, 2150 Centre Avenue, Building A, Fort Collins, CO 80526.
    Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to (970)295-5959 or by 
e-mail to: [email protected].
    The public may inspect comments received at Rocky Mountain Research 
Station, Forest Service, USDA, 2150 Centre Avenue, Building A, Fort 
Collins, Colorado, during normal business hours. Visitors are 
encouraged to call ahead to (970) 295-5955 to facilitate entry to the 
building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Brian Kent, Rocky Mountain 
Research Station, at (970) 295-5955. Individuals who use 
telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay 
Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 twenty-four hours a day, every day of 
the year, including holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Homeowner Risk Reduction Behaviors Concerning Wildfire 
Risks.
    OMB Number: 0596-New.
    Expiration Date of Approval: N/A.
    Type of Request: New.
    Abstract: The threat of wildfire to residents located in areas next 
to forested public lands has increased significantly during the last 
decade. As homeowners migrate to areas that are at increasing risk from 
wildfire they face important decisions regarding how much risk to 
accept from various sources. An important component of making decisions 
regarding risk is to understand the behaviors that are effective at 
reducing the risk and the information sources that are considered 
reliable for risk reduction information. To gain a better insight into 
homeowners' perceptions of wildfire risk, behaviors that reduce 
wildfire risk, and most effective methods of communicating the risk of 
wildfire, it is important to collect information directly from the 
homeowners that are at risk. The results of the collection will provide 
important information for public land managers and private homeowners 
that will improve the understanding of the issues and options between 
both groups.
    Homeowners, located in the wildland-urban interface in areas that 
were affected by wildfires, will be asked to return surveys. The 
homeowners will be members of organized homeowners associations and 
their participation is voluntary. The survey will be mailed to 
homeowners by Integrated Resource Solutions in Boulder, Colorado, 
operating under a Research Joint Venture with the Forest Service Rocky 
Mountain Research Station in Fort Collins, Colorado.
    The type of information collected will include: (1) Risk 
perceptions regarding wildfire, (2) risk reduction behaviors associated 
with wildfire, (3) sources of information regarding wildfires and 
wildfire risk reduction, and (4) socio-economic information.
    The data collected will be analyzed by Forest Service researchers 
at the Rocky Mountain Research Station and the following cooperators: 
Drs. Ingrid and Wade Martin of California State University of Long 
Beach, Long Beach, California, and Dr. Holly Bender of Integrated 
Resource Solutions, Boulder, Colorado. The results will be made 
available to Forest Service land managers, the respondents and other 
interested parties.
    This information will enhance the ability of Forest Service land 
managers on National Forests to communicate and understand the public 
and their preferences regarding the management of wildfire risk. 
Without this type of information, Forest Service land managers and the 
public will continue to interact on the issues of wildfire risk without 
a broad-based understanding of the factors that lessen wildfire risk, 
factors that are important to homeowners.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: 20 minutes.
    Type of Respondents: Homeowners located in the wildland-urban 
interface in the western United States.

[[Page 70627]]

    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 1500.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 500 hours.
    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.

Use of Comments

    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 
toward Office of Management and Budget approval.

    Dated: November 29, 2004.
Robin L. Thompson,
Associate Deputy Chief, State and Private Forestry.
[FR Doc. 04-26836 Filed 12-6-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P