2023-00670. Agency Information Collection Activities: User Testing of Graphics for USGS Aftershock Forecasts

AGENCY:

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), 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 begin a new information collection.

DATES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before March 20, 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 [e-mail]. Please reference OMB Control Number 1028-NEW in the subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

To request additional information about this ICR, contact Sara McBride by email at [e-mail] or by telephone at 650-750-5270. 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 produces and releases forecasts for earthquake aftershocks following damaging earthquakes in an automated manner. Currently, these forecasts are communicated to the public and to specialist users in text and tabular formats. The aim of this project is to produce graphics and maps for aftershock forecasts that can better serve user needs. To ensure new forecast graphics serve user needs, we will conduct online user testing. In this information collection, we will anonymously ask users questions about a variety of graphical representations of the forecast. This will help identify how different graphics affect users' understanding and use of aftershock forecast information. The results of this user testing will improve the way the USGS communicates aftershock forecasts to the public.

Title of Collection: User testing of graphics for USGS aftershock forecasts.

OMB Control Number: 1028-NEW.

Form Number: None.

Type of Review: NEW.

Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals/Households.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 400.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 400.

Estimated Completion Time per Response: 15 minutes.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 100.

Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.

Frequency of Collection: One-time, in an online survey.

Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: 0.

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).

Shane Detweiler,

Assistant Center Director, Earthquake Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey.