[Federal Register: February 23, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 35)]
[Notices]
[Page 8816-8817]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23fe05-68]
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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 the continuation of an information collection
requirement. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), this notice seeks comments concerning the
information collection outlined in 44 CFR part 71, as it pertains to
application for National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) insurance for
buildings located in Coastal Barrier Resource System (CBRS)
communities.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Coastal Barrier Resources Act (CBRA Pub.
L. 97-3480) and the Coastal Barrier Improvement Act (CBRA Pub. L. 101-
591) are federal laws that were enacted on October 1, 1982, and
November 16, 1990, respectively. The legislation was implemented as
part of a Department of the Interior (DOI) initiative to preserve the
ecological integrity of areas DOI designates as coastal barriers and
otherwise protected areas. The laws provide this protection by
prohibiting all federal expenditures or financial assistance including
flood insurance for residential or commercial development in areas
identified with the system. When an application for flood insurance is
submitted for buildings located in CBRS communities, documentation must
be submitted as evidence of eligibility.
FEMA Regulation 44 CFR part 71 implements the CFRA. The information
[[Page 8817]]
collection requirement is set forth in the FEMA regulation, and the
information provided by the affected public is used by FEMA to
determine that a building, which is located on a designated coastal
barrier and for which an application for flood insurance is being made,
is neither new construction nor a substantial improvement, and is,
therefore, eligible for NFIP coverage. If the information is not
collected, NFIP policies would be provided for buildings, which are
legally ineligible for it, thus exposing the Federal Government to an
insurance liability Congress chose to limit.
Collection of Information
Title: Implementation of Coastal Barrier Resources Act.
Type of Information Collection: Extension of a currently approved
collection.
OMB Number: 1660-0010.
Abstract: When an application for flood insurance is submitted for
buildings located in CBRS communities, one of the following types of
documentation must be submitted as evidence of eligibility:
--Certification from a community official stating the building is not
located in a designated CBRS area.
--A legally valid building permit or certification from a community
official stating that the building's start of construction date
preceded the date that the community was identified in the system.
--Certification from the governmental body overseeing the area
indicating that the building is used in a manner consistent with the
purpose for which the area is protected.
Affected Public: Individuals or households; Business or other for-
profit; Not-for-profit institutions; Farms; Federal Government; and
State, Local or Tribal Government.
Number of Respondents: 60.
Frequency of Response: One time.
Hours per Response: 1.5.
Estimated Total Cost to Respondents: $600 (60 respondents x $10 per
respondent). The cost to the respondent, i.e., applicant for flood
insurance, is the cost, if any, to obtain the required documentation
from local officials. Fees charged, if any, to the applicants, are
nominal, i.e., the cost of photocopying the public record. Information
of this type is frequently provided upon request free of charge by the
community as a public service. The average cost to the respondent is
estimated to be $10, the cost to make phone calls, mail a written
request, or make a trip to a local office to obtain the document, and
includes any copying fees, which may be charged by the local office.
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 Muriel
B. Anderson, Section Chief, Records Management, Information Resources
Management Branch, Information Technology Services Division, Federal
Emergency Management Agency, Emergency Preparedness and Response
Directorate, Department of Homeland Security, 500 C Street, SW., Room
316, Washington, DC 20472.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Lynn Sawyer, Program Analyst,
Risk Insurance Branch, Mitigation Division at 301-918-1452 for
additional information. You may contact Ms. Anderson for copies of the
proposed information collection requirement at facsimile number (202)
646-3347 or e-mail address: FEMA-Information-Collections@dhs.gov.
Dated: February 16, 2005.
Edward W. Kernan,
Branch Chief, Information Resources Management Branch, Information
Technology Services Division.
[FR Doc. 05-3406 Filed 2-22-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-11-P