[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 49 (Tuesday, March 13, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10826-10827]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-05004]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection: Generic Clearance for Social Science and 
Economics Data Collections on Natural Disasters and Disturbances

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 a new generic information collection request, Social 
Science and Economics Data Collections on Natural Disasters and 
Disturbances.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before May 14, 2018 
to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date will 
be considered to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Kenli Kim, National Program Leader 
for Social Science Research, Forest Service, 1400 Independence Ave., 
SW, Mailstop 1114, Washington, DC 20250-1114, or by electronic mail to 
[email protected], with ``PRA comment on natural disasters and 
disturbances'' in the subject line. If comments are sent by electronic 
mail, the public is requested not to send duplicate written comments 
via regular mail. Please confine written comments to issues pertinent 
to the information collection request, explain the reasons for any 
recommended changes, and, where possible, reference the specific 
section or paragraph being addressed.
    All timely submitted comments, including names and addresses when 
provided, are placed in the record and are available for public 
inspection and copying. The public may inspect comments received on 
this information

[[Page 10827]]

collection at the USDA Forest Service Headquarters, 201 14th St. SW, 
Washington, DC 20250 between the hours of 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on 
business days. Those wishing to inspect comments should contact Kenli 
Kim ([email protected]) to facilitate an appointment and entrance to the 
building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenli Kim, National Program Leader for 
Social Science Research at the Forest Service ([email protected]). 
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: Generic Clearance for Social Science and Economics Data 
Collections on Natural Disasters and Disturbances
    OMB Number: 0596--NEW.
    Expiration Date of Approval: NEW.
    Type of Request: NEW.
    Abstract: The USDA Forest Service has broad responsibilities for 
caring for the forests and grasslands of the nation. This includes 
managing wildland fires and responding to many other threats such as 
droughts, floods, tree pests and diseases, invasive species, extreme 
weather events, effects of climate change, and other natural disasters 
and disturbances. The frequency, type, duration, and intensity of 
disturbances and disasters shape our forests and other natural 
ecosystems and impact people's lives. In any given year, a wide range 
of people living in all types of communities across the nation--rural, 
suburban, and urban; forested, industrical, and agricultural--are 
affected by natural disasters and disturbances.
    This Generic Information Collection Request (ICR) seeks Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) approval to collect information that will 
help the Forest Service understand how individuals, communities, and 
organizations prepare for, respond and adapt to, and recover from 
natural disturbances and disasters, as well as build resilience. This 
information is critical to supporting the Forest Service's mission of 
both managing national forests and grasslands and collaborating with 
others to develop useful guidelines for management of the nation's 
forests. Under this Generic ICR, social science research methods such 
as surveys, interviews, and focus groups will collect information from 
individuals and groups who are preparing for, responding to, and/or 
recovering from natural disasters and disturbances. Results from the 
proposed research and data collections can inform prediction, 
preparation, response, and recovery strategies and efforts by the 
Forest Service and other Federal agencies, as well as related local 
government, civil society, and community efforts. In the long term, 
such knowledge can contribute to fewer societal costs from disturbance 
processes, more cost-effective management efforts, and more resilient 
communities and economies. Any specific study conducted under this 
Generic ICR will be posted for public comment in The Federal Register 
for 30 days by the USDA Forest Service.
    Estimate of Annual Burden on Respondents: 15,533 hours/year.
    Type of Respondents: Participants/respondents will be individuals, 
not specific entities.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 100,500 year.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1 response/
respondent is anticipated.

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. The Forest Service will consider the comments received and 
amend the ICR as appropriate. The final ICR package will then be 
submitted to OMB for review and approval.
    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 for 
final Office of Management and Budget approval.

    Dated: February 15, 2018.
Monica Lear,
Associate Deputy Chief, Research & Development.
[FR Doc. 2018-05004 Filed 3-12-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3411-15-P