Notice of Intent To Prepare a Programmatic Environmental Assessment and Notice of Public Scoping Period; Wildfire Mitigation Programmatic Environmental Assessment, 37758-37760 [2014-15486]

Download as PDF 37758 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 127 / Wednesday, July 2, 2014 / Notices copies of the information collection should be made to Director, Records Management Division, 500 C Street SW., Washington DC 20472, facsimile number (202) 212–4701, or email address FEMA-Information-CollectionsManagement@dhs.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Burden Hour Change Since Publication of the 60 Day Federal Register Notice: The burden hours have increased since publication of the 60 day Federal Register notice. The increase in burden hours is due to the addition of questions covering survey topics whose results will provide timely customer satisfaction results and will benefit the divisions and offices managing FEMA’s Individual Assistance programs. The burden hours increased from 2,698 hours to 2,979 hours or 281 additional hours. Collection of Information mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Title: Federal Emergency Management Agency Individual Assistance Program Effectiveness & Recovery Survey. Type of information collection: Revision of a currently approved collection. Form Titles and Numbers: FEMA Form 007–0–20 Program Effectiveness & Recovery Survey. Abstract: Federal agencies are required to survey their customers to determine the kind and quality of services customers want and their level of satisfaction with those services. FEMA managers use the survey results to measure performance against standards for performance and customer service, measure achievement of strategic planning objectives, and generally gauge and make improvements to disaster service that increase customer satisfaction. Affected Public: Individuals and Households. Estimated Number of Respondents: 8,976. Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,698. Estimated Cost: $8,064 for travel to focus groups. Dated: June 16, 2014. Charlene D. Myrthil, Director, Records Management Division, Mission Support Bureau, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security. [FR Doc. 2014–15463 Filed 7–1–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 9111–23–P VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:49 Jul 01, 2014 Jkt 232001 DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Federal Emergency Management Agency [Docket ID FEMA 2014–0021] Notice of Intent To Prepare a Programmatic Environmental Assessment and Notice of Public Scoping Period; Wildfire Mitigation Programmatic Environmental Assessment Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is proposing to prepare a programmatic environmental assessment (PEA) to evaluate the potential beneficial and adverse impacts from eligible wildfire mitigation activities funded under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) and Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Program. This PEA will evaluate the environmental impacts of continuing to fund eligible activities under these programs (Proposed Action). FEMA anticipates that this programmatic approach will result in better decision-making, and will improve the timeliness and efficiency of environmental reviews. The identification of specific activities that would not require additional environmental review, along with project-specific reviews informed by or ‘‘tiered to’’ the PEA, will improve efficiency by helping to streamline the process of environmental review. FEMA provides this notice to advise other Federal and State agencies, Territories, Indian Tribal Governments, local governments, private non-profit and other non-governmental organizations, and the public of our intent to prepare a PEA, to provide information on the nature of the analysis, and to invite public input on the scope of issues, proposed alternatives, potential effects and measures to lessen those effects that may be considered. Agencies, interested parties, and the public are invited to submit comments on the scope of the PEA at any time during the public comment period. DATES: Comments must be received by August 18, 2014. ADDRESSES: Comments must be identified by Docket ID FEMA–2014– 0021 and may be submitted by the following method: SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00048 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. Please note that this notice of intent is not a rulemaking and that the Federal Rulemaking Portal is being utilized only as a mechanism for receiving comments. Mail: Regulatory Affairs Division, Office of Chief Counsel, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 8NE, 500 C Street SW., Washington, DC 20472–3100. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cecelia Rosenberg, Chief, Grants Policy Branch, Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 1800 South Bell Street Room 608, Arlington, VA 20598–3015, (202) 646–3321. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Public Participation Instructions: 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, which can be viewed by clicking on the ‘‘Privacy Notice’’ link in the footer of www.regulations.gov. You may submit your comments and material by the methods specified in the ADDRESSES section above. Please submit your comments and any supporting material by only one means to avoid the receipt and review of duplicate submissions. II. Background The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act), 42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq., authorizes FEMA to provide funding for the purpose of reducing or eliminating risks to human life and property from future hazard events, such as wildfire. Wildfires are defined as any uncontrolled fires occurring within natural landscapes such as forests and brush. FEMA funds wildfire mitigation activities through two programs: the Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) program (authorized by Section 203 of the Stafford Act, 42 U.S.C. 5133) and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) (authorized by Section 404 of the Stafford Act, 42 U.S.C. 5170c). Through these programs, FEMA provides grants to local governments, private non-profit organizations, Territories, Indian Tribal Governments, E:\FR\FM\02JYN1.SGM 02JYN1 mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 127 / Wednesday, July 2, 2014 / Notices and State governments to implement comprehensive, long-term, and costeffective hazard mitigation measures in conformance with State and local mitigation plans. The PDM program and HMGP are available to mitigate the risk to health and safety and risk of damage to clearly defined vulnerable buildings and structures from wildfires. In 2008, FEMA issued the Wildfire Mitigation Grant Policy for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) and Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Program (FEMA Policy MRR–2–08–1) which established funding eligibility