Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request; FEMA's Grants Reporting Tool (GRT), 39303-39304 [2013-15651]

Agencies

• Federal Emergency Management Agency
• DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 126 (Monday, July 1, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39303-39304]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-15651]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

[Docket ID: FEMA-2013-0026; OMB No. 1660-0117]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; FEMA's Grants Reporting Tool (GRT)

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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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 an extension, without change, of a currently approved 
information collection. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995, this notice seeks comments concerning the collection of 
information necessary for the Grants Reporting Tool (GRT).

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before August 30, 2013.

ADDRESSES: To avoid duplicate submissions to the docket, please use 
only one of the following means to submit comments:
    (1) Online. Submit comments at www.regulations.gov under Docket ID 
FEMA-2013-0026. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
    (2) Mail. Submit written comments to Docket Manager, Office of 
Chief Counsel, DHS/FEMA, 500 C Street SW., Room 840, Washington, DC 
20472-3100.
    (3) Facsimile. Submit comments to (703) 483-2999.
    All submissions received must include the agency name and Docket 
ID. Regardless of the method used for submitting comments or material, 
all submissions will be posted, without change, to the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal at https://www.regulations.gov, and will include any 
personal information you provide. Therefore, submitting this 
information makes it public. You may wish to read the Privacy Act 
notice that is available via the link in the footer of 
www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Mitchell, Program 
Specialist, FEMA, Grants Programs Directorate, (202) 786-9681. You may 
contact the Records Management Division for copies of the proposed 
collection of information at facsimile number (202) 646-3347 or email 
address: FEMA-Information-Collections-Management@dhs.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title 44 CFR, Part 13, Uniform 
Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to 
State and Local Government establishes uniform administrative rules for 
Federal grants and cooperative agreements and sub-awards to State, 
local and Indian tribal governments. FEMA has determined that in order 
to have consistent implementation of FEMA grant administration 
policies, to reduce duplicative and tedious data entry, to more 
effectively measure preparedness gains, and to streamline application 
submission and management for Grantees, Regions, State and local 
partners, it is necessary to automate the reporting processes.
    The Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD-5) related to 
the ``Management of Domestic Incidents'' gives the Secretary the 
authority to gather information related to domestic incidents and 
mandates the Secretary provide standardized, quantitative reports on 
the readiness and preparedness of the Nation--at all levels of 
government--to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from 
domestic incidents. The Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD-
8) related to ``National Preparedness'' authorizes the Federal 
government to deliver Federal preparedness awards to the States. 
Applicants must apply the funds to the highest priority preparedness 
requirements at the appropriate level of government. Federal 
preparedness assistance is based upon the adoption of statewide 
comprehensive all-hazards preparedness strategies, consistent with the 
national preparedness goal. HSPD-8 authorizes the Secretary to review 
and approve strategies submitted by the States and establishes the 
requirement that applicants must have adopted approved statewide 
strategies in order to receive Federal grant funds. Further, HSPD-8 
authorizes Federal departments and agencies to develop appropriate 
mechanisms to ensure rapid obligation and disbursement of funds from 
their programs to the States, such as the GRT. HSPD-8 mandates Federal 
departments and agencies report annually on the obligation, expenditure 
status, and the use of funds associated with Federal preparedness 
assistance programs. Section 430 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, 
as amended (6 U.S.C. 238), authorized the Office for Domestic 
Preparedness (ODP, which was transferred to FEMA by the Post Katrina

[[Page 39304]]

Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006, Public Law 109-295) to have 
primary responsibility for national preparedness, including directing 
and supervising terrorism preparedness grant programs for emergency 
response providers and incorporating the Strategy priorities into 
planning guidance on an agency level for the overall national 
preparedness efforts. ODP (now FEMA) was authorized to develop a 
process for receiving meaningful input from State and local government 
to assist the development of the national strategy for combating 
terrorism and other homeland security activities.

Collection of Information

    Title: FEMA's Grants Reporting Tool (GRT).
    OMB Number: 1660-0117.
    Type of Information Collection: Extension, without change, of a 
currently approved information collection.
    FEMA Form: None.
    Abstract: The Grants Reporting Tool (GRT) is a web-based reporting 
system designed to help State Administrative Agencies (SAAs) meet all 
reporting requirements as identified in the grant guidance of FEMA's 
portfolio of preparedness grants sponsored by FEMA's Grant Programs 
Directorate (GPD). The information enables FEMA to evaluate 
applications and make award decisions, monitor ongoing performance and 
manage the flow of federal funds, and to appropriately close out grants 
or cooperative agreements. GRT supports the information collection 
needs of each grant program processed in the system.
    Affected Public: State, Local, or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 56.
    Number of Responses: 168.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,156 hours.

                                                                     Table A.12--Estimated Annualized Burden Hours and Costs
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                                                                                                     Number of                      Avg. burden    Total annual                    Total annual
              Type of respondent                       Form name/ form No.           Number of     responses per   Total number    per response     burden  (in     Avg. hourly     respondent
                                                                                    respondents     respondent     of responses     (in hours)        hours)        wage rate *        cost
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State, Local or Tribal Government.............  Initial Strategy Implementation               56               1              56               8             448          $32.20      $14,425.60
                                                 Plan (ISIP).
State, Local or Tribal Government.............  Biannual Strategy Implementation              56               2             112           15.25           1,708           32.20       54,997.60
                                                 Report (BSIR).
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    Total.....................................  ................................              56  ..............             168  ..............           2,156  ..............       69,423.20
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* Note: The ``Avg. Hourly Wage Rate'' for each respondent includes a 1.4 multiplier to reflect a fully-loaded wage rate.

    Estimated Cost: The estimated annual cost to respondents for the 
hour burden is $69,423.20. There are no annual costs to respondents 
operations and maintenance costs for technical services. There is no 
annual start-up or capital costs. The cost to the Federal Government is 
$2,062,582.02.

Comments

    Comments may be submitted as indicated in the ADDRESSES caption 
above. 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.

    Dated: June 20, 2013.
Charlene D. Myrthil,
Director, Records Management Division, Mission Support Bureau, Federal 
Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. 2013-15651 Filed 6-28-13; 8:45 am]
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