[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 103 (Friday, May 27, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33701-33702]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-12569]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Geological Survey

[USGS-GX16WC00COM0001]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Comments

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

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

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

DATES: To ensure that your comments on this ICR are considered, OMB 
must receive them on or before June 27, 2016.

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: 
([email protected]); or by fax (202) 395-5806; and identify 
your submission with `OMB Control Number 1028-0106 USGS Ash Fall 
Report'. Please also forward a copy of your comments and suggestions 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) 648-7195 (fax); or [email protected] (email). Please reference `OMB Information 
Collection 1028-0106: USGS Ash Fall Report' in all correspondence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristi Wallace, U.S. Geological 
Survey, Alaska Volcano Observatory, 4210 University Drive, Anchorage, 
Alaska 99508, office phone: 907-786-7109, email: kwallace@usgs. 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 U.S. 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 grained ash, 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

[[Page 33702]]

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 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.
    Observers may also collect and submit a physical ashfall sample 
using mail services. The area over which ash can fall is large. Timely 
access is often difficult for USGS employees and local individuals are 
ideally positioned to collect quality samples.

II. Data

    OMB Control Number: 1028-0106.
    Form Number: NA.
    Title: USGS Ash Fall Report.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Respondent Obligation: Participation is voluntary.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion, after each ashfall event.
    Description of Respondents: Individuals and households.
    Estimated Total Number of Annual Responses: Approximately 200 
individuals will respond with an observation event each year.
    Estimated Time per Response: We estimate the public reporting 
burden will average 3.5 minutes per response. This includes the time 
for reviewing instructions, and answering a web-based questionnaire.
    Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 33 hours.
    Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping ``Non-Hour Cost'' Burden: 
There are a few optional ``non-hour cost'' burdens associated with this 
collection of information, such as clipboards, plastic bags, and 
preparing ash collection tools. We estimate the maximum for all 
respondents is $711.
    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. Until the OMB approves a collection 
of information, you are not obliged to respond.
    Comments: On February 12, 2016, we published a Federal Register 
notice (81 FR 7582) announcing that we would submit this ICR to OMB for 
approval and soliciting comments. The comment period closed on April 
12, 2016. We received no comments.

III. Request for Comments

    We again invite comments concerning this ICR 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 comments submitted in response to this notice are 
a matter of public record. Before including your personal mailing 
address, phone number, email address, or other personally identifiable 
information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire 
comment, including your personally identifiable information, may be 
made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us and the OMB 
in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from 
public review, we cannot guarantee that it will be done.

Thomas L. Murry,
Director, Volcano Science Center.
[FR Doc. 2016-12569 Filed 5-26-16; 8:45 am]
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