criteria. The policy clarified the use of program funds for wildfire hazard reduction, the types of activities that would be eligible for grant assistance, and other conditions that would apply. FEMA substantively reviewed the policy three years later and found that revisions were not warranted. At that time, FEMA incorporated the policy into Part B of the Addendum to the Hazard Mitigation Assistance Unified Guidance (June 2013), found at https://www.fema.gov/ media-library/assets/documents/ 33634?id=7851. Also at that time, FEMA decided it would be prudent to look at eligible wildfire mitigation activities programmatically because it had not previously done so. The nationwide PEA will assess the potential environmental impacts of wildfire mitigation activities for which subsequent actions will be implemented, based on either the PEA without requiring additional environmental review, or on subsequent project-specific reviews tiered to the PEA. In addition, environmental considerations may lead to identification of potential improvements to program operations. Eligible Activities: Following are three types of wildfire mitigation projects: • Defensible space—The creation of perimeters around residential and nonresidential buildings and structures through the removal or reduction of flammable vegetation; • Structural Protection through Ignition-Resistant Construction—The application of non-combustible building envelope assemblies, the use of ignitionresistant materials, and the use of proper retrofit techniques in new and existing structures; and • Hazardous Fuels Reduction— Vegetation management to decrease the amount of hazardous fuels; vegetation thinning; and reduction of flammable materials to protect life and property beyond defensible space perimeters but proximate to at-risk structures. Eligible wildfire mitigation projects must clearly demonstrate reduction or elimination of the threat of damages to VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:49 Jul 01, 2014 Jkt 232001 buildings and structures from future wildfires. Area of Study: Eligible projects must be located within a Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI), where wildland vegetation is adjacent to or intermingled with the built environment, or be located within two miles of a large contiguous block of wildland vegetation, and must provide protection to life and the built environment from future wildfires. The WUI is not a place, per se, but a set of conditions that can exist anywhere. The eligibility of wildfire mitigation projects located up to two miles from wildlands recognizes the danger from flaming embers to ignite structures even when they are not immediately adjacent to wildland vegetation. Eligible projects may be located anywhere in the United States. However, most past HMGP and PDM grant applications for wildfire hazard reduction projects have come from FEMA Regions V, VI, VIII, IX, and X, which correspond to areas of greatest wildfire frequency. These regions include the following States: • Region V: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. • Region VI: Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arkansas, and Louisiana. • Region VIII: Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. • Region IX: Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and the Pacific Islands. • Region X: Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska. Duplication of Programs: FEMA mitigation grant programs target at-risk structures and are for activities in areas outside of the primary focus of other Federal agencies’ fire threat reduction programs. FEMA hazard mitigation assistance for wildfires is available only for long-term and cost-effective actions that reduce the risk to specific property or structures from future wildfires. The FEMA goal of reducing the risk from wildfire hazards to human life and property, including loss of function of critical facilities, is intended to complement, and not duplicate, the programs of other Federal agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management, to address wildfire threat to the built human environment within or proximate to the WUI. FEMA does not have authority to fund projects on land owned by another Federal entity, or projects with the purpose of addressing forest health conditions or ecological or agricultural issues related to land and forest management. Proposed Scope of the PEA: This PEA will be used to evaluate the PO 00000 Frm 00049 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 37759 environmental impacts of continuing to fund eligible activities under the PDM program and HMGP as described in Part B of the Addendum to the Hazard Mitigation Assistance Unified Guidance (June 2013) (Proposed Action). FEMA will compare the Proposed Action with the No Action Alternative, which would consider the elimination of FEMA grant funding for wildfire hazard mitigation. Environmental effects of each alternative to be evaluated will include impacts on fish, wildlife, and vegetation; cultural and historic resources; visual resources and aesthetics; air quality and climate change; geology and soils; water quality; wetlands; floodplains; land use; and socioeconomic factors including environmental justice. Public Involvement and Comments: Public comment is invited on the scope of the PEA and specifically on the scope of issues, proposed alternatives, potential effects and measures to lessen effects that may be considered (40 CFR 1501.7). Public comments are being accepted during the scoping period as described under the DATES section of this Notice and comments may be submitted as described under the ADDRESSES section of the this Notice. FEMA specifically invites comments that relate to the environmental effects that may result from implementation of the Proposed Action. FEMA will consider these comments in developing the draft PEA. We particularly seek comments on the following: 1. The direct, indirect, and cumulative effects that implementation of any reasonable alternative could have on the natural and cultural environment; 2. Other reasonable alternatives for consideration and their associated effects; 3. Any other environmental issues that should be considered with regard to the proposed wildfire hazard mitigation measures. After gathering public comments on the scope of the PEA, FEMA will develop a draft PEA that will be available for public review and comment according to 44 CFR part 10. FEMA will publish a notice of availability in the Federal Register when the draft PEA is available for public review, and will notify parties who provided comments during this scoping period. Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4331 et seq.; 40 CFR part 1500; 44 CFR part 10. E:\FR\FM\02JYN1.SGM 02JYN1 37760 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 127 / Wednesday, July 2, 2014 / Notices criteria for a higher Federal cost-sharing percentage under the Public Assistance Alternative Procedures Pilot Program for Debris Removal implemented pursuant to Section 428 of the Stafford Act. Further, you are authorized to make changes to this declaration for the approved assistance to the extent allowable under the Stafford Act. Dated: June 25, 2014. W. Craig Fugate, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency. [FR Doc. 2014–15486 Filed 7–1–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 9110–13–P DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Federal Emergency Management Agency [Internal Agency Docket No. FEMA–4179– DR; Docket ID FEMA–2014–0003] Nebraska; Major Disaster and Related Determinations Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: This is a notice of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for the State of Nebraska (FEMA–4179–DR), dated June 17, 2014, and related determinations. DATES: Effective Date: June 17, 2014. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dean Webster, Office of Response and Recovery, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 500 C Street SW., Washington, DC 20472, (202) 646–2833. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is hereby given that, in a letter dated June 17, 2014, the President issued a major disaster declaration under the authority of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq. (the ‘‘Stafford Act’’), as follows: mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: I have determined that the damage in certain areas of the State of Nebraska resulting from severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding during the period of May 11–12, 2014, is of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant a major disaster declaration under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq. (the ‘‘Stafford Act’’). Therefore, I declare that such a major disaster exists in the State of Nebraska. In order to provide Federal assistance, you are hereby authorized to allocate from funds available for these purposes such amounts as you find necessary for Federal disaster assistance and administrative expenses. You are authorized to provide Public Assistance in the designated areas and Hazard Mitigation throughout the State. Consistent with the requirement that Federal assistance be supplemental, any Federal funds provided under the Stafford Act for Hazard Mitigation will be limited to 75 percent of the total eligible costs. Federal funds provided under the Stafford Act for Public Assistance also will be limited to 75 percent of the total eligible costs, with the exception of projects that meet the eligibility VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:49 Jul 01, 2014 Jkt 232001 The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) hereby gives notice that pursuant to the authority vested in the Administrator, under Executive Order 12148, as amended, Christian Mark Van Alstyne, of FEMA is appointed to act as the Federal Coordinating Officer for this major disaster. The following areas of the State of Nebraska have been designated as adversely affected by this major disaster: Clay, Fillmore, Saline, Saunders, Seward, and York Counties for Public Assistance. All counties within the State of Nebraska are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. The following Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Numbers (CFDA) are to be used for reporting and drawing funds: 97.030, Community Disaster Loans; 97.031, Cora Brown Fund; 97.032, Crisis Counseling; 97.033, Disaster Legal Services; 97.034, Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA); 97.046, Fire Management Assistance Grant; 97.048, Disaster Housing Assistance to Individuals and Households in Presidentially Declared Disaster Areas; 97.049, Presidentially Declared Disaster Assistance— Disaster Housing Operations for Individuals and Households; 97.050, Presidentially Declared Disaster Assistance to Individuals and Households—Other Needs; 97.036, Disaster Grants—Public Assistance (Presidentially Declared Disasters); 97.039, Hazard Mitigation Grant. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dean Webster, Office of Response and Recovery, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 500 C Street SW., Washington, DC 20472, (202) 646–2833. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) hereby gives notice that pursuant to the authority vested in the Administrator, under Executive Order 12148, as amended, Laura S. Hevesi, of FEMA is appointed to act as the Federal Coordinating Officer for this disaster. This action terminates the appointment of Gracia B. Szczech as Federal Coordinating Officer for this disaster. The following Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Numbers (CFDA) are to be used for reporting and drawing funds: 97.030, Community Disaster Loans; 97.031, Cora Brown Fund; 97.032, Crisis Counseling; 97.033, Disaster Legal Services; 97.034, Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA); 97.046, Fire Management Assistance Grant; 97.048, Disaster Housing Assistance to Individuals and Households In Presidentially Declared Disaster Areas; 97.049, Presidentially Declared Disaster Assistance— Disaster Housing Operations for Individuals and Households; 97.050, Presidentially Declared Disaster Assistance to Individuals and Households—Other Needs; 97.036, Disaster Grants—Public Assistance (Presidentially Declared Disasters); 97.039, Hazard Mitigation Grant. W. Craig Fugate, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency. [FR Doc. 2014–15576 Filed 7–1–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 9111–23–P W. Craig Fugate, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY [FR Doc. 2014–15484 Filed 7–1–14; 8:45 am] Federal Emergency Management Agency BILLING CODE 9111–23–P DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Federal Emergency Management Agency [Internal Agency Docket No. FEMA–4177– DR; Docket ID FEMA–2014–0003] Florida; Amendment No. 5 to Notice of a Major Disaster Declaration Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: PO 00000 Frm 00050 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Indiana; Amendment No. 1 to Notice of a Major Disaster Declaration Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of Indiana (FEMA–4173–DR), dated April 22, 2014, and related determinations. SUMMARY: DATES: This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for State of Florida (FEMA–4177–DR), dated May 6, 2014, and related determinations. DATES: Effective Date: June 13, 2014. SUMMARY: [Internal Agency Docket No. FEMA–4173– DR; Docket ID FEMA–2014–0003] Effective Date: May 23, 2014. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dean Webster, Office of Response and Recovery, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 500 C Street SW., Washington, DC 20472, (202) 646–2833. E:\FR\FM\02JYN1.SGM 02JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 127 (Wednesday, July 2, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37758-37760]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-15486]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

