2019-25735. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request; National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) v5.0

AGENCY:

Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION:

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 reinstatement, with change, of a previously approved information collection for which approval has expired. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice seeks comments concerning National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) v5.0. The program provides a well-established mechanism, using standardized reporting methods, to collect and analyze fire incident data at the Federal, State, and local levels with a myriad of life and property saving uses and benefits.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before January 27, 2020.

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-2019-0026. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

(2) Mail. Submit written comments to Docket Manager, Office of Chief Counsel, DHS/FEMA, 500 C Street SW, 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:

William Troup, Chief, United States Fire Administration-National Fire Data Center, [phone]. You may contact the Information Management Division for copies of the proposed collection of information at email address: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The National Commission on Fire Prevention and Control conducted a comprehensive study of the Nation's fire problem and recommended to Congress actions to mitigate the fire problem, reduce loss of life and property, and educate the public on fire protection and prevention. As a result of the study, Congress enacted Public Law 93-498, Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974, which establishes the U.S. Fire Administration to administer fire prevention and control programs, supplement existing programs of research, training, and education, and encourage new and improved programs and activities by State and local governments. Section 9(a) of the Act authorizes the Administrator, U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), to operate directly or through contracts or grants, an integrated, comprehensive method to select, analyze, publish, and disseminate information related to prevention, occurrence, control, and results of fires of all types.

NFIRS was established in the mid-1970s and is mandated by the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (Pub. L. (PL) 93-498, as amended) which authorizes the National Fire Data Center to gather and analyze information such as (1) the frequency, causes, spread, and extinguishment of fires; (2) injuries and deaths resulting from fires; (3) information on injuries sustained by a firefighter; and (4) information on firefighting activities. The act further authorizes USFA to develop uniform data reporting methods, and to encourage and assist Federal, State, local and other agencies in developing and reporting information. NFIRS is a reporting standard that fire departments use to uniformly report on the full range of their activities, from fire to emergency medical services to severe weather and natural disasters. This reporting allows fire departments, as well as many other government and non-government agencies, to quantify their actions and identify incident and response trends.

This information collection expired on 04/30/2019. FEMA is requesting a reinstatement, without change, of a previously approved information collection for which approval has expired.

Collection of Information

Title: National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) v5.0.

Type of Information Collection: Reinstatement, with change, of a previously approved information collection for which approval has expired.

OMB Number: OMB No. 1660-0069.

Form Titles and Numbers: The National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) v5.0 Modules 1-11.

Abstract: NFIRS provides a mechanism using standardized reporting methods to collect and analyze fire incident data at the Federal, State, and local levels. Data analysis helps local fire departments and States to focus on current problems, predict future problems in their communities, and measure whether their programs are working.

Affected Public: State, Local or Tribal, and Federal Government.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 23,500.

Estimated Number of Responses: 28,059,000.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 12,626,550.

Estimated Total Annual Respondent Cost: $471,980,439.

Estimated Respondents' Operation and Maintenance Costs: $1,974,000.

Estimated Respondents' Capital and Start-Up Costs: $1,128,000.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to the Federal Government: $3,356,189.

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.

Maile Arthur,

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