Justification 2007

Justification for Non-Material Change to Original Supporting Statement for OMB 0596-0186

August 2007

Perception of Risk, Trust, Responsibility, and Management Preferences among Fire Prone Communities

Researchers are requesting a change in the study area location in order to complete the study. Researchers would like to move the study area to Lake Tahoe, California, to the area surrounding the Tahoe National Forest and the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. Fires have recently impacted this area and the current fire risk makes it an ideal location for the study. Researchers hope to conduct the study in October and November. Proponents have checked with other researchers in the area to ensure that overlap of efforts is not an issue and have received such assurance. The burden hours will not change.

This information collection was originally approved in 2005, before OMB began using the ROCIS database system. The original supporting statement, Parts A and B, have been entered into ROCIS for the convenience of the reviewers, as these documents were not migrated during the conversion to the new system.

In 2005, the response to Supporting Statement – Item 6 was:

“The ability to mange fire and fire risk on the San Bernadino National Forest has gained importance as its complexity has increased. Ecosystem related concerns have gained in complexity, and residents’ concerns have also increased. Public input has become an expectation, and this is one very effective route for gathering public opinions on fire management on the San Bernardino National Forest. Without this information, management decisions will be made based on limited and anecdotal information regarding public values and perceptions as well as perceived responsibility in management of fire risk.”

The statement accurately describes the current situation faced on the Tahoe National Forest and the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit.