[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 183 (Wednesday, September 21, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58462-58463]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-24233]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Qualified Products List for Water 
Enhancers (Gels) for Wildland Firefighting

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 
(Gels) for Wildland Firefighting.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before November 21, 
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 
Victoria Henderson, Branch Director, Equipment and Chemicals, U.S. 
Forest Service, National Interagency Fire Center, 3833 S. Development 
Avenue, Boise, ID 83705.
    Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to 208-387-5398 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: Cecilia Johnson, Missoula Technology 
and Development Center (MTDC), 406-329-4819, Shirley Zylstra (MTDC), 
406-329-4859, 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 (Gels) for 
Wildland Firefighting.
    OMB Number: 0596-0182.
    Expiration Date of Approval: February 29, 2012.
    Type of Request: Extension with no revision
    1. Abstract: The Forest Service and cooperating wildland 
firefighting agencies need adequate types and quantities of qualified 
fire chemical products available to accomplish fire management 
activities as safely and effectively as possible. To accomplish this 
objective, the Agency evaluates and pre-approves commercial wildland 
firefighting chemicals. The Agency may be required to submit the 
formulations to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries during the evaluation 
process. All products must meet the requirements of specifications 
identified and maintained by the Wildland Fire Chemical Systems (WFCS) 
staff at the Forest Service Missoula Technology and Development Center 
(MTDC). After a product evaluation has been completed successfully, the 
product is added to the Qualified Products List (QPL) for the 
appropriate product type. All Forest Service procurements of wildland 
fire chemicals are made from these lists.
    To initiate an evaluation, product manufacturers (or authorized 
suppliers) enter into an agreement with the Forest Service and pay all 
costs associated with the submission and evaluation of the product.
    Once the agreement is in place and funds are deposited to cover the 
associated costs, the manufacturer submits the following information to 
WFCS:
    1. List of the specific ingredients and quantity used to prepare 
the product,
    2. Identification of the source of supply for each ingredient,
    3. Copies of the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for the product 
and for each ingredient used to prepare the product, and
    4. Specific mixing requirements and performance information.
    Review of the submitted information assures that the product does 
not contain ingredients meeting the criteria for Chemicals of Concern, 
for example by appearing on one or more of the following lists:
     Agency list of unacceptable ingredients.
     National Toxicology Program (NTP) ``Annual Report on 
Carcinogens''.
     International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) 
Monographs for Potential Carcinogens.
     Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and 
Liability Act (CERCLA) ``List of Extremely Hazardous Substances and 
Their Threshold Planning Quantities''.
    A risk assessment, performed at manufacturer expense, may be 
required. When a risk assessment is necessary, a third party selected 
by the Agency assesses the products and levels of ingredients found in 
typical applications relative to human and environmental impact.
    Each product submitted is tested to determine the mammalian and 
aquatic toxicity of the product and must meet specific levels of 
performance to minimize potential risk during firefighting operations.
    Additional tests are performed to determine the effectiveness of 
the product to reduce spread rate and intensity of the fire by 
application directly on or near the fire.
    A number of product characteristics are measured over the 
operational performance range of the product to ensure that the product 
meets the needs of the firefighters in the field.
    The collection of this information for each product submission is 
necessary due to the length of time needed to test the product (18 to 
24 months) and need to ensure that products are safe and effective 
prior to purchase and use.
    This information collection and the product evaluation must be 
conducted on an on-going basis to ensure the Agency can solicit and 
award contracts in a timely manner to provide firefighters with safe 
and effective wildland fire chemical products.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: 4.5 hours.
    Type of Respondents: Businesses (manufacturers and suppliers) of 
water

[[Page 58463]]

enhancers (gels) for wildland firefighting.
    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: September 14, 2011.
Robin L. Thompson,
Associate Deputy Chief, State and Private Forestry.
[FR Doc. 2011-24233 Filed 9-20-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P