Information Collection; Request for Comment; Evaluating Community Knowledge, Beliefs, Attitudes and Preferences Concerning Fire and Fuels Management in Southwestern Forest, Woodland and Grassland Ecosystems, 36368 [05-12408]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Forest Service

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 120 (Thursday, June 23, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 36368]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-12408]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Request for Comment; Evaluating Community 
Knowledge, Beliefs, Attitudes and Preferences Concerning Fire and Fuels 
Management in Southwestern Forest, Woodland and Grassland Ecosystems

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals and 
organizations on a new, one-time information collection, Evaluating 
Community Knowledge, Beliefs, Attitudes and Preferences Concerning Fire 
and Fuels Management in Southwestern Forest, Woodland and Grassland 
Ecosystems. This collection effort is necessary to obtain information 
from the citizens of Arizona and New Mexico. The information provided 
by this study will allow USDA Forest Service land managers to better 
understand the public's knowledge, beliefs, attitudes and preferences 
regarding fire and fuels management issues in Region 3 of the USDA 
Forest Service. This information will assist Forest Service land 
managers in their efforts to interact more effectively with the public 
and manage the risks associated with wildland fire.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before August 22, 
2005 to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date 
will be considered to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: Comments concerning this notice should be addressed to Dr. 
Carol Raish, USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, 333 
Broadway, SE., Suite 115, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102-3497.
    Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to (505) 724-3688 or 
by e-mail to: craish@fs.fed.us. The public may inspect comments 
received at USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, 333 
Broadway SE, Albuquerque, NM 87102-3497 during normal business hours. 
Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to (505) 724-3666 to facilitate 
entry to the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Carol Raish, (505) 724-3666. 
Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may 
call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 twenty-four 
hours a day, every day of the year, including holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Evaluating Community Knowledge, Beliefs, Attitudes and 
Preferences Concerning Fire and Fuels Management in Southwestern 
Forest, Woodland and Grassland Ecosystems.
    OMB Number: 0596-New.
    Expiration Date of Approval: New.
    Type of Request: New.
    Abstract: Although fire is increasingly recommended as a fuels 
reduction tool on both public and private lands, controversy often 
inhibits its use. Insufficient communication and understanding between 
land managers and the public frequently contribute to these 
difficulties. If managers do not have adequate information concerning 
public attitudes and actions concerning wildfire risk reduction 
behaviors (for example, creating defensible space on their properties 
by clearing brush and trees from a 30-foot area around the residence), 
then managers may not make well-informed decisions concerning 
appropriate communication techniques and needed public education 
information. In order to design and implement successful, socially 
acceptable fire and fuels management policies and programs, managers 
need to better understand the public's knowledge, attitudes and 
practices concerning wildfire. This project will collect information 
from the general public residing in Arizona and New Mexico. This type 
of information from these two states is important given the fire and 
fuels management decisions facing land managers in this area.
    The information will be collected using a mail survey of households 
located in Arizona and New Mexico. Households will be randomly selected 
based upon addresses in the two states. Participation in the survey is 
strictly voluntary.
    The survey will be administered by a firm operating under a 
Research Joint Venture with the USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain 
Research Station in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
    The type of information collected will include: (1) Attitudes and 
preferences toward wildfire and fire management alternatives for public 
lands, (2) risk reduction behaviors that homeowners and individuals 
have undertaken to minimize wildfire risk, (3) sources of information 
regarding wildfires and wildfire risk reduction, and (4) socio-economic 
information. The data collected will then be analyzed by researchers at 
the Rocky Mountain Research Station and cooperators. The results will 
be made available to land managers, the surveyed public, and other 
interested parties. This information will enhance the ability of 
decision makers to communicate and understand the public and their 
preferences regarding fire and fuels management in Arizona and New 
Mexico. Without this type of information decision makers and the public 
will continue to interact on the issues without a broad-based 
understanding of the factors that are important to the general public 
of Arizona and New Mexico.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: 20 minutes.
    Type of Respondents: Individuals residing in Arizona and New 
Mexico.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 2000.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 667 hours.

Comment is Invited

    Comment is invited on: (1) Whether this collection of information 
is necessary for the stated purposes and the proper performance of the 
functions of the agency, including whether the information will have 
practical or scientific utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's 
estimate of the burden of the 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) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
respondents, including the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or 
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    All comments received in response to this notice, including names 
and addresses when provided, will be a matter of public record. 
Comments will be summarized and included in the submission request 
toward Office of Management and Budget approval.

    Dated: June 16, 2005.
Bov B. Eav,
Associate Deputy Chief for Research & Development.
[FR Doc. 05-12408 Filed 6-22-05; 8:45 am]
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