Notice2026-09041
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; USGS Ash Fall 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
May 7, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentGeological Survey
Abstract
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is proposing to renew an information collection.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 88 (Thursday, May 7, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 88 (Thursday, May 7, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24913-24914]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-09041]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Geological Survey
[Docket No. USGS-2026-0067; OMB Control Number 1028-0106;
GX26WC00GJNV331]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; USGS Ash Fall
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 (PRA) of 1995,
the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is proposing to renew an information
collection.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before
June 8, 2026.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by one of the following methods:
[ssquf] Internet: <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. Search for and
submit comments on Docket No. USGS-2026-0067.
[ssquf] U.S. Mail: USGS, Information Collections Clearance Officer,
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, MS 159, Reston, VA 20192.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristi Wallace by email at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c3a8b4a2afafa2a0a683b6b0a4b0eda4acb5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ed869a8c81818c8e88ad989e8a9ec38a829b">[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 of 1995 (44
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) and 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), the USGS provides the
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
March 3, 2026, (91 FR 10408). 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 comments 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 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 using 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 United States in order to reduce the
loss of life, property, and economic and societal impacts. Ash fall to
the ground can pose
[[Page 24914]]
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 in
real time by respondents 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 USGS to improve their ash
fall models and further 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 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. 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 and duration and
other conditions of ash fall. Getting first-hand accounts of ash fall
will support model ash fall 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 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
exceedingly busy times during an eruption, 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 Respondents: 250.
Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 250 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: 21 hours.
Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
Frequency of Collection: On occasion, after each ashfall event.
Total Estimated Annual Non-hour Burden Cost: $750.
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 of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501
et seq.).
Jacob Lowenstern,
Center Director, USGS Volcano Science Center.
[FR Doc. 2026-09041 Filed 5-6-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4311-51-P
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