E9-27553. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request, 1660-NEW; FEMA Emergency Management Performance Grants (EMPG)

AGENCY:

Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION:

Notice; 60-day notice and request for comments; new information collection; OMB No. 1660-NEW; No forms.

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 a proposed new information collection. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this Notice seeks comments concerning the information collection activities required to administer the FEMA Emergency Management Performance Grants (EMPG).

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before January 19, 2010.

ADDRESSES:

To avoid duplicate submissions to the docket, please use only one of the following means to submit comments:

(1) Online. Submit comments at http://;www.regulations.gov under docket ID FEMA-2009-0001. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

(2) Mail. Submit written comments to Office of Chief Counsel, Regulation and Policy Team, DHS/FEMA, 500 C Street, SW., Room 835, Wash, DC 20472-3100.

(3) Facsimile. Submit comments to [phone].

(4) E-mail. Submit comments to [e-mail]. Include docket ID FEMA-2009-0001 in the subject line.

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 on the Privacy and Use Notice link on the Administration Navigation Bar of http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Contact Alex Mrazik, Program Analyst, Grant Programs Directorate, 202-786-9732 for additional information. You may contact the Records Management Branch for copies of the proposed collection of information at facsimile number [phone] or email address: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Emergency Management Performance Grants Program (EMPG) helps facilitate a national and regional all-hazards approach to emergency response, including the development of a comprehensive program of planning, training, and exercises that provides a foundation for effective and consistent response to any threatened or actual disaster or emergency, regardless of the cause. Section 662 of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 762), as amended by section 201, Title II of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (Pub. L. 110-053), empowers the FEMA Administrator to continue implementation of an emergency management performance grants program to make grants to States to assist State, local, and tribal governments in preparing for all hazards.

Collection of Information

Title: FEMA Emergency Management Performance Grants (EMPG).

Type of Information Collection: New information collection.

OMB Number: 1660-NEW.

Form Titles and Numbers: No forms.

Abstract: The Emergency Management Performance Grants (EMPG) assists State and local governments in enhancing and sustaining all-hazards emergency management capabilities. The EMPG Work Plan narrative must demonstrate how proposed projects address gaps, deficiencies, and capabilities in current programs and the ability to provide enhancements consistent with the purpose of the program and guidance provided by FEMA. FEMA uses the information to provide details, timelines, and milestones on proposed projects.

Affected Public: State, Local or Tribal Government.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 174 hours.

Table A.12—Estimated Annualized Burden Hours and Costs

Type of respondent	Form name/form number	No. of respondents	No. of responses per respondent	Avg. Burden per response (in hours)	Total annual burden (in hours)	Avg. hourly wage rate*	Total annual respondent cost
State, Local or Tribal Government	EMPG Work Plan	58	1	3	174	$32.20	$5,603
Total		58			174		$5,603

Estimated Cost: There is no annual reporting or recordkeeping costs associated with this collection.

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.

Larry Gray,

Director, Records Management Division, Office of Management, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security.