Agency Information Collection Activities: USGS Ashfall Report, 66743-66744 [2022-23985]

Agencies

• Geological Survey
• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 213 (Friday, November 4, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66743-66744]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[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 [email protected]. 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 [email protected], 
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