0648-HEAT SUPPORTING STATEMENT Part A

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

U.S. Department of Commerce

National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration

NWS Extreme Heat Social and Behavioral Sciences Research

OMB Control No. 0648-XXXX

SUPPORTING STATEMENT PART A

Abstract

This is a request for a new information collection. Heat continues to be the leading weather-related killer with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimating more than 700 deaths and 9,000 hospitalizations a year resulting from heat exposure. In particular, historically underserved communities, as defined and highlighted in Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government, typically experience higher rates of poverty, homelessness, disabilities, and language barriers, which increase their vulnerability to heat impacts. The National Weather Service (NWS) has articulated a priority to enhance services for these historically underinvested and underserved communities that are at greater risk for experiencing negative health impacts related to extreme heat.

While the NWS continues to enhance its heat-related products and services, there is still significant room for improvement, particularly in bridging the gap between physical science information and how it is received and acted upon by our public and partners. As such, this study will focus on expanding our knowledge of public perception and understanding of heat to inform and improve the NWS’ national and local level heat communication and messaging. This will include an initial literature review to draw out known best practices and identify research gaps to inform a mixed methods approach including a series of remote focus groups and a large-scale public survey. The focus groups are intended to explore how pertinent public, nonprofit, corporate, and academic stakeholders message heat information and resources, particularly for underserved communities. The quantitative survey will use a representative sample of the U.S. population and focus on more broadly conceptualizing public perception and understanding of heat.

Justification

1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary. Identify any legal or administrative requirements that necessitate the collection. Attach a copy of the appropriate section of each statute and regulation mandating or authorizing the collection of information.

As heat-related health impacts continue to increase, the NWS must provide the most equitable and informed heat products and services to mitigate loss of life and property. Modeling and forecasting capabilities have continued to expand, but even the most accurate and up-to-date forecasts must be paired with Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBES) to ensure that NWS can meet its mission of protecting life and property and enhancing the national economy.

This study is permitted by the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 which calls on NOAA to “improve the understanding of how the public receives, interprets, and responds to warnings and forecasts of high impact weather events that endanger life and property.” It also addresses Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government. The study addresses the NOAA FY22-26 Strategic Plan. In particular, it addresses Goal 1 - Build A Climate Ready Nation Strategic Objective 1.1 Improve Continuous Engagement With Partners and Goal 2 - Make Equity Central to NOAA’s Mission, Strategic Objective 2.2 Support Underserved and Vulnerable Communities. The collection meets the NWS mission to “Provide weather, water and climate data, forecasts, warnings, and impact-based decision support services for the protection of life and property and enhancement of the national economy.”

2. Indicate how, by whom, and for what purpose the information is to be used. Except for a new collection, indicate the actual use the agency has made of the information received from the current collection.

This one-time collection will gather information on people’s knowledge, perception, and understanding of heat exposure and the ensuing effects. A combination of focus groups and an online survey will be used to gather the information. Focus group participants will be screened and recruited to include professionals who have a role in messaging and assisting with behavior change to improve extreme heat outcomes. They will be recruited from a mix of public, nonprofit, corporate, and academic organizations. Participants for the survey will be drawn from a Dynata panel, an online non-probability panel with over 2 million members. The online survey will take an average of 15 minutes to complete.

The information will be used to improve heat-related products and services. Specifically, the information collected will be used to improve the NWS’ national and local level heat communication and messaging. Information collected will also improve resources provided through Heat.gov, which is the webportal for the National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS). Heat.gov is a collaboration of NIHHIS Federal partners, which include NOAA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Federal Emergency Management Agency, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Department of Veterans Affairs, Forest Service, National Park Service, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g. permitting electronic submission of responses, and the basis for the decision for adopting this means of collection. Also, describe any consideration of using information technology to reduce burden.

The survey collection will be conducted electronically in its entirety, as an Internet-based survey. Respondents will be invited via email, and they will be provided with a link to respond to the Web-based survey. No in-person or paper-based methods will be used. Using an electronic survey reduces the burden on the general public taking the survey.

4. Describe efforts to identify duplication. Show specifically why any similar information already available cannot be used or modified for use for the purposes described in Question 2.

The NWS searched its own collections, those occurring at NOAA, and those occurring at other Federal agencies, and in the private sector. The NWS does not have a duplicate collection among its collections. No other Line Office at NOAA is conducting a similar collection. No collections by other Federal agencies and in the private sector are relevant to this proposed effort.

5. If the collection of information impacts small businesses or other small entities, describe any methods used to minimize burden.

The collection of this information will not impact small businesses or other small entities.

6. Describe the consequence to Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently, as well as any technical or legal obstacles to reducing burden.

Heat continues to be the leading weather-related killer with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimating more than 700 deaths a year resulting from heat exposure. The NWS needs to bridge the gap between physical science information and how it is received and acted upon by its public and partners. As such, this collection is critical in expanding NWS knowledge of public perception and understanding of heat to inform and improve national and local level heat communication and messaging. It is mission-critical for NWS to get their information out effectively, particularly to those most at risk including children, older adults, people experiencing homelessness, people with pre-existing conditions, indoor and outdoor workers, emergency responders, incarcerated people, low income communities, pregnant people, and athletes.

