2022-01314. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Generic Clearance for Civil Rights and Equity

AGENCY:

Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security.

ACTION:

60-day notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public to take this opportunity to comment on a new information collection. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice seeks comments concerning FEMA's collection of demographic characteristics of those who apply for the Agency's programs or disaster assistance.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before March 28, 2022.

ADDRESSES:

To avoid duplicate submissions to the docket, please submit comments at www.regulations.gov under Docket ID FEMA-2022-0006. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

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 http://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 and Security Notice that is available via a link on the homepage of www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Brian Thompson, Supervisory Emergency Management Specialist, Recovery Directorate, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 540-686-3602, [e-mail]. You may contact the Information Management Division for copies of the proposed collection of information at email address: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

FEMA proposes to collect demographic information from those who apply for benefits to improve its approach to ensuring compliance with its civil rights, nondiscrimination and equity requirements, and obligations as outlined in federal civil rights laws such as Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. 2000d, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. 794, and the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (the Stafford Act). Such demographic data concerning individuals who participate in or benefit from the Agency's programs and activities will increase FEMA's ability evaluate the accessibility and distributional equity of their programs and then make alterations or pivot based upon identified areas of concern, thereby demonstrating compliance with civil rights laws.

Collection of Information

Title: Generic Clearance for Civil Rights and Equity.

Type of Information Collection: New information collection.

OMB Number: 1660-NW133.

FEMA Forms: Under the Generic Clearance, each Federal Emergency Management Agency component will submit their specific forms for the collection of demographics. FEMA Form: FF-256-FY-21-100, Generic Clearance Civil Rights and Equity. The Agency is prepared to add these questions to the Individuals and Households program registration, FF-104-FY-21-123 (formerly FEMA Form 009-0-1T (English)), Tele-Registration, Disaster Assistance Registration, FF-104-FY-21-125 (formerly FEMA Form 009-0-1Int (English)), internet, Disaster Assistance Registration, FF-104-FY-21-122 (formerly FEMA Form 009-0-1 (English)), Paper Application/Disaster Assistance Registration. The demographic data will help the Individuals and Households program improve operational outcomes for vulnerable communities by using analysis of demographic data against program outcomes to evaluate whether any disparities in eligibility determinations appear to impact vulnerable communities. FEMA would then use this data to determine how to improve service delivery for all survivors. FEMA expects a burden of no more than 5 minutes per registration to answer the additional questions, with the entire estimated annual burden outlined below.

Abstract: The Federal Emergency Management Agency will use the demographic characteristics collected from applicants and beneficiaries to assess its civil rights, nondiscrimination and equity requirements, and obligations as outlined in federal civil rights laws such as the Civil Rights Act, Rehabilitation Act, and the Stafford Act.

Affected Public: Individuals or Households.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 938,800.

Estimated Number of Responses: 938,800.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 78,202.

Estimated Total Annual Respondent Cost: $3,069,429.

Estimated Respondents' Operation and Maintenance Costs: $0.

Estimated Respondents' Capital and Start-Up Costs: $0.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to the Federal Government: $3,814,696.

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.

Millicent L. Brown,

Records Management Branch, Team Lead, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, Mission Support, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security.