2016-25896. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) Application and Reporting

AGENCY:

Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION:

Notice.

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 Hazard Mitigation Grant Program application and reporting requirements.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before December 27, 2016.

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-2016-0024. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

(2) Mail. Submit written comments to Docket Manager, Office of Chief Counsel, DHS/FEMA, 500 C Street SW., 8NE, Washington, DC 20472-3100.

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 Act notice that is available via the link in the footer of www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jennie Orenstein, Chief, HMA Grants Policy Branch, 202-212-4071. You may contact Records Management Division for copies of the proposed collection of information at email address: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Section 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5170c, established the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. Grant requirements and grants management procedures of the program are outlined in 44 CFR part 206 Subpart N and 2 CFR part 200. FEMA administers the HMGP, and Grantees implement the grants under the HMPG per grant agreement and rules and regulations. The HMGP is a post-disaster program that contributes funds toward the cost of hazard mitigation activities in order to reduce the risk of future damage, hardship, loss or suffering in any area affected by a major disaster. Grantees are defined as any State of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or an Indian tribal government that chooses to act as a grantee.

Collection of Information

Title: Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) Application and Reporting.

Type of Information Collection: Extension, without change, of a currently approved information collection.

OMB Number: 1660-0076.

FEMA Forms: FEMA Form 009-0-111A, Quarterly Progress Reports.

Abstract: FEMA administers the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which is a post-disaster program that contributes funds toward the cost of hazard mitigation activities in order to reduce the risk of future damage hardship, loss or suffering in any area affected by a major disaster. FEMA uses applications to provide financial assistance in the form of grant awards and, through grantee quarterly reporting, monitor grantee project activities and expenditure of funds.

Affected Public: State, local or Tribal Government.

Number of Respondents: 56.

Number of Responses: 4,626.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 48,572.

Estimated Cost: None.

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: October 20, 2016.

Richard W. Mattison,

Records Management Program Chief, Mission Support, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security.