2012-8814. Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

April 9, 2012.

The Department of Agriculture has submitted the following information collection requirement(s) to OMB for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments regarding (a) whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) ways to 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 and other forms of information technology should be addressed to: Desk Officer for Agriculture, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Washington, DC, [e-mail] or fax [phone] and to Departmental Clearance Office, USDA, OCIO, Mail Stop 7602, Washington, DC 20250-7602. Comments regarding these information collections are best assured of having their full effect if received within 30 days of this notification. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling [phone].

An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information that such persons are not required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

Forest Service

Title: Understanding Value Trade-Offs Regarding Fire Hazard Reduction Programs in the Wildland-Urban Interface.

OMB Control Number: 0596-0189.

Summary of Collection: The Healthy Forests Restoration Act (Pub. L. 108-148), improves the ability of the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to plan and conduct hazardous fuels reduction projects on National Forest System and Bureau of Land Management Lands. The Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and many State agencies with fire protection responsibilities have undertaken a very ambitious and expensive forest fuels reduction program. The Forest Service (FS) and university researchers will contact recipients of a phone/mail questionnaire to help forest and fire managers understand value trade-offs regarding fire hazard reduction programs in the wildland-urban interface.

Need and Use of the Information: Through the questionnaire, researchers will evaluate the responses of California and Colorado residents to different scenarios related to fire hazard reduction programs, how residents think the programs presented to them are effective, and calculate how much residents would be willing to pay to implement the alternatives. The collected information will help researchers provide better information to natural resources, forest, and fire managers when they are contemplating the kind and type of fire hazard reduction programs to implement to achieve forest land management planning objectives. Without the information the agencies with fire protection responsibilities will lack the capability to evaluate the general public's understanding of proposed fuels reduction projects and programs or their willingness to pay for implementing such programs.

Description of Respondents: Individuals or households.

Number of Respondents: 1,000.

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Other (One time only).

Total Burden Hours: 584.

Charlene Parker,

Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.