Notice2023-06198
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
March 27, 2023
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 88 Issue 58 (Monday, March 27, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 58 (Monday, March 27, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18175-18176]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-06198]
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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
April 26, 2023.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed
information collection request (ICR) should be sent within 30 days of
publication of this notice to <a href="http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a>. Find
this particular information collection by selecting ``Currently under
Review--Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function.
Please provide your comments 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#d1b6a2fcb8bfb7be8eb2bebdbdb4b2a5b8bebfa291a4a2b6a2ffb6bea7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="294e5a0440474f46764a4645454c4a5d4046475a695c5a4e5a074e465f">[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#2c475b4d40404d4f496c595f4b5f024b435a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d5bea2b4b9b9b4b6b095a0a6b2a6fbb2baa3">[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. You may also view the ICR at
<a href="http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the PRA 44 U.S.C. 3501 et
seq. and 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), we provide the general public and other
Federal agencies with an opportunity 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.
A Federal Register notice with a 60-day public comment period
soliciting comments on this collection of information was published on
November 4, 2022 (87 FR 66743). No comments were received.
As part of our continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent
burdens, we are again soliciting comments from the public and other
Federal agencies on the proposed ICR that is described below. 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. 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,
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 ash fall in their local area to correct or refine ash fall forecasts
as the ash cloud moves downwind. Retrospectively these reports will
enable the USGS to improve their ash fall 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
ash fall 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 ash fall
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 ash fall reports in chronological
order with key fields including (1) date and time of ash fall, (2)
location, (3) positive or negative ash fall (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) ash fall
reports by location. Ash fall 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 ash fall. Getting first-hand accounts of ash fall
will support ashfall model 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 ash-fall reports have
been filed will improve
[[Page 18176]]
ash fall warning messages, AVO Volcanic Activity Notifications, and
make fieldwork more efficient. AVO staff will be able to condense and
summarize the various ash fall 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 is
exceedingly busy for the USGS as most individuals currently phone AVO
with their reports.
Title of Collection: USGS Ash Fall 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: We are likely to ask
individuals to respond 1-6 times year which is the number of past
eruptions we have during any one year in Alaska. Individuals can submit
responses more than once during an eruption to report ashfall details.
Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: Approximately 575
individuals affected by a volcanic ashfall event each year.
Estimated Completion Time per Response: We estimate the public
reporting burden will average 5 minutes per response. This includes the
time for reviewing instructions and answering a web-based
questionnaire.
Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 79 hours.
Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
Frequency of Collection: On occasion, after each ashfall event.
Total Estimated Annual Non-Hour Burden Cost: $741.
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,
Director, USGS Volcano Science Center.
[FR Doc. 2023-06198 Filed 3-24-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4334-63-P
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