[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 142 (Monday, July 25, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44301-44302]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-18629]



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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE



Forest Service




Information Collection; Homeowner Risk Reduction Behaviors 

Concerning Wildfire Risks and Climate Change Impacts



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 a new, one-time information collection, Homeowner Risk 

Reduction Behaviors Concerning Wildfire Risks and Climate Change 

Impacts. The information will be collected from homeowner groups, such 

as homeowners associations, that have been affected by wildfires.

    The information collected will focus on homeowners who live in the 

wildland-urban interface and were affected by major wildfires in U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Region 3. The information 

provided by this study will allow Forest Service land managers to 

better understand which risk reduction behaviors homeowners choose to 

undertake, as well as ones they choose not to undertake, and factors 

that influence these choices, particularly factors related to climate 

change impacts. This information will assist the Forest Service in 

their risk communication efforts with ``at risk'' communities and 

individuals.



DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before September 23, 

2011 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 Dr. 

Carol Raish, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Forest Service, USDA, 333 

Broadway, SE., Suite 115, Albuquerque, NM 87102.

    Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to 505-724-3688 or by 

e-mail to [email protected].

    The public may inspect comments received at the Rocky Mountain 

Research Station, Forest Service, USDA, 333 Broadway, SE., Albuquerque, 

NM, during normal business hours. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead 

to 505-724-3666 to facilitate entry to the building.



FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Carol Raish, Rocky Mountain 

Research Station, at 505-724-3666. 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 the Threats of Wildfire & Climate Change: Risk 

Mitigation Behaviors of Homeowners.

    OMB Number: 0596-New.

    Expiration Date of Approval: N/A.

    Type of Request: New.

    Abstract: Over the past 20 to 30 years, the population living in 

areas that are threatened by wildfire has increased significantly. As 

more individuals move to these areas, it has become increasingly 

important to understand how they perceive the risks they face living in 

these new landscapes. Much work has been done in the area of 

communicating the risks of wildfire to homeowners in these fire prone 

environments. However, only recently has there been a commitment to 

better understand the link between wildfire events, the associated 

risk, and climate change. The objective of this study is to help 

decisionmakers better understand the preferences of the homeowners in 

high risk areas to deal with threats that are posed from wildfire as 

these risks are enhanced due to the effects of climate change. Gaining 

an improved understanding of the homeowners' decisionmaking process 

based on these linkages will facilitate the design of more effective 

risk mitigation projects and improved communication strategies among 

stakeholders.

    Homeowners, located in the wildland-urban interface in areas that 

were affected by wildfires, will be asked to complete a one-time 

survey. The homeowners will be asked to voluntarily participate is this 

survey. The survey will be mailed to homeowners by Integrated Resource 

Solutions in Laguna Niguel, CA, operating under a Research Joint 

Venture with the Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station in 

Albuquerque, NM.

    The type of information collection will include: (1) Risk 

perceptions regarding wildfire, (2) risk reduction behaviors associated 

with wildfire, (3) sources of information regarding wildfires and 

wildfire risk reduction, (4) attitudes and knowledge of climate change 

and its impact on wildfire risks, and (5) socio-economic information.

    The data collected will be analyzed by Forest Service researchers 

at the Rocky Mountain Research Station and the following cooperators: 

Drs. Ingrid and Wade Martin of California State University of Long 

Beach, Long Beach, California. The results will be made available to 

Forest Service land



[[Page 44302]]



managers, the respondents, and other interested parties.

    This information will enhance the ability of Forest Service land 

managers on national forests to communicate and understand the public 

and their preferences regarding the management of wildfire risk. 

Without this type of information, Forest Service land managers and the 

public will continue to interact on the issues of wildfire risk without 

a broad-based understanding of the factors that lessen wildfire risk; 

factors that are important to homeowners.

    Estimate of One Time Burden: 30 minutes.

    Type of Respondents: Homeowners located in the wildland-urban 

interface in the western United States.

    Estimated One Time Number of Respondents: 500.

    Estimated One Time Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.

    Estimated Total One Time Burden on Respondents: 250 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: July 18, 2011.

Jimmy L. Reaves,

Deputy Chief, Research and Development.

[FR Doc. 2011-18629 Filed 7-22-11; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-11-P