```

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 244 (Thursday, December 19, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 103773-103774]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-30207]

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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

Information Collection; Qualified Products List for Wildland Fire 
Chemicals

AGENCY: Forest Service, Agriculture (USDA).

ACTION: Notice; request for comment.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Forest Service is requesting comment on reapproval or reinstatement 
without revision of an approved Information Collection Request (ICR), 
0596-0182, Qualified Products List for Wildland Fire Chemicals.

DATES: Comments on reapproval or reinstatement of the ICR must be 
received in writing by February 18, 2025.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to Michael McFarlane, Fire Chemicals 
Branch Chief, USDA Forest Service, National Interagency Fire Center, 
3833 South Development Avenue, Mail Stop 1100, Boise, ID 83705, or by 
email at [email protected]. Comments submitted in response to 
this notice will be available to the public through the relevant 
website and upon request. Therefore, do not include confidential 
information, such as sensitive personal or proprietary information. 
Email addresses associated with comments will be included as part of 
the comment that is made publicly available online.
    The public may inspect the supporting documents for the ICR and 
comments received at the National Interagency Fire Center, located in 
the Jack Wilson Building, 3833 South Development Avenue, Boise, Idaho, 
on business days between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Visitors are encouraged 
to call ahead at (208) 387-5512 to facilitate entry into the building. 
The public may request an electronic copy of the supporting documents 
via email.

[[Page 103774]]

Requests should be emailed to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bryon Lake, National Technology and 
Development Program, (406) 829-6814 or by email at [email protected], 
or Michael McFarlane, National Interagency Fire Center, (208) 860-7334 
or by email at [email protected]. Individuals who use 
telecommunication devices for the deaf and hard of hearing may call 711 
to reach the Telecommunications Relay Service, 24 hours a day, every 
day of the year, including holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Qualified Products List for Wildland Fire Chemicals.
    OMB Number: 0596-0182.
    Expiration Date of Approval: January 31, 2025.
    Type of Request: Reapproval or reinstatement without revision of an 
approved ICR.
    Abstract: The Forest Service and cooperating wildland firefighting 
agencies need adequate types and quantities of qualified fire chemical 
products to accomplish fire management activities as safely and 
effectively as possible. To accomplish this objective, the Agency 
evaluates and prequalifies commercial wildland firefighting chemical 
products. The Agency is required to submit the formulations to the U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service during 
the evaluation process. All commercial wildland firefighting chemical 
products must meet the qualification requirements identified in the 
specifications maintained by the Wildland Fire Chemical Systems staff 
for the National Technology and Development Program. After a 
determination has been made that a chemical product meets the 
qualification requirements, the chemical product is added to the 
qualified products list for the appropriate product type. All federal 
procurements of wildland fire chemical products are made from these 
qualified product lists.
    To initiate an evaluation, chemical 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 
chemical product. Once the agreement is in place and funds are 
deposited to cover the associated costs, the manufacturer or supplier 
submits the following information to Wildland Fire Chemical Systems 
staff:
    1. A list of the specific ingredients and quantity used to prepare 
the chemical product;
    2. Identification of a specific company as the source of supply for 
each ingredient;
    3. Copies of the safety data sheet for the chemical product and for 
each ingredient used to prepare the chemical product from the company 
that supplies that chemical; and
    4. Specific mixing requirements and performance information.
    Review of the submitted information assures that the chemical 
product does not contain ingredients meeting the criteria for chemicals 
of concern. Chemicals of concern are defined as chemicals appearing on 
one or more of the following lists:
     Agency list of unacceptable ingredients.
     National Toxicology Program Annual Report on Carcinogens.
     International Agency for Research on Cancer Monographs for 
Potential Carcinogens.
     Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and 
Liability Act List of Extremely Hazardous Substances and Their 
Threshold Planning Quantities.
     Resources Conservation and Recovery Act, Acutely Hazardous 
and Toxic Wastes.
     Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Toxic 
Release Inventory.
    A risk assessment is required and is performed at the 
manufacturer's expense by a third party selected by the Forest Service. 
The risk assessment assesses the chemical product and levels of 
ingredients found in typical applications of the chemical product 
relative to human and environmental impact.
    Each chemical product submitted is tested to determine its 
mammalian and aquatic toxicity. Each chemical product must meet 
specific levels of performance to minimize potential risk during 
firefighting operations and cannot exceed established thresholds. 
Additional tests are performed to determine the effectiveness of the 
chemical product to reduce a fire's rate of spread, flame length, and 
intensity by application of the chemical product directly on or near 
the fire. Several characteristics of the chemical product are measured 
over its operational range to ensure that the chemical product meets 
the needs of firefighters in the field.
    The information collection request for each chemical product is 
necessary due to the length of time (16 to 18 months) needed to test 
the chemical product and the need to ensure that it does not pose a 
hazard for laboratory personnel during the evaluation process or for 
field personnel who mix and load the chemical product prior to its 
purchase and use. The information collection request and the chemical 
product evaluation must be conducted on an ongoing basis to ensure the 
Forest Service can solicit and award contracts in a timely manner to 
provide firefighters with safe and effective wildland fire chemical 
products.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 4.5 hours per response.
    Type of Respondents: Manufacturers and suppliers of fire chemical 
products for wildland fire management.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 5.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 3.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 69 hours.
    Comment is requested on:
    1. Whether this collection of information is necessary for the 
stated purposes and the proper performance of the functions of the 
Forest Service, 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 package submitted to 
the Office of Management and Budget for reapproval or reinstatement of 
the ICR.

JoLynn Anderson,
Branch Lead, Directives, Clearances, and Information Collection 
Requests.
[FR Doc. 2024-30207 Filed 12-18-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P
```