[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 53 (Tuesday, March 19, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16864-16865]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-06268]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Geological Survey

[USGS-GX12WC00Com0001]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

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

ACTION: Notice of a new information Collection: USGS Ash Fall Report.

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SUMMARY: To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), we 
(The U.S. Geological Survey) are notifying the public that we have 
submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) the information 
collection request (ICR) described below. To comply with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) 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 
ICR.

DATES: Submit written comments by April 18, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Please submit written comments on this information 
collection directly to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Office 
of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: Desk Officer for the 
Department of the Interior via email to [email protected] or 
fax at 202-395-5806; and identify your submission with 1028-NEW USGS 
Ash Fall Report. Please also submit comments on this information 
collection 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 ICR, contact Peter Cervelli at 650-329-5188 or 
[email protected]. You may also find information on this ICR at 
www.reginfo.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: USGS Ash Fall Report
    OMB Control Number: 1028-NEW
    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.
    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. 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.
    Frequency: On occasion, after each ash fall event during eruptions
    Description of Respondents: Individuals affected by a volcanic ash 
fall events each year (if an eruption occurs).
    Estimated Total Number of Annual Responses: 575
    Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 78
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Non-Hour Cost'' Burden: We 
estimate the non-hour cost burden to be $14.15 per respondent. Although 
not required, we estimate 50 respondents on an annual basis may 
voluntarily take and submit an ash fall sample. We suggest supplies on 
our Web site for respondents to use to assist them with their 
collection. Most respondents are likely to already possess the items so 
the true non-hour cost burden is likely to be lower.
    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 collection of information unless it displays a 
currently valid OMB control number.
    Comments: On June 11, 2012, we published a Federal Register Notice 
(77 FR 34400) announcing that we would submit this information collect 
to OMB for approval. The notice provided a 60-day public commenting 
period ending on August 20, 2012. We did not receive any comments in 
response to that notice. We again invite comments concerning this 
information collection on: (1) Whether or not the collection of 
information is necessary, including whether or not the information will 
have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of our estimate of the burden 
for this collection of information; (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. 
Please note that the comments submitted in response to this notice are 
a matter of public record. Before including your address, phone number, 
email address, or other

[[Page 16865]]

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: March 7, 2013.
Leslie Holland-Bartels,
USGS Regional Executive, Alaska Area.
[FR Doc. 2013-06268 Filed 3-18-13; 8:45 am]
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