[Federal Register: January 19, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 12)]
[Notices]
[Page 3112-3113]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19ja06-101]
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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, 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 a proposed revised information collection. In accordance
with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice seeks comments
concerning the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act
of 1974 (Pub. L. 93-498) authorizes the National Fire Data Center in
the United States Fire Administration (USFA) \1\ to gather and analyze
information on the magnitude of the Nation's fire problem, as well as
its detailed characteristics and trends. The Act further authorizes the
USFA to develop uniform data reporting methods, and to encourage and
assist state agencies in developing and reporting data. In order to
carry out the intentions of the Act, the National Fire Data Center
established the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) in
1975.
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\1\ The National Fire Incident Reporting System is currently
being transferred to the newly created Preparedness Directorate of
the Department of Homeland Security. During this transition FEMA,
also part of the Department of Homeland Security, will continue to
support this program as the new Directorate stands up. Ultimately
this data collection will be transferred to the Preparedness
Directorate.
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NFIRS serves as a cooperative effort of local, State, and Federal
authorities to improve uniformity in fire incident reporting and to
ensure that data is usable for fire protection planning and management.
It also enables the USFA, and many others, to identify common trends in
collected data, which may be applicable to fire problems on a national,
regional, state, and local scale.
Collection of Information
Title: National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) v5.0.
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved
collection.
OMB Number: 1660-0069.
Form Numbers: Version 5.0 NFIRS-forms/modules No. 1-12.
Abstract: NFIRS provides a mechanism using standardized reporting
methods to collect and analyze fire incident data at the Federal,
State, and local levels. Data analysis helps local fire departments and
States to focus on current problems, predict future problems in their
communities, and measure whether their programs are working.
Affected Public: Federal, State, and local governments.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 7,583,585 hours.
[[Page 3113]]
Annual Burden Hours
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No. of Frequency of Burden hours Annual Total annual
respondents responses \(1)\ per respondent Responses \(2)\ burden hours
Project/Activity (survey, form(s), focus group, worksheet, etc.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(A) (B) (C) (AxB) (AxBxC)
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NFIRS v5.0:
Manual......................................................... 1,700 1 12.00 hrs. 1,484,100 1,633,325
Electronic..................................................... 15,300 1 4.75 hrs. 13,640,400 5,944,500
Subtotal--Modules.............................................. 17,000 ............... ............... 15,124,500 7,577,825
Training v5.0...................................................... 390 1 ............... 390 5,760
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Total...................................................... 17,390 1 ............... 15,124,890 7,583,585
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\1\ Each response may include several module submissions, though majority only NFIRS 1. Same respondent may respond more than once depending on the
number of incidents being reported.
\2\ Based on an estimated total of 10,000,000 incidents reported annually.
Estimated Cost: The wage burden for collection of information at
the local level including training is estimated at $113,667.375 for
average cost to respondent per incident reported is $180.00 and $71.00
for the manual and electronic submission, respectively.
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 must be submitted on or before March
20, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons should submit written comments to Chief,
Records Management Section, 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 Mark A. Whitney, Fire Program
Specialist, United States Fire Administration, National Fire Data
Center, (301) 447-1836, or e-mail mark.whitney@dhs.gov for additional
information. You may contact the Records Management Branch for copies
of the proposed collection of information at facsimile number (202)
646-3347 or e-mail address: FEMA-Information-Collections@dhs.gov.
Dated: January 12, 2006.
Darcy Bingham,
Branch Chief, Information Resources Management Branch, Information
Technology Services Division.
[FR Doc. E6-527 Filed 1-18-06; 8:45 am]
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