[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 183 (Wednesday, September 21, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58462-58463]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-24233]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Information Collection; Qualified Products List for Water
Enhancers (Gels) for Wildland Firefighting
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice; request for comment.
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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 the extension with no revision of a currently approved
information collection, Qualified Products List for Water Enhancers
(Gels) for Wildland Firefighting.
DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before November 21,
2011 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
Victoria Henderson, Branch Director, Equipment and Chemicals, U.S.
Forest Service, National Interagency Fire Center, 3833 S. Development
Avenue, Boise, ID 83705.
Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to 208-387-5398 or by
e-mail to: [email protected].
The public may inspect comments received at the National
Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), Jack Wilson Building, in Boise, Idaho,
Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors are encouraged
to call ahead to 208-387-5348 to facilitate entry to the building.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cecilia Johnson, Missoula Technology
and Development Center (MTDC), 406-329-4819, Shirley Zylstra (MTDC),
406-329-4859, or Tory Henderson, NIFC, 208-387-5348. 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: Qualified Products List for Water Enhancers (Gels) for
Wildland Firefighting.
OMB Number: 0596-0182.
Expiration Date of Approval: February 29, 2012.
Type of Request: Extension with no revision
1. Abstract: The Forest Service and cooperating wildland
firefighting agencies need adequate types and quantities of qualified
fire chemical products available to accomplish fire management
activities as safely and effectively as possible. To accomplish this
objective, the Agency evaluates and pre-approves commercial wildland
firefighting chemicals. The Agency may be required to submit the
formulations to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries during the evaluation
process. All products must meet the requirements of specifications
identified and maintained by the Wildland Fire Chemical Systems (WFCS)
staff at the Forest Service Missoula Technology and Development Center
(MTDC). After a product evaluation has been completed successfully, the
product is added to the Qualified Products List (QPL) for the
appropriate product type. All Forest Service procurements of wildland
fire chemicals are made from these lists.
To initiate an evaluation, product manufacturers (or authorized
suppliers) enter into an agreement with the Forest Service and pay all
costs associated with the submission and evaluation of the product.
Once the agreement is in place and funds are deposited to cover the
associated costs, the manufacturer submits the following information to
WFCS:
1. List of the specific ingredients and quantity used to prepare
the product,
2. Identification of the source of supply for each ingredient,
3. Copies of the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for the product
and for each ingredient used to prepare the product, and
4. Specific mixing requirements and performance information.
Review of the submitted information assures that the product does
not contain ingredients meeting the criteria for Chemicals of Concern,
for example by appearing on one or more of the following lists:
Agency list of unacceptable ingredients.
National Toxicology Program (NTP) ``Annual Report on
Carcinogens''.
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)
Monographs for Potential Carcinogens.
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act (CERCLA) ``List of Extremely Hazardous Substances and
Their Threshold Planning Quantities''.
A risk assessment, performed at manufacturer expense, may be
required. When a risk assessment is necessary, a third party selected
by the Agency assesses the products and levels of ingredients found in
typical applications relative to human and environmental impact.
Each product submitted is tested to determine the mammalian and
aquatic toxicity of the product and must meet specific levels of
performance to minimize potential risk during firefighting operations.
Additional tests are performed to determine the effectiveness of
the product to reduce spread rate and intensity of the fire by
application directly on or near the fire.
A number of product characteristics are measured over the
operational performance range of the product to ensure that the product
meets the needs of the firefighters in the field.
The collection of this information for each product submission is
necessary due to the length of time needed to test the product (18 to
24 months) and need to ensure that products are safe and effective
prior to purchase and use.
This information collection and the product evaluation must be
conducted on an on-going basis to ensure the Agency can solicit and
award contracts in a timely manner to provide firefighters with safe
and effective wildland fire chemical products.
Estimate of Annual Burden: 4.5 hours.
Type of Respondents: Businesses (manufacturers and suppliers) of
water
[[Page 58463]]
enhancers (gels) for wildland firefighting.
Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 3.
Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 3.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 40.5 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: September 14, 2011.
Robin L. Thompson,
Associate Deputy Chief, State and Private Forestry.
[FR Doc. 2011-24233 Filed 9-20-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P