[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 68 (Thursday, April 9, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19067-19068]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-08128]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Understanding Value Trade-offs Regarding 
Fire Hazard Reduction Programs in the Wildland-Urban Interface

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, Understanding Value Trade-offs regarding Fire 
Hazard Reduction Programs in the Wildland-Urban Interface.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before June 8, 2015 
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 
Jos[eacute] S[aacute]nchez, USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest 
Research Station, 4955 Canyon Crest Drive, Riverside, California 92507.
    Comments may also be submitted via facsimile to 951-680-1501, or by 
email to [email protected].
    The public may inspect comments received at the Pacific Southwest 
Research Station, during normal business hours. Visitors are encouraged 
to call ahead to facilitate entry to the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jos[eacute] S[aacute]nchez, by phone 
at 951-680-1560. 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 Value Trade-offs regarding Fire Hazard 
Reduction Programs in the Wildland-Urban Interface.
    OMB Number: 0596-0189.
    Expiration Date of Approval: August 31, 2015.
    Type of Request: Extension with revision.
    Abstract: Forest Service and university researchers will contact 
recipients of a phone-mail-phone questionnaire and/or online 
questionnaire to help forest and fire managers understand value trade-
offs regarding fire hazard reduction programs in the wildland-urban 
interface. Through those contacts, researchers will evaluate the 
responses of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas residents to 
different scenarios related to fire-hazard reduction programs, 
determine how effective residents think the programs are, and calculate 
how much residents would be willing to pay to implement the 
alternatives presented to them. This information will help researchers 
provide better information to natural resource, forest, and fire 
managers when they are contemplating the kind and type of fire-hazard 
reduction program to implement to achieve forestland management 
planning objectives.
    A random sample of residents are contacted via random-digit dialed 
telephone calls and asked to participate in the research study and type 
of questionnaire (paper or online versions). Those agreeing to 
participate then answer a minimal set of questions to determine pre-
existing knowledge of fuels reduction treatments and provide a mailing 
address, as well as agreeing to a date and time for an in-depth 
interview related to the mail questionnaire or to provide email address 
where to send them a link for an online questionnaire. After completion 
of the in-depth interview or online questionnaire, no further contact 
with the participants will occur.
    A university research-survey center collects the information for 
mail/online questionnaires. A Forest Service researcher and 
collaborators at a cooperating university analyze the data collected. 
Both researchers are experienced in applied economic non-market 
valuation research and survey research methods.
    The Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian 
Affairs, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, as well as 
many State agencies

[[Page 19068]]

with fire protection responsibilities will benefit from this 
information collection.
    At present the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of 
Indian Affairs, National Park Service, Fish & Wildlife Service, and 
many State agencies with fire protection responsibilities continue an 
ambitious and costly fuels reduction program for fire risk reduction 
and will benefit from public opinion on which treatments are most 
effective or desirable.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: 40 minutes.
    Type of Respondents: Members of the public.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 1,334.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 659 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: April 2, 2015.
Carlos Rodriguez-Franco,
Associate Deputy Chief, Research & Development.
[FR Doc. 2015-08128 Filed 4-8-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3411-15-P