Agency Information Collection Activities; Forests, Wildfire Risk, and Watershed Health in the Rio Grande River Basin
| Citation | 84 FR 24535 |
| Record Number | 2019-10998 |
| Published date | 28 May 2019 |
| Section | Notices |
| Court | Geological Survey,Interior Department |
Federal Register, Volume 84 Issue 102 (Tuesday, May 28, 2019)
[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
