[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 87 (Friday, May 6, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23977-23978]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-9051]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Request for Comments; Water Enhancers

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 extension of the information collection, Water 
Enhancers.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before July 6, 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]. Comments received may be viewed at: 
http://www.fs.fed.us.fire/chemicals/comments.html.
    The public also may inspect comments received at the Office of the 
Branch Director, National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), 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. 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:

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 Forest Service personnel need to evaluate and approve 
manufacturer's water enhancer 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, qualification, and approval are 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 water enhancers 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 is 
evaluated 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 water enhancer products are based upon the products ability 
to reduce fire spread and intensity, even after the water carrier has 
evaporated away.
    The information will be collected by manufacturers and submitted on 
two

[[Page 23978]]

completed forms, the Confidential Disclosure Sheets and Technical Data 
Sheets. The manufacturers will 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 the completed forms to 
the Missoula Technology and Development Center electronically or via 
surface mail.
    The following describes the information to be extended:
    OMB Number: 0596-0182.
    Expiration Date of Approval: 09/30/2005.
    Type of Request: Extension.
    Abstract: The collected information will include listings of 
specific individual ingredients and the quantities of the ingredients 
in the formulation of the products, identification of specific sources 
of supply for each ingredient, and the specific mixing and hydration 
requirements of gum-thickened products.
    If a risk analysis is necessary, Forest Service personnel will 
request that the manufacturer send a copy of the product labeling. When 
a risk analysis is necessary, a third party (either contractor or 
Federal agency) is utilized to assess the specific levels of products 
or ingredients expected to occur in typical application relative to 
human and environmental health. Once the manufacturers (and/or their 
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 9.0202(1)(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 water 
enhancer 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 water enhancer products and perform the analysis and 
evaluation of the products and (2) the Forest Service needs to ensure 
the safety, effectiveness, and efficiency of water enhancer products 
prior to their use. If this information is not collected and water 
enhancer products are not analyzed and evaluated on an on-going basis, 
our ability to solicit and award water enhancer contracts in a timely 
manner would not be possible.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: 5.75 hours.
    Type of Respondents: Manufacturers (and their suppliers) of water 
enhancer products which suppress or 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_chemicals.htm.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 3.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 2.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 34.5 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 the Office 
of Management and Budget approval.

    Dated: April 28, 2005.
Robin L. Thompson,
Associate Deputy Chief, State and Private Forestry.
[FR Doc. 05-9051 Filed 5-5-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P