[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 81 (Friday, April 25, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22321-22322]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-9174]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Qualified Products List for Water 
Enhancers

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, Qualified Products List for Water Enhancers.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before June 24, 2008 
to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date will 
be considered to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: Victoria Henderson, Branch Director, Equipment and 
Chemicals, USDA Forest Service, National Interagency Fire Center, 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].
    The public may inspect comments received at the National 
Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), Jack Wilson Building, in Boise, Idaho, 
Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. to 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), (406) 829-6761, or Cecilia Johnson, MTDC, 
(406) 329-4819, or Tory Henderson, NIFC, (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: 
    Title: Qualified Products List for Water Enhancers.
    OMB Number: 0596-0182.
    Expiration Date of Approval: December 31, 2008.
    Type of Request: Extension with no revision.
    Abstract: The Forest Service needs to have available adequate types 
and quantities of qualified fire chemical products to accomplish fire

[[Page 22322]]

management activities safely, efficiently, and effectively. To 
accomplish this objective, the Agency needs to evaluate and pre-approve 
commercial water enhancer products. Products must meet specification 
standards identified and maintained by Forest Service Missoula 
Technology and Development Center (MTCD) staff. The MTDC staff utilizes 
the List of Known and Suspected Carcinogens and the Environmental 
Protection Agency's List of Highly Hazardous Materials in analyzing 
these products. A risk analysis may also be required.
    MTDC employees consider the following to determine whether products 
are safe for use by Forest Service employees and Federal cooperators:
     Products must not include ingredients that create an 
enhanced risk in typical use to either the firefighters or the public.
     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 (i.e., uniform corrosion tests, intergrandular).
     Safety to the environment in terms of aquatic environments 
(fish and clean water) and terrestrial environments (wildlife and 
plants)--risk determinations identify products that do not enhance risk 
to those environments in typical use.
     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 these products are based upon 
those products ability to reduce fire spread and intensity even after 
the water carrier has evaporated away.
    The information submitted by manufacturers on two forms: The 
Confidential Disclosure Sheets and Technical Data Sheets sent to 
experienced staff at the MTDC, located in Missoula, Montana. These 
forms are available in either electronic form via e-mail or paper 
copies, and the manufacturers may submit them to the MTDC in either 
form.
    This 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 products. If a risk analysis is determined to be necessary, 
the FS will request the manufacturer to send a copy of the product 
labeling. In these cases, a third party assesses 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 
for the analysis and evaluation, the MTDC staff will begin to test 
these water enhancer products safety, efficiency, and effectiveness.
    The collection of this information for each product submitted for 
evaluation is necessary due to the (1) length of time necessary to test 
the water enhancer products and perform the analysis/evaluation of 
those products, which takes over a year, and (2) the FS need to ensure 
the safety, effectiveness, and efficiency of retardant 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: 4.5 hours.
    Type of Respondents: Businesses (manufacturers and suppliers).
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 3.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 3.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 40.5 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: April 17, 2008.
Robin L. Thompson,
Associate Deputy Chief, State and Private Forestry.
[FR Doc. E8-9174 Filed 4-24-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P