Agency Information Collection Activities; USGS Ashfall Report, 18175-18176 [2023-06198]

Agencies

• Geological Survey
• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 58 (Monday, March 27, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18175-18176]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-06198]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. 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 [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. You may also view the ICR at 
https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.

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