National Protection and Programs Directorate, Office of Grants and Training for Comments on a New Information Collection Request (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grants Program); Submission for Review; New Information Collection Request, 40161 [E7-14142]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 140 (Monday, July 23, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 40161]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-14142]



[[Page 40161]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY


National Protection and Programs Directorate, Office of Grants 
and Training for Comments on a New Information Collection Request 
(Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grants Program); 
Submission for Review; New Information Collection Request

AGENCY: Department of Homeland Security, National Protection and 
Programs Directorate, Office of Grants and Training, Staffing for the 
Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grants Programs.

ACTION: Notice; 30-day notice of information collections under review.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has submitted the 
following information collection request (ICR) to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in accordance with 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995: 1670--NEW. The information 
collection was previously published in the Federal Register on October 
24, 2006 pages Volume 71, Number 205, Page 62273, allowing for OMB 
review and a 60-day public comment period. No comments have been 
received by DHS. The purpose of this notice is to allow an additional 
30 days for public comments.

DATES: Comments are encouraged and will be accepted until August 22, 
2007. This process is conduced in accordance with 5 CFR 1320.10.
    Comments: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
on the proposed information collection to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget. Comments should be 
addressed to Nathan Lesser, Desk Officer, Department of Homeland 
Security/Grants and Training, and sent via electronic mail to oira_
submission@omb.eop.gov or faxed to (202) 395-6974.
    The Office of Management and Budget is particularly interested in 
comments which:
    (1) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    (2) 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;
    (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; and
    (4) 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 
submissions of responses.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: A copy of this ICR, with applicable 
supporting documentation, may be obtained by calling Nathan Lesser, 
Desk Officer, Department of Homeland Security, Washington, DC 20528; 
and sent via electronic mail to oira_submission@omb.eop.gov or faxed 
to (202) 395-6974 (this is not a toll free number.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Analysis

    Agency: National Protection and Programs Directorate, Office of 
Grants and Training, Assistance to the Firefighters Program Office, 
Department of Homeland Security.
    Title: Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grants 
program (SAFER).
    OMB No.: 1670-NEW.
    Frequency: Annual.
    Affected Public: State, Local, Tribal Government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 4,500-5,000 respondents.
    Estimated Time Per Respondent: 1 hour per response.
    Total Burden Hours: 70,000.
    Total Burden Cost: (capital/startup): None.
    Total Burden Cost: (operating/maintaining): None.
    Description: Information sought under this submission will comprise 
the grant application for the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency 
Response (SAFER) grant program. This submission is necessary in order 
for DHS to effectively implement a competitive grant program. The SAFER 
program provides for $110,000,000 in grant funding to be distributed 
directly to individual fire departments on a competitive basis. The law 
allows DHS to provide funds to pay the salaries and benefits of newly 
hired firefighters with decreasing Federal contributions over the span 
of five years. The law also allows DHS to provide funding to volunteer 
and combination fire departments to create or expand a recruitment and 
retention program for volunteer firefighters. The funding is available 
for up to four years depending on the original proposal submitted by 
the grantee. The information collected through the program's 
application is the minimum necessary to evaluate grant applications 
authorized under the SAFER grant program or is necessary for DHS to 
comply with mandates delineated in the law. The Assistance to 
Firefighters Program Office has created an online tutorial and drafted 
program guidance which will be available prior to the application 
period at www.firegrantsupport.com.

    Dated: July 17, 2007.
Fawn Pettigrew,
Director of Operations, National Programs and Protection Directorate, 
Department of Homeland Security.
 [FR Doc. E7-14142 Filed 7-20-07; 8:45 am]
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