[Federal Register: August 18, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 159)]
[Notices]
[Page 48576-48577]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18au05-53]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request
AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, Emergency Preparedness and
Response Directorate, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Federal Emergency Management Agency, as part of its
continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites
the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity
to comment on proposed revised information collections. In accordance
with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c) (2) (A)),
this notice seeks comments concerning the Elevation Certificate and the
Floodproofing Certificate. The Elevation Certificate is required by the
NFIP to certify the elevations of the buildings to determine the proper
flood insurance rate. It can also be used by communities to document to
what height new buildings and substantial improvements in Special Flood
Hazard Areas were elevated so that communities can verify building
compliance including the lowest floor determination.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
regulations require the elevation or floodproofing of new or
substantially improved structures in designated Special Flood Hazard
Areas. As part of the agreement for making flood insurance available in
a community, the NFIP requires the community to adopt a floodplain
management ordinance containing minimum NFIP requirements intended to
reduce future flood losses. One such requirement is that the community
require that buildings be elevated to or above the base flood elevation
and, obtain the elevation of the lowest floor (including basement) of
all new and substantially improved structures, and maintain a record of
all such information. These data should be generated and retained as
part of the community's permit records. The Elevation Certificate is
one convenient way for a community to document building compliance;
however, it is not a prescribed form. The Floodproofing Certificate may
similarly be used to establish the floodproofed design elevation in
those instances when floodproofing of non-residential structures is
permitted.
The Elevation Certificate and Floodproofing Certificate are used in
conjunction with the application in order to properly rate Post-FIRM
structures in Special Flood Hazard Areas (44 CFR 61.7, 61.8) for flood
insurance. Post-FIRM are those buildings constructed after publication
of the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). In addition, the Elevation
Certificate is needed for Pre-FIRM structures being rated under Post-
FIRM flood insurance rules. The standardized format of the Elevation
Certificate (FEMA Forms 81-31) and Floodproofing Certificate for Non-
Residential Structures (FEMA Forms 81-65) provide community officials
with needed data in order to verity building elevation information and
determine compliance with the community's floodplain management
ordinance.
Collection of Information
Title: Post Construction Elevation Certificate/Floodproofing
Certificate.
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved
collection.
OMB Number: 1660-0008.
Form Numbers: FEMA Form 81-31, Elevation Certificate, and FEMA Form
81-65, Flood Proofing Certificate.
Abstract: The Elevation Certificate and Floodproofing Certificate
are used in conjunction with the application for flood insurance. The
certificates are required for proper rating of post Flood Insurance
Rate Map (FIRM) structures, which are buildings constructed after the
publication of the FIRM, for flood insurance in Special Flood Hazard
Areas. In addition, the Elevation Certificate is needed for pre-FIRM
structures being rated under post-FIRM flood insurance rules. The
certificates provide community officials and others standardized
documents to readily record needed building elevation information.
The certificates are supplied to insurance agents, community
officials, surveyors, engineers, architects, and NFIP policyholders/
applicants. Surveyors, engineers, and architects complete the Elevation
Certificate. Engineers and architects complete the Floodproofing
Certificate. Community officials are provided the building elevation
information required to document and determine compliance with the
community's floodplain management ordinance. NFIP policyholders/
applicants provide the appropriate certificate to insurance agents. The
certificate is then used in conjunction with the flood insurance
application so that the building can be properly rated for flood
insurance.
Affected Public: Individuals or households, business or other for-
profit, not-for-profit institutions, farms, and State, local or tribal
governments.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours:
Annual Burden Hours
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No. of Annual Total Annual
Project/Activity (Survey, Form(s), Respondents Frequency of Responses (B) Burden Hours Per Respondent Responses Burden Hours
Focus Group, etc.) (A) (C) (AxB) (AxBxC)
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Elevation Certificate, FEMA Form 81- 48,300 One per structure................. 3.50 hours................... 48,300 169,050
31 and Instructions.
Floodproofing Certificate, FEMA Form 130 One per structure................. 3.25 hours................... 130 423
81-65.
Web-based Training Module (Surveyors 48,300 One per structure................. 0.25 hour.................... 48,300 12,075
Video, Surveyors Guide for EC, and
Bldg. Diagrams and Photo).
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Total............................ 48,430 .................................. ............................. 48,430 181,548
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[[Page 48577]]
Estimated Cost: The cost to the respondent is estimated to be a fee
of $200-$500 charged to the applicant by the private sector
professional completing the Elevation or Floodproofing Certificate. The
annual cost to 48,300 respondents x an average cost of $350 is
estimated to be approximately $16,950,500 annually.
Comments: Written comments are solicited to (a) evaluate whether
the proposed data collection is necessary for the proper performance of
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical
utility; (b) evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the
validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) enhance the
quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and
(d) minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who
are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic
submission of responses. Comments should be received within 60 days of
the date of this notice.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons should submit written comments to George
S. Trotter, Acting Chief, Information Resources Management Branch,
Information Technology Services Division, Federal Emergency Management
Agency, 500 C Street, SW., Room 316, Washington, DC 20472.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Jhun de la Cruz, Insurance
Examiner, Mitigation Division, (202) 646-2650 for additional
information. You may contact Ms. Anderson for copies of the proposed
collection of information at telephone number (202) 646-2625 or
facsimile number (202) 646-3347 or e-mail muriel.anderson@dhs.gov.
Dated: August 11, 2005.
George S. Trotter,
Acting Branch Chief, Information Resources Management Branch,
Information Technology Services Division.
[FR Doc. 05-16382 Filed 8-17-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-11-P