Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request, 25837-25839 [05-9654]

Agencies

• Federal Emergency Management Agency
• DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 93 (Monday, May 16, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25837-25839]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-9654]


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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 two proposed revisions to information collection requests 
currently approved under OMB control numbers 1660-0071 and 1660-0072. 
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)), this notice seeks comments concerning these collections 
that are used by: (1) Grantees to apply for and report on eGrant 
awards; and, (2) FEMA to evaluate, award, and monitor expenditures and 
program/project performance for Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) and Flood 
Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program activities.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed information collection 
requests, upon approval by OMB, will enable FEMA to continue using 
eGrant applications and reporting 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

[[Page 25838]]

reduce the risk of floods to the nation's insured properties.
    The revised the eGrant application solicits 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. 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: 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 by mail 
to: Attn: Section Chief, Records Management Section, 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; or by fax to (202) 646-3347; or by 
e-mail to FEMA-Information-Collections@dhs.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact the above named organization 
for additional information or copies of the proposed information 
collection requests.


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    Dated: May 10, 2005.
George S. Trotter,
Acting Branch Chief, Information Resources Management Branch, 
Information Technology Services Division.
[FR Doc. 05-9654 Filed 5-13-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 0110-13-P