[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 36 (Friday, February 22, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 9760]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-3373]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Understanding Value Trade-offs Regarding 
Fire Hazard Reduction Programs in the Wildland-Urban Interface

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for comment.

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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 with no revision of a currently approved 
information collection, Understanding Value Trade-offs regarding Fire 
Hazard Reduction Programs in the Wildland-Urban Interface.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before April 22, 2008 
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 (909) 680-1501, or 
by e-mail to: [email protected].
    The public may inspect comments received at 4955 Canyon Crest 
Drive, Riverside, CA 92507, building one reception area during normal 
business hours. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to (909) 680-1500 
to facilitate entry to the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Armando Gonz[aacute]lez-Cab[aacute]n, 
Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, USDA, (909) 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: Understanding Value Trade-offs regarding Fire Hazard 
Reduction Programs in the Wildland-Urban Interface.
    OMB Number: 0596-0189.
    Expiration Date of Approval: September 30, 2008.
    Type of Request: Extension with no revision.
    Abstract: Forest Service and university researchers will contact 
recipients of a phone-mail questionnaire to help forest and fire 
managers understand value trade-offs regarding fire hazard reduction 
programs in the wildland-urban interface. Through those contacts, 
researchers will evaluate the responses of Florida 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. This information will help researchers 
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.
    A random sample of Florida residents are contacted via random-digit 
dialed telephone calls and asked to participate in the research study. 
Those agreeing to participate then answer a minimal set of questions to 
determine pre-existing knowledge of fuels reduction treatments and 
provide a mailing address, as well as agreeing to a date and time for 
an in-depth interview related to the questionnaire. After completion of 
the in-depth interview, no further contact with the participants will 
occur.
    A university research-survey center collects the information. A 
Forest Service researcher and a researcher at a cooperating university 
analyze the data collected. Both researchers are experienced in applied 
economic non-market valuation research and survey research.
    The Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian 
Affairs, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, as well as 
many state agencies with fire protection responsibilities will benefit 
from this.
    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 and will benefit from public opinion on which treatments 
are most effective or desirable.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: 30 minutes.
    Type of Respondents: Members of the public.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 2,500.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,250 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 
toward Office of Management and Budget approval.

    Dated: February 15, 2008.
Ann M. Bartuska,
Deputy Chief for Research and Development.
[FR Doc. E8-3373 Filed 2-21-08; 8:45 am]
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