[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 102 (Tuesday, May 28, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24535-24536]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-10998]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Geological Survey

[GX18RB00FXBA100; OMB Control Number 1028-NEW]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Forests, Wildfire Risk, 
and Watershed Health in the Rio Grande River Basin

AGENCY: U.S. Geological Survey, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, 
the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) are proposing a new information 
collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
July 29, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments on the information collection request 
(ICR) by mail to the U.S. Geological Survey, Information Collections 
Clearance Officer, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, MS 159, Reston, VA 
20192; or by email to [email protected]. Please reference 
OMB Control Number 1028-NEW in the subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact Rudy Schuster by email at [email protected], 
or by telephone at (970) 226-9165.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, we provide the general public and other Federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on proposed, revised, and continuing 
collections of information. This helps us assess the impact of our 
information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting 
burden. It also helps the public understand our information collection 
requirements and provide the requested data in the desired format.
    We are soliciting comments on the proposed ICR that is described 
below. We are especially interested in public comment addressing the 
following issues: (1) Is the collection necessary to the proper 
functions of the USGS; (2) will this information be processed and used 
in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) how 
might the USGS enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (5) how might the USGS minimize the 
burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use 
of information technology.
    Comments that you submit 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 ICR. 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 may ask us in your comment to withhold your 
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.
    Abstract: The USGS is investigating public values for changes in 
forest restoration treatments within the upper Rio Grande watershed in 
New Mexico and Colorado. The Rio Grande watershed supplies water to 
half of New Mexico's population, including Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and 
many rural communities, but it also is threatened by the risk of high-
severity wildfires. Forest restoration treatments can reduce the risks 
from high-severity wildfires, including threats to water security, 
private property, habitat for fish and wildlife, and air quality. USGS 
economists are partnering with an economic researcher with Northern 
Arizona University to review private citizens' attitudes, perceptions, 
and the economic values associated with the different potential 
benefits of these forest restoration treatments. These values will be 
estimated via a survey instrument. Previous studies in the study area 
have established the public benefit of conducting forest restoration 
treatments overall; the focus of this study is the relevant benefits of 
different impacts of these treatments. The primary goal of conducting 
this valuation study is to improve the ability of federal, state, 
local, and non-

[[Page 24536]]

governmental organizations to maximize public benefits when planning 
and implementing these forest restoration treatments across the 
landscape.
    The information collection process will be conducted by scientists 
and staff in the Social and Economic Analysis Branch of the USGS Fort 
Collins Science Center and partnering researchers in The W.A. Franke 
College of Business at Northern Arizona University. This information 
collection will be conducted through an online survey with an optional 
paper survey. Letters and postcards will be mailed to potential 
respondents to encourage participation in the survey. We will protect 
information from respondents considered proprietary under the Freedom 
of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and its implementing regulations (43 
CFR part 2), and under regulations at 30 CFR 250.197, ``Data and 
information to be made available to the public or for limited 
inspection.'' Responses are voluntary. No questions of a ``sensitive'' 
nature are asked.
    Title of Collection: Forests, wildfire risk, and watershed health 
in the Rio Grande river basin.
    OMB Control Number: 1028-NEW.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: New.
    Respondents/Affected Public: individuals/households.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 3,000.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 1,000.
    Estimated Completion Time per Response: 20 minutes.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 333 hours.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Frequency of Collection: One time.
    Total Estimated Annual Non-hour Burden Cost: None/not applicable.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required 
to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a 
currently valid OMB control number.
    The authorities for this action are the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.).

Sharon Taylor,
Fort Collins Science Center Director.
[FR Doc. 2019-10998 Filed 5-24-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4338-11-P