[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 183 (Wednesday, September 21, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58461-58462]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-24234]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Qualified Products List for Class A Foams 
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 (without revision) of a currently 
approved information collection, Qualified Products List for Class A 
Foams 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, Idaho 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, 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 Class A Foam for Wildland 
Firefighting.
    OMB Number: 0596-0183.
    Expiration Date of Approval: February 29, 2012.
    Type of Request: Extension without revision.
    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 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, 
i.e., 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 the 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: 2.8 hours.
    Type of Respondents: Manufacturers (and their suppliers) of Class A 
Foams for Wildland Firefighting.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 2.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.

[[Page 58462]]

    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 5.6 hours.

Comment Is Invited

    Comment is invited on: (1) Whether this collection of information 
is appropriate 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.
 [FR Doc. 2011-24234 Filed 9-20-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P