7. Explain any special circumstances that would cause an information collection to be conducted in a manner inconsistent with OMB guidelines.

All the information will be collected according to OMB Guidelines

8. If applicable, provide a copy and identify the date and page number of publications in the Federal Register of the agency's notice, required by 5 CFR 1320.8 (d), soliciting comments on the information collection prior to submission to OMB. Summarize public comments received in response to that notice and describe actions taken by the agency in response to these comments. Specifically address comments received on cost and hour burden.

The 60-day Federal Register Notice that solicited public comment on this request was published on January 6, 2023 (Document Number 2023-00051). One comment was received from Ms. Juanita Constible, Senior Climate and Health Advocate, NRDC, in support of this new information collection.

9. Explain any decision to provide any payment or gift to respondents, other than remuneration of contractors or grantees.

Respondents to the survey sign up to take surveys with online survey companies and will receive compensation in accordance with their agreement with the company.

The contractor for the focus groups will recruit a mix of local government, nonprofit, corporate, and academic organizations with expertise in communicating heat to populations more vulnerable to heat and engaging communities to plan and respond to heat. This sample will be recruited to participate in six 90-minute focus groups. Each focus group will have no more than eight participants. A diverse mix of respondents will be recruited to address potential variations across the region of the country as well as the populations they serve. A diverse sample for the focus groups is absolutely essential to meet the goals of this study.

The contractor will conduct multiple rounds of recruitment for participants without compensation. However, if the required number and diversity of participants for each focus group is not met, the final round of recruitment may offer an incentive to meet the study’s goals.

A stipend may be necessary to incentivize participation among diverse participants from non-profit organizations, who may be volunteers in their organizations. Potential participants may not have their own equipment or internet connection to easily join the focus groups virtually. The contractor is prepared to provide a stipend of no more than $75 as an incentive if needed.

10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for the assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy. If the collection requires a systems of records notice (SORN) or privacy impact assessment (PIA), those should be cited and described here.

No personally identifiable information (PII) will be collected so response will be attributable to any specific individual.

11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual behavior or attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered private. This justification should include the reasons why the agency considers the questions necessary, the specific uses to be made of the information, the explanation to be given to persons from whom the information is requested, and any steps to be taken to obtain their consent.

Some people could be sensitive to the questions in the survey related to age, gender, race, zip code, highest level of education, and income. These questions are asked to ensure that the survey meets the quotas set to reach a naturally representative sample.

12. Provide estimates of the hour burden of the collection of information.

Information Collection	Type of Respondent (e.g., Occupational Title)	# of Respondents/year (a)	Annual # of Responses / Respondent (b)	Total # of Annual Responses (c) = (a) x (b)	Burden Hrs / Response (d)	Total Annual Burden Hrs (e) = (c) x (d)	Hourly Wage Rate (for Type of Respondent) (f)	Total Annual Wage Burden Costs (g = (e) x (f)
Extreme Heat Focus Group	State, Local, Tribal, Territorial Gov, Not for Profit Participants, For Profit Participants, Academia	48	1	48	1.5	72	$32.071	$2,309.04
Extreme Heat Survey	General Public	1000	1	1000	0.25	250	$28.012	$7,002.50
Totals		1048		1048		322		$9,311.54

¹21-1091 code used for Health Education Specialists, the professionals who provide and manage health education programs that help individuals, families, and their communities maximize and maintain healthy lifestyles.

²00-0000 code used for the general population given the variety of potential occupations among the respondents

13. Provide an estimate for the total annual cost burden to respondents or record keepers resulting from the collection of information. (Do not include the cost of any hour burden already reflected on the burden worksheet).

There are no capital costs or operating and maintenance costs associated with this information collection.

14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal government. Also, provide a description of the method used to estimate cost, which should include quantification of hours, operational expenses (such as equipment, overhead, printing, and support staff), and any other expense that would not have been incurred without this collection of information.

Cost Descriptions	Grade/Step	Loaded Salary /Cost	% of Effort	Fringe (if Applicable)	Total Cost to Government
Federal Oversight
Physical Scientist (2)	GS-1340-14	$226,962 (x2)	5% (x2)		$22,696
Contractor Cost					$200,000
Travel
Other Costs:
TOTAL					$222,696

15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments reported in ROCIS.

This is a new information collection

16. For collections of information whose results will be published, outline plans for tabulation and publication. Address any complex analytical techniques that will be used. Provide the time schedule for the entire project, including beginning and ending dates of the collection of information, completion of report, publication dates, and other actions.

No peer-reviewed publications from this collection are planned. However, a final report that aggregates the results will be posted on the NWS website as required for research funded by the government.

17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection, explain the reasons that display would be inappropriate.

The agency plans to display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection on all instruments.

18. Explain each exception to the certification statement identified in “Certification for Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions."

The agency certifies compliance with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).

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