[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 33 (Friday, February 18, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 8338]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-3122]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Request for Comments; Public Support for 
Fuel Reduction Policies: Multimedia Versus Printed Materials

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 the proposed new information collection, Public 
Support for Fuel Reduction Policies: Multimedia vs. Printed Materials.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before April 19, 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 
Armando Gonz[aacute]lez-Cab[aacute]n, Pacific Southwest Research 
Station, Forest Service, USDA, 4955 Canyon Crest Drive, Riverside, CA 
92507.
    Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to (951) 680-1501, or 
by e-mail to [email protected].
    The public may inspect comments received at Pacific Southwest 
Research Station, Building One reception area, Forest Service, USDA, 
4955 Canyon Crest Drive, Riverside, California, during normal business 
hours. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to (951) 680-1500 to 
facilitate entry to the building.

FOR FURTHER INORMATION CONTACT: Armando Gonz[aacute]lez-Cab[aacute]n, 
Pacific Southwest Research Station, USDA Forest Service, (951) 680-
1525. 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: Public Support for Fuel Reduction Policies: Multimedia 
versus Printed Materials.
    OMB Number: 0596-New.
    Expiration date of approval: N/A.
    Type of request: New.
    Abstract: This information collection is being undertaken to 
solicit information on public support of two fuel reduction programs: 
prescribed burning and mechanical treatment. Researchers will evaluate 
the responses of California and Montana residents to different 
scenarios related to fire hazard reduction programs, determine how 
effective residents think the programs are, and calculate how much 
residents would be willing to pay to implement the alternatives 
presented to them.
    The results of the survey will allow researchers to provide better 
information to natural resource, forest, and fire managers when they 
are contemplating the kind and type of fire hazard reduction program to 
implement to achieve forestland management planning objectives. In 
addition, the survey will assist forest and fire managers in developing 
educational and outreach material for forest homeowners, schools, 
public meetings, and State and Private Forestry extension programs.
    To gather the information, a stratified random sample of California 
and Montana residents will be contacted by telephone through a random-
digit dialing process. Those contacts who agree to participate in the 
study will be asked an introductory set of questions to determine their 
pre-existing knowledge of fuels reduction treatments. The respondents 
will be informed that a more in-depth, self-administered video 
questionnaire will be mailed to them. Upon receipt of the video, 
participants will also be asked to watch the videotape; answer 
questions on the attached answer sheet; and return the answer sheet to 
the Forest Service researchers in a postage-paid, pre-addressed 
envelope included with the initial mailing. After two weeks, a reminder 
post card will be sent to all participants who have not responded. A 
week later, a second, duplicate videotape will be sent to all 
participants who have not responded. After resending the duplicate 
video, no additional contact will take place with participants.
    The information will be collected by a university research survey 
center and will be analyzed by a Forest Service researcher and a 
researcher at a cooperating university who are experienced in applied 
economic nonmarket valuation research and survey research.
    At present the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of 
Indian Affairs, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and 
many State agencies with fire protection responsibilities are planning 
to embark on an ambitious and costly fuels reduction program for fire 
risk reduction without a clear understanding of the public's opinion on 
which treatments are most effective or even desirable. Information 
collected in this research will help natural resource and fire managers 
to better understand the public's opinions on fuels reduction 
activities and what type of media could be more effective in conveying 
information to the public.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: 30 minutes.
    Type of Respondents: Stratified random sample of heads of 
households.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 1000.
    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 
function 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 
toward Office of Management and Budget approval.

    Dated: February 8, 2005.
Bov B. Eav,
Associate Deputy Chief for Research & Development.
[FR Doc. 05-3122 Filed 2-17-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P