[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 29 (Friday, February 12, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7582-7583]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-02867]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

 Geological Survey

[USGS-GX15WC00COM0001]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

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

ACTION: Notice of a revision of a currently approved information 
collection (1028-0106).

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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. This 
collection is scheduled to expire on May 31, 2016.

DATES: To ensure that your comments are considered, we must receive 
them on or before April 12, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may 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-
7197 (fax); or [email protected] (email). Use `Information 
Collection Number 1028-0106, Ash Fall Report' in the subject line.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristi Wallace, U.S. Geological 
Survey, Alaska Volcano Observatory, 4210 University Drive, Anchorage, 
Alaska 99508, email: [email protected], office: 907-786-7109. You may 
also find information about this ICR at www.reginfo.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The USGS provides notifications and warnings to the public of 
volcanic activity in the US in order to reduce the loss of life, 
property, and economic and societal impacts. Ash fallout to the ground 
can pose significant disruption and damage to buildings, 
transportation, water and wastewater, power supply, communications 
equipment, agriculture, and primary production leading to potentially 
substantial societal impacts and costs, even at thicknesses of only a 
few millimeters or inches. Additionally, fine grainedash, when ingested 
can cause health impacts to humans and animals. 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 
is 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 ashfall reports are 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 is easily viewable 
internally on the report so that calls for clarification can be made by 
AVO staff quickly and Operations room staff can visualize ashfall 
information quickly.
    Ash fall report data will also be displayed on a dynamic map 
interface and show positive (yes ash) and

[[Page 7583]]

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

    OMB Control Number: 1028-0106.
    Form Number: NA.
    Title: USGS Ash Fall Report.
    Type of Request: Renewal of existing information collection.
    Affected Public: General Public, local governments and emergency 
managers.
    Respondent Obligation: Voluntary.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion, after each ashfall event.
    Estimated Total Number of Annual Responses: Approximately 250 
individuals affected by a volcanic ashfall event each year.
    Estimated Time per Response: 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 Annual Burden Hours: 21 hours.
    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 collection of information unless it displays a 
currently valid OMB control number and current expiration date.

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.

Aimee Devaris,
USGS Regional Director, Alaska Area.
[FR Doc. 2016-02867 Filed 2-11-16; 8:45 am]
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