Notice2022-23985
Agency Information Collection Activities: USGS Ashfall Report
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
November 4, 2022
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentGeological Survey
Abstract
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is proposing to renew an information collection.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 213 (Friday, November 4, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 213 (Friday, November 4, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66743-66744]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-23985]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Geological Survey
[GX23WC00GJNV331; OMB Control Number 1028-0106]
Agency Information Collection Activities: USGS Ashfall Report
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 (PRA),
the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is proposing to renew an information
collection.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before
January 3, 2023.
ADDRESSES: Send your comments on this information collection request
(ICR) by mail to U.S. Geological Survey, Information Collections
Officer, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, MS 159, Reston, VA 20192; or by
email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1275613f7b7c747d4d717d7e7e7771667b7d7c6152676175613c757d64"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c6a1b5ebafa8a0a999a5a9aaaaa3a5b2afa9a8b586b3b5a1b5e8a1a9b0">[email protected]</span></a>. Please reference OMB Control
Number 1028-0106 in the subject line of your comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information
about this ICR, contact Kristi Wallace by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7e15091f12121f1d1b3e0b0d190d50191108"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7e15091f12121f1d1b3e0b0d190d50191108">[email protected]</span></a>,
or by telephone at 907-786-7109. Individuals in the United States who
are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may
dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay
services. Individuals outside the United States should use the relay
services offered within their country to make international calls to
the point-of-contact in the United States.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501
et seq. and 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), all information collections require
approval. We may not conduct or sponsor, nor are you required to
respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently
valid OMB control number.
As part of our continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent
burdens, we invite the public and other Federal agencies to comment on
new, 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 especially interested in public comment addressing the
following:
(1) Whether or not the collection of information is necessary for
the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including
whether or not the information will have practical utility;
(2) The accuracy of our estimate of the burden for this 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) How the agency might minimize the burden of the collection of
information on those who are to respond, including through the use of
appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological
collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g.,
permitting electronic submission of response.
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 personally identifiable information
(PII) in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--
including your PII--may be made publicly available at any time. While
you can ask us in your comment to withhold your PII from public review,
we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Abstract
The USGS provides notifications and warnings to the public of
volcanic activity in the U.S. in order to reduce the loss of life and
property and to mitigate the economic and societal impacts. Ash fallout
to the ground can pose significant disruption and damage to buildings,
transportation, water and wastewater, power supply,
[[Page 66744]]
communications equipment, agriculture, and primary production leading
to potentially substantial societal impacts and costs, even at
thicknesses of only a few millimeters or inches. Additionally, fine
grained ash, when ingested, can cause health impacts to humans and
animals. The USGS will use reports entered by respondents in real time
of ashfall in their local area to correct or refine ashfall forecasts
as the ash cloud moves downwind. Retrospectively, these reports will
enable the USGS to improve their ashfall models and further their
research into eruptive processes.
This project is a database module and web interface allowing the
public and Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) staff to enter reports of
ashfall in their local area in real time and retrospectively following
an eruptive event. Users browsing the AVO website during eruptions will
be directed towards a web form allowing them to fill in ashfall
information and submit the information to AVO.
Compiled ashfall reports are available in real-time to AVO staff
through the AVO internal website. A pre-formatted summary report or
table that distills information received online will show ashfall
reports in chronological order with key fields including (1) date and
time of ashfall, (2) location, (3) positive or negative ashfall (4)
name of observer, and (5) contact information which is easily viewable
internally on the report so that calls for clarification can be made by
AVO staff quickly and Operations room staff can visualize ashfall
information quickly.
Ashfall report data will also be displayed on a dynamic map
interface and show positive (yes ash) and negative (no ash) ashfall
reports by location. Ashfall reports (icons) will be publicly displayed
for a period of 24 hours and shaded differently as they age so that the
age of reports is obvious.
The ashfall report database will help AVO track eruption clouds and
associated fallout downwind. These reports from the public will also
give scientists a more complete record of the amount, duration, and
other conditions of ashfall. Getting first-hand accounts of ashfall
will support ashfall model ashfall development and interpretation of
satellite imagery. AVO scientists will--as time allows--be able to
contact the individuals using their entered contact information for
clarification and details. Knowing the locations from which ashfall
reports have been filed will improve ashfall warning messages, AVO
Volcanic Activity Notifications, and make fieldwork more efficient. AVO
staff will be able to condense and summarize the various ashfall
reports and forward that information on to emergency management
agencies and the wider public. The online form will also free up
resources during an eruption, a time that exceedingly busy for the USGS
as most individuals currently phone AVO with their reports.
Title of Collection: USGS Ashfall Report.
OMB Control Number: 1028-0106.
Form Number: None.
Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
Respondents/Affected Public: General Public, local governments, and
emergency managers.
Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 250.
Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 250.
Estimated Completion Time per Response: 5 minutes.
Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 21 hours.
Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
Frequency of Collection: On occasion, after each ashfall event.
Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: We have not identified
any ``non-hour cost'' burdens associated with this collection of
information.
An agency may not conduct or sponsor, nor is a person required to
respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently
valid OMB control number.
The authority for this action is the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq).
Christina Neal,
Center Director, Volcano Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey.
[FR Doc. 2022-23985 Filed 11-3-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4338-11-P
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