[Docket ID FEMA 2014-0021]


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Programmatic Environmental 
Assessment and Notice of Public Scoping Period; Wildfire Mitigation 
Programmatic Environmental Assessment

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is proposing to 
prepare a programmatic environmental assessment (PEA) to evaluate the 
potential beneficial and adverse impacts from eligible wildfire 
mitigation activities funded under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program 
(HMGP) and Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Program. This PEA will 
evaluate the environmental impacts of continuing to fund eligible 
activities under these programs (Proposed Action). FEMA anticipates 
that this programmatic approach will result in better decision-making, 
and will improve the timeliness and efficiency of environmental 
reviews. The identification of specific activities that would not 
require additional environmental review, along with project-specific 
reviews informed by or ``tiered to'' the PEA, will improve efficiency 
by helping to streamline the process of environmental review.
    FEMA provides this notice to advise other Federal and State 
agencies, Territories, Indian Tribal Governments, local governments, 
private non-profit and other non-governmental organizations, and the 
public of our intent to prepare a PEA, to provide information on the 
nature of the analysis, and to invite public input on the scope of 
issues, proposed alternatives, potential effects and measures to lessen 
those effects that may be considered. Agencies, interested parties, and 
the public are invited to submit comments on the scope of the PEA at 
any time during the public comment period.

