[Federal Register: November 19, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 223)]
[Notices]
[Page 67749-67750]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19no04-68]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB
Review; Comment Request
AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, Emergency Preparedness and
Response Directorate, U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
ACTION: Notice of emergency clearance request and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Federal Emergency Management Agency has submitted a
request for emergency processing of two information collection requests
to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance
under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L.
104-13, 44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.). FEMA is requesting OMB to review and
approve the requests by December 1, 2004. The two information
collection requests propose revisions to currently approved collections
under OMB control numbers 1660-0071 and 1660-0072, which are used by
grantees to apply for and report on eGrant awards and by FEMA to
evaluate, award, and monitor expenditures and program/project
performance for Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) and the Flood Mitigation
Assistant (FMA) program activities.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed information collection
requests, upon approval by OMB, will enable FEMA to open the FY 2005
eGrant application periods for the Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM)
program and the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program, which are
essential to FEMA's mission to lead America to prepare for prevent,
respond to, and recover from disasters. The PDM grant program is the
only source of Federal pre-disaster funding available to States and
local governments for hazard mitigation. Hazard mitigation is an
ongoing effort to lessen the impact disasters have on people's lives
and property through damage prevention measures such as removing homes
from the floodplain, engineering buildings and infrastructure to
withstand earthquakes, installing safe rooms and retrofitting buildings
to withstand high winds from tornadoes or hurricanes. The Disaster
Mitigation Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-390) authorizes and funded the Pre-
Disaster Mitigation (PDM) program to provide a continuous source of
pre-disaster mitigation funding independent of disaster declarations to
assist States and local communities to take actions to reduce the
overall risks to populations and to properties from future disasters.
The Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program is an annual program
targeted toward reducing flood damages and risks to people and
properties. The National Flood Insurance Act of 2004 (Pub. L. 108-264)
amended the FMA program by expanding the authorized funds from $20
million to $40 million annually to reduce the risk of floods to the
nation's insured properties. Based on comments received from the FY
2003 PDM grant applicants, sub-grant applicants, and participants in
the program evaluation and grant award process, FEMA has revised the
eGrant application to solicit information that is more relevant to the
evaluation of competitive applications for PDM and the evaluation of
mitigation proposals in general for both the FMA and PDM programs.
[[Page 67750]]
In addition to program specific changes to the sub-grant
application for PDM and FMA eGrants, the information collection
requests have been revised to include as part of the eGrant quarterly
and final reporting requirement, the financial and performance status
reports, outlay reports, property management reports, and closeout
reports required of each grant awarded. FEMA encourages the use of the
PDM and FMA eGrants application described in this notice; however,
applicants may also use the Agency's grant administration paper-based
forms currently under OMB control number 1660-0025 to apply.
Information Collection Requests
1. Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program
Title: Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Program eGrants.
OMB Number: 1660-0071.
Abstract: FEMA uses the PDM program eGrant application, evaluation,
and award process to provide Federal grant assistance to grantees
(State and federally recognized tribal government) who administer grant
awards for sub-grantee applicants (State-level agencies, federally
recognized Indian tribal governments, local governments, public
colleges and universities, tribal colleges and universities, and
regional planning districts and councils of governments). Private-non-
profit (PNP) organizations and private colleges and universities are
not eligible sub-applicants; however, a relevant State agency or local
government may apply to the grant applicant for assistance on their
behalf. The grant assistance must be used to develop mitigation plans
in accordance with section 322 of the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000
to implement pre-disaster mitigation projects that reduce the risks of
natural and technological hazards on life and property, and to provide
information and technical assistance on cost-effective mitigation
activities.
Affected Public: The category of affected public includes State,
local and tribal governments.
Number of Responses: 1,176 (Grantees (applicants)--56 States and
territories and sub-grantees (sub-applicants)--20 per State or
territory.) Sub-applicants submit their eGrant applications to the
States to review, coordinate and forward PDM grant applications to FEMA
for approval.
Estimated Time per Respondent: FEMA has estimated the burden
associated with this information collection request as follows:
Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Program eGrants--Grant Supplemental
Information--Sub-grant applications.
Benefit Cost Determination--5 hours per response.
Environmental Review--7.5 hours per response.
Project Narrative (including PDM Evaluation Information
Questions)--12 hours per response.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 50,887.
Frequency of Response: On occasion and quarterly.
2. Flood Mitigation Assistance Program
Title: Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Program eGrants.
OMB Number: 1660-0072.
Abstract: FEMA uses the FMA program eGrant application, evaluation,
and award process to provide Federal grant assistance to grantees for
three types of grants--Planning, Project, and Technical Assistance. FMA
Planning Grants are available to States, National Flood Insurance
Program (NFIP) participating communities, and Indian tribal governments
to prepare Flood Mitigation Plans. FMA Project Grants are available to
States, NFIP participating communities, and Indian tribal governments
to implement measures to reduce flood losses. Ten percent of the
Project Grant is made available to States, NFIP participating
communities, Indian tribal governments, and communities in non-
participating States as a Technical Assistance Grant. The National
Flood Insurance Reform Act (42 U.S.C. 1366), as amended by the Bunning-
Bereuter-Blumenauer Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004, (Pub. L. 108-
264) authorizes the Flood Mitigation Assistance program. The FMA
program is designed to award grants to States, NFIP participating
communities, and Indian tribal governments so that measures can be
taken to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk of flood damage to
buildings, manufactured homes, and other structures insurable under the
National Flood Insurance Program.
FEMA encourages the use of the PDM and FMA eGrants application
described in this notice; however, applicants may also use the Agency's
grant administration paper-based forms currently under OMB control
number 1660-0025 to apply.
Affected Public: The category of affected public includes State,
local and tribal governments and not-for-profit institutions.
Number of Responses: 280.
Estimated Time per Respondent: FEMA has estimated the burden
associated with this information collection request as follows:
Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Program eGrants--Grant
Supplemental Information--Sub-grant applications.
Benefit Cost Determination--5 hours per response.
Environmental Review--7.5 hours per response.
Project Narrative--12 hours per response.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 4,088.
Frequency of Response: On occasion and quarterly.
Comments: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments
on the proposed information collection requests to the Office of
Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs,
Attention: Desk Officer for the Department of Homeland Security/FEMA at
the following e-mail address Michael_A._Sauers@omb.eop.gov or
facsimile number (202) 395-7285. We ask that you submit comments not
later than December 1, 2004, to ensure consideration of your comments
before OMB evaluates and acts on these requests.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection requests should be made to Muriel
B. Anderson, Section Chief, Records Management, FEMA at 500 C Street,
SW., Room 316, Washington, DC 20472, facsimile number (202) 646-3347,
or e-mail address FEMA-Information-Collections@dhs.gov.
Dated: November 12, 2004.
Edward W. Kernan,
Branch Chief, Information Resources Management Branch, Information
Technology Services Division.
[FR Doc. 04-25660 Filed 11-18-04; 8:45 am]
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