[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 32 (Thursday, February 15, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11816-11817]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-03190]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; Analysis for Probabilistic and Risk Reduction Decision Support 
Fire Weather Services

AGENCY: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of information collection, request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other 
Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information 
collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information 
collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The 
purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment 
preceding submission of the collection to OMB.

DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed 
information collection must be received on or before April 15, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Do not submit

[[Page 11817]]

Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected 
information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
specific questions related to collection activities should be directed 
to Robyn Heffernan, National Fire Weather Services Senior Advisor, NOAA 
National Weather Service, 3833 S Development Ave., Boise, ID 83705, 
(208) 387-5089, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    This is a request for a new collection of information.
    The data collection is sponsored by DOC/NOAA/National Weather 
Service (NWS)/Analyze, Forecast, and Support Office (AFS), National 
Fire Weather Program. Under the Disaster Relief Supplemental 
Appropriations Act of 2022, Congress charged NOAA/NWS to improve (a) 
Hurricane intensity and track forecasting, including through deployment 
of unmanned ocean observing platforms and enhanced data assimilation; 
(b) precipitation and flood prediction, forecasting, and mitigation 
capabilities; and (c) wildfire research, prediction, detection, 
forecasting, monitoring, data management, and communication and 
engagement. Based on this directive, the NWS is conducting this project 
to improve decision support services for fire weather products and 
services. By using social science methods and risk communication 
expertise, the NWS seeks to identify how probabilistic weather 
information can most effectively influence fire-related decision-making 
to protect lives and property and enhance the economy. This data 
collection will include an on-line survey and virtual focus groups. The 
survey sample will be a non-representative panel that will draw 
primarily from the Western, Southern Plains, and Southeastern portions 
of the United States. The focus groups will be conducted with Public 
Information Officers and Fire Weather Practitioners at the national, 
regional, state, and local levels based on contacts known to the NWS. 
The insights and findings derived from this data collection will be 
used to develop Impact Decision Support Services' products and 
messages.

II. Method of Collection

    Both the survey and the focus groups will be conducted 
electronically via video conferencing technology based on schedules and 
participant preference.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-XXXX.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission new information collection.
    Affected Public: Individuals, State, local, or Tribal government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,140.
    Estimated Time per Response: Focus group: 2 hours; Survey: 15 
minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 605 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: None.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 
2022.

IV. Request for Comments

    We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau 
to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is 
necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether 
the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy 
of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed 
collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (d) Minimize the reporting burden 
on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms 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.

Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Under Secretary for 
Economic Affairs, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2024-03190 Filed 2-14-24; 8:45 am]
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