DATES: Comments must be received by August 18, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Comments must be identified by Docket ID FEMA-2014-0021 and 
may be submitted by the following method:
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments. Please note that this notice of 
intent is not a rulemaking and that the Federal Rulemaking Portal is 
being utilized only as a mechanism for receiving comments.
    Mail: Regulatory Affairs Division, Office of Chief Counsel, Federal 
Emergency Management Agency, 8NE, 500 C Street SW., Washington, DC 
20472-3100.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cecelia Rosenberg, Chief, Grants 
Policy Branch, Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration, Federal 
Emergency Management Agency, 1800 South Bell Street Room 608, 
Arlington, VA 20598-3015, (202) 646-3321.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Public Participation

    Instructions: 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, which can be viewed by clicking on the ``Privacy Notice'' link 
in the footer of www.regulations.gov.
    You may submit your comments and material by the methods specified 
in the ADDRESSES section above. Please submit your comments and any 
supporting material by only one means to avoid the receipt and review 
of duplicate submissions.

II. Background

    The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act 
(Stafford Act), 42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq., authorizes FEMA to provide 
funding for the purpose of reducing or eliminating risks to human life 
and property from future hazard events, such as wildfire. Wildfires are 
defined as any uncontrolled fires occurring within natural landscapes 
such as forests and brush. FEMA funds wildfire mitigation activities 
through two programs: the Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) program 
(authorized by Section 203 of the Stafford Act, 42 U.S.C. 5133) and the 
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) (authorized by Section 404 of 
the Stafford Act, 42 U.S.C. 5170c). Through these programs, FEMA 
provides grants to local governments, private non-profit organizations, 
Territories, Indian Tribal Governments,

[[Page 37759]]

