[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 179 (Friday, September 14, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46700-46701]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-20046]


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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 renewal of a currently approved information 
collection, Understanding Value Trade-offs regarding Fire Hazard 
Reduction Programs in the Wildland-Urban Interface (OMB # 0596-0189), 
with a revision for the removal of in-depth phone interviews and minor 
changes in questionnaire.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before November 13, 
2018 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: November 30, 2018.
    Type of Request: Renewal with revision.
    Abstract: Forest Service and university researchers will collect 
information from members of the public via a brief phone questionnaire 
followed by the respondent's choice of a mail questionnaire or an 
online questionnaire to help forest and fire managers understand value 
trade-offs regarding fire hazard reduction programs in the wildland-
urban interface. 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 type of fire-hazard reduction program to implement to 
achieve forestland management planning objectives.
    A random sample of residents of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and 
Texas will be contacted via random-digit dialed telephone calls and 
asked to participate in the research study. If they are willing to 
participate in the study, they will elect to receive an online or paper 
questionnaire and will provide the appropriate address. Though 
different forms, these questionnaires have the same set of questions. 
In this initial call, we will also ask those willing to participate a 
brief set of questions to determine pre-existing knowledge of fuels 
reduction treatments. After completion of the mail or online 
questionnaire, no further contact with the participants will occur. The 
in-depth phone interviews approved in the prior version of this 
information collection will be removed from the protocol in this 
renewal. Additionally, we anticipate adding several questions to the 
questionnaire on emerging issues, including how scenic quality impacts 
resident support for fire-hazard reduction programs.
    A university research-survey center will collect the information 
for the mail and online questionnaires. A Forest Service researcher and 
collaborators at a cooperating university will analyze the data 
collected. 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 with fire protection responsibilities will benefit 
from this information collection. At present, many of these 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 per Respondent: 40 minutes.
    Type of Respondents: Members of the public.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 1,675.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 690 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

[[Page 46701]]

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: August 29, 2018.
Carlos Rodriguez-Franco,
Deputy Chief, Research & Development.
[FR Doc. 2018-20046 Filed 9-13-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3411-15-P