[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 87 (Friday, May 6, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23976-23977]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-9050]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Request for Comments; Long-Term Fire 
Retardants

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 extending the information collection, Long-Term Fire 
Retardants.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before July 5, 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 
Victoria Henderson, Branch Director, National Interagency Fire Center, 
Equipment and Chemicals, State and Private Forestry, Forest Service, 
USDA, 3833 S. Development Avenue, Boise, Idaho 83705.
    Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to (208) 387-5971 or 
by e-mail to: [email protected]. They may be viewed at: http://www.fs.fed.us.fire/chemicals/comments.html.
    The public may inspect comments received at the Office of the 
Branch Director, National Interagency Fire Center, Equipment and 
Chemicals, State and Private Forestry, Forest Service, USDA, Jack 
Wilson Building, 3833 S. Development Avenue, Boise, Idaho, Monday 
through Friday between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to 
call ahead to (208) 387-5348 to facilitate entry to the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Les Holsapple, Missoula Technology and 
Development Center (MTDC), at (406) 829-6761, Cecilia Johnson, MTDC, at 
(406) 329-4819, or Tory Henderson, National Interagency Fire Center, at 
(208) 387-5348.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

Background

    The Forest Service determined a need, ``To have available and 
utilize adequate types and quantities of qualified fire chemical 
products to accomplish fire management activities safely, efficiently, 
and effectively.'' (Forest Service Manual 5192.02). To accomplish this 
objective the Forest Service needs to evaluate and approve 
manufacturer's long-term fire retardant products that may be used in 
direct wildland fire suppression operations prior to being used on 
lands managed by the Forest Service and its Federal cooperators.
    Evaluation and qualification is based upon meeting the standards 
identified in the specifications maintained by staff at the Missoula 
Technology and Development Center. Specifications taken from the ``List 
of Known and Suspected Carcinogens'' and the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency's ``List of Highly Hazardous Materials'' are utilized 
in the evaluation, qualification, and approval process.
    Safe products will not include ingredients that create an enhanced 
risk in typical use to either the firefighters involved or the public 
in general. A risk analysis may be required to determine if any 
products or ingredients in Long-term Fire Retardants pose an increased 
health risk to humans. The effects are based upon acute toxicity 
determinations of the products and a review of lists of known and 
suspected carcinogens. The safety of the firefighters equipment, either 
ground-based or aircraft, such as uniform corrosion tests or 
intergrandular, is considered. Safety to the environment also is 
considered in terms of aquatic environments (fish and clean water) and 
terrestrial environments (wildlife and plants).
    Risk determinations are undertaken to identify products, which do 
not enhance risk to those environments in typical use. Toxicity 
determinations are done for acute toxicity concerns. Efficiency 
evaluations are based upon such items as (1) the range of mix ratios of 
concentrate products with water appropriate for storage and handling in 
typical wildland fire operations to provide products that are storable 
and/or can be kept available on fire equipment and (2) can be mixed and 
used with readily available equipment and facilities. Effectiveness 
tests for these products are based upon those products ability to 
reduce fire spread and intensity even after the water carrier has 
evaporated away.
    The information is collected by manufacturers and submitted on two 
completed forms, the Confidential Disclosure Sheets and Technical Data 
Sheets. The manufacturers submit the completed forms to staff at the 
Missoula Technology and Development Center, located in Missoula, 
Montana. These forms are available electronically via e-mail or paper 
via surface mail. The manufacturers may submit forms electronically or 
via surface mail to the Missoula Technology and Development Center.
    The following describes the information collection to be extended:
    Title: Long-Term Fire Retardants.
    OMB Number: 0596-0184.
    Expiration Date of Approval: 09/30/2005.
    Type of Request: Extension.
    Abstract: The collected information includes listings of specific 
individual ingredients and the quantity of these ingredients in the 
formulation of the products, identification of the specific sources of 
supply for each ingredient, and the specific mixing and hydration 
requirements of gum-thickened retardants.
    If a risk analysis is needed, the Forest Service will request the 
manufacturer send a copy of the product labeling. In these cases a 
third party (either contractor or other Federal agency) is utilized to 
assess the specific levels of products or ingredients expected to occur 
in typical applications relative to human and environmental health. 
Once the manufacturers (and/or their

[[Page 23977]]

suppliers) have submitted their information and payment (approximately 
$15,000 to the USDA Forest Service and an additional approximate 
$15,000 to third party laboratories in accordance with Federal 
Acquisition Regulation 9.202(a)(2)(ii)) for the analysis and 
evaluation, the Missoula Technology and Development Center staff will 
begin to test the safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of the long-
term fire retardant products.
    The one-time collection of this information for each product 
submitted for evaluation is necessary (1) because it takes over a year 
to test the long-term fire retardant products for safety, efficiency, 
and effectiveness and (2) the need to ensure the safety, effectiveness, 
and efficiency of long-term fire retardant products prior to their use. 
If this information is not collected and long-term fire retardant 
products are not analyzed and evaluated on an on-going basis, the 
ability of the Forest Service to solicit and award long-term fire 
retardant fire contracts in a timely manner would not be possible.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: 3.6 hours.
    Type of Respondents: Manufacturers (and their suppliers) of long-
term fire retardant products which suppress and retard combustion of 
wildland fires and which may meet the requirements of the appropriate 
USDA FS Specification that may be viewed at: http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/fire/wildland_chemical.htm.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 3.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 6.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 65.5 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.
    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 request for Office of 
Management and Budget approval.

    Dated: April 29, 2005.
Robin L. Thompson,
Associate Deputy Chief, State and Private Forestry.
[FR Doc. 05-9050 Filed 5-5-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P