and State governments to implement comprehensive, long-term, and cost-
effective hazard mitigation measures in conformance with State and 
local mitigation plans. The PDM program and HMGP are available to 
mitigate the risk to health and safety and risk of damage to clearly 
defined vulnerable buildings and structures from wildfires.
    In 2008, FEMA issued the Wildfire Mitigation Grant Policy for the 
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) and Pre-Disaster Mitigation 
(PDM) Program (FEMA Policy MRR-2-08-1) which established funding 
eligibility criteria. The policy clarified the use of program funds for 
wildfire hazard reduction, the types of activities that would be 
eligible for grant assistance, and other conditions that would apply. 
FEMA substantively reviewed the policy three years later and found that 
revisions were not warranted. At that time, FEMA incorporated the 
policy into Part B of the Addendum to the Hazard Mitigation Assistance 
Unified Guidance (June 2013), found at https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/33634?id=7851. Also at that time, FEMA decided 
it would be prudent to look at eligible wildfire mitigation activities 
programmatically because it had not previously done so. The nationwide 
PEA will assess the potential environmental impacts of wildfire 
mitigation activities for which subsequent actions will be implemented, 
based on either the PEA without requiring additional environmental 
review, or on subsequent project-specific reviews tiered to the PEA. In 
addition, environmental considerations may lead to identification of 
potential improvements to program operations.
    Eligible Activities: Following are three types of wildfire 
mitigation projects:
     Defensible space--The creation of perimeters around 
residential and non-residential buildings and structures through the 
removal or reduction of flammable vegetation;
     Structural Protection through Ignition-Resistant 
Construction--The application of non-combustible building envelope 
assemblies, the use of ignition-resistant materials, and the use of 
proper retrofit techniques in new and existing structures; and
     Hazardous Fuels Reduction--Vegetation management to 
decrease the amount of hazardous fuels; vegetation thinning; and 
reduction of flammable materials to protect life and property beyond 
defensible space perimeters but proximate to at-risk structures.
    Eligible wildfire mitigation projects must clearly demonstrate 
reduction or elimination of the threat of damages to buildings and 
structures from future wildfires.
    Area of Study: Eligible projects must be located within a Wildland-
Urban Interface (WUI), where wildland vegetation is adjacent to or 
intermingled with the built environment, or be located within two miles 
of a large contiguous block of wildland vegetation, and must provide 
protection to life and the built environment from future wildfires. The 
WUI is not a place, per se, but a set of conditions that can exist 
anywhere. The eligibility of wildfire mitigation projects located up to 
two miles from wildlands recognizes the danger from flaming embers to 
ignite structures even when they are not immediately adjacent to 
wildland vegetation. Eligible projects may be located anywhere in the 
United States. However, most past HMGP and PDM grant applications for 
wildfire hazard reduction projects have come from FEMA Regions V, VI, 
VIII, IX, and X, which correspond to areas of greatest wildfire 
frequency. These regions include the following States:
     Region V: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, 
and Wisconsin.
     Region VI: Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arkansas, and 
Louisiana.
     Region VIII: Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South 
Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.
     Region IX: Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and the 
Pacific Islands.
     Region X: Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska.
    Duplication of Programs: FEMA mitigation grant programs target at-
risk structures and are for activities in areas outside of the primary 
focus of other Federal agencies' fire threat reduction programs. FEMA 
hazard mitigation assistance for wildfires is available only for long-
term and cost-effective actions that reduce the risk to specific 
property or structures from future wildfires. The FEMA goal of reducing 
the risk from wildfire hazards to human life and property, including 
loss of function of critical facilities, is intended to complement, and 
not duplicate, the programs of other Federal agencies such as the U.S. 
Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management, to address wildfire 
threat to the built human environment within or proximate to the WUI. 
FEMA does not have authority to fund projects on land owned by another 
Federal entity, or projects with the purpose of addressing forest 
health conditions or ecological or agricultural issues related to land 
and forest management.
    Proposed Scope of the PEA: This PEA will be used to evaluate the 
environmental impacts of continuing to fund eligible activities under 
the PDM program and HMGP as described in Part B of the Addendum to the 
Hazard Mitigation Assistance Unified Guidance (June 2013) (Proposed 
Action). FEMA will compare the Proposed Action with the No Action 
Alternative, which would consider the elimination of FEMA grant funding 
for wildfire hazard mitigation. Environmental effects of each 
alternative to be evaluated will include impacts on fish, wildlife, and 
vegetation; cultural and historic resources; visual resources and 
aesthetics; air quality and climate change; geology and soils; water 
quality; wetlands; floodplains; land use; and socioeconomic factors 
including environmental justice.
    Public Involvement and Comments: Public comment is invited on the 
scope of the PEA and specifically on the scope of issues, proposed 
alternatives, potential effects and measures to lessen effects that may 
be considered (40 CFR 1501.7). Public comments are being accepted 
during the scoping period as described under the DATES section of this 
Notice and comments may be submitted as described under the ADDRESSES 
section of the this Notice.
    FEMA specifically invites comments that relate to the environmental 
effects that may result from implementation of the Proposed Action. 
FEMA will consider these comments in developing the draft PEA. We 
particularly seek comments on the following:
    1. The direct, indirect, and cumulative effects that implementation 
of any reasonable alternative could have on the natural and cultural 
environment;
    2. Other reasonable alternatives for consideration and their 
associated effects;
    3. Any other environmental issues that should be considered with 
regard to the proposed wildfire hazard mitigation measures.
    After gathering public comments on the scope of the PEA, FEMA will 
develop a draft PEA that will be available for public review and 
comment according to 44 CFR part 10. FEMA will publish a notice of 
availability in the Federal Register when the draft PEA is available 
for public review, and will notify parties who provided comments during 
this scoping period.

    Authority:  42 U.S.C. 4331 et seq.; 40 CFR part 1500; 44 CFR 
part 10.


[[Page 37760]]


    Dated: June 25, 2014.
W. Craig Fugate,
Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency.
[FR Doc. 2014-15486 Filed 7-1-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-13-P
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