[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 112 (Monday, June 11, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34400-34401]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-14069]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

U.S. Geological Survey

[USGS-GX12WC00Com0001]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

AGENCY: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Interior.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments for a new information collection.

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SUMMARY: We (the U.S. Geological Survey) will ask the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) to approve the information collection (IC) 
described below. As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 
1995, and as part of our continuing efforts to reduce paperwork and 
respondent burden, we invite the general public and other Federal 
agencies to take this opportunity to comment on this IC.

DATE: You must submit comments on or before August 10, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Please submit a copy of your comments to the Information 
Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise 
Valley Drive MS 807, Reston, VA 20192 (mail); (703) 648-7199 (fax); or 
[email protected] (email). Use Information Collection Number 1028-NEW, 
Ash Fall Report in the subject line.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this IC, contact Peter Cervelli at 650-329-5188 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The USGS provides warnings and notification to the public of 
volcanic activity in the U.S. in order to reduce the loss of life, 
property, and economic and societal impacts. USGS will use reports 
entered in real time by respondents of ash fall in their local area to 
correct or refine ash fall forecasts as the ash cloud moves downwind. 
Retrospectively these reports will enable USGS to improve their ash 
fall models and further research into eruptive processes.
    This project will create a database module and web interface 
allowing the public and Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) staff to enter 
reports of ash fall in their local area in real time and 
retrospectively following an eruptive event. Users browsing the AVO Web 
site during eruptions will be directed towards a web form allowing them 
to fill in ash fall information and submit the information to AVO.
    Compiled ash fall reports will be available in real-time to AVO 
staff through the AVO internal Web site. A pre-formatted summary report 
or table that distills information received online will show ash fall 
reports in chronological order with key fields including (1) date and 
time of ash fall, (2) location, (3) positive or negative ash fall (4) 
name of observer, and (5) contact information should be easily viewable 
on the report so that calls for clarification can be made by AVO staff 
quickly and Operations room staff can visualize the information 
quickly.
    Ash fall report data will also be displayed on a dynamic map 
interface and show positive (yes ash) and negative (no ash) ash fall 
reports by location. Ash fall reports (icons) will be publically 
displayed for a period of 24 hours and shaded differently as they age 
so that the age of reports is obvious.
    The ash fall report database will help AVO track eruption clouds 
and associated fallout downwind. These reports from the public will 
also give scientists a more complete record of the amount and duration 
and other conditions of ash fall. Getting first-hand accounts of ash 
fall will support model ash fall development and interpretation of 
satellite imagery. AVO scientists will--as time allows--be able to 
contact the individuals using their entered contact information for 
clarification and details. Knowing the locations from which ash-fall 
reports have been filed will improve ash fall warning messages, AVO 
Volcanic Activity Notifications, and make fieldwork more efficient. AVO 
staff will be able to condense and summarize the various ash fall 
reports and forward that information on to emergency management 
agencies and the wider public. The online form will also free up 
resources during exceedingly busy times during an eruption, as most 
individuals currently phone AVO with their reports.

II. Data

    Title: USGS Ash Fall Report.
    OMB Control Number: 1028-NEW.
    Type of Request: This is a new request.
    Affected Public: General Public.
    Respondent Obligation: Voluntary.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion, after each ash fall event.
    Estimated Number and Description of Respondents: Approximately 200 
individuals affected by a volcanic ash fall event each year.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 250.
    Annual Burden Hours: 21 hours.
    Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Hour'' Burden: We 
estimate the public reporting burden will average 5 minutes per 
response. This includes the time for reviewing instructions, and 
answering a web-based questionnaire.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Non-Hour Cost'' Burden: We 
have not identified any ``non-hour cost'' burdens associated with this 
collection of information.
    Public Disclosure Statement: The PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.) 
provides that an agency may not conduct or sponsor and you are not 
required to respond to, a

[[Page 34401]]

collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB 
control number. Until OMB approves a collection of information, you are 
not obligated to respond.

III. Request for Comments

    We are soliciting comments as to: (a) Whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the agency to perform its 
duties, including whether the information is useful; (b) the accuracy 
of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information; (c) how to enhance the quality, usefulness, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (d) how to minimize the burden on 
the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques 
or other forms of information technology.
    Please note that the comments submitted in response to this notice 
are a matter of public record. We will include or summarize each 
comment in our request to OMB to approve this IC. Before including your 
address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying 
information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire 
comment, including your personal identifying information, may be made 
publicly available at any time. While you can ask OMB in your comment 
to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, 
we cannot guarantee that it will be done.

     Dated: June 1, 2012.
Leslie Holland-Bartels,
USGS Regional Executive, Alaska Area.
[FR Doc. 2012-14069 Filed 6-8-12; 8:45 am]
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