2022-24066. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Environmental and Historic Preservation Screening Form

AGENCY:

Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security.

ACTION:

60-Day notice of revision 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 and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on an extension, with change, of a currently approved information collection. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice seeks comments concerning the information collection activities required to administer the Environmental and Historic Preservation Environmental Screening Form.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before January 3, 2023.

ADDRESSES:

To avoid duplicate submissions to the docket, please submit comments at www.regulations.gov under Docket ID FEMA-2022-0035. 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 Act notice that is available via the link in the footer of www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Beth McWaters-Bjorkman, Environmental Protection Specialist, FEMA, Grant Programs Directorate, 202-431-8594, [e-mail]. You may contact the Records Management Division for copies of the proposed collection of information at email address: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

FEMA's Grant Programs Directorate (GPD) awards thousands of grants each year through various grant programs. These programs award funds for projects used to improve homeland security and emergency preparedness. The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), Public Law 91-190, sec. 102 (B) and (C), 42 U.S.C. 4332, the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA), Public Law 89-665, 16 U.S.C. 470f, the Endangered Species Act of 1973, Public Law 93-205, 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq., and a variety of other environmental and historic preservation laws and Executive Orders (E.O.) require the Federal Government to examine the potential environmental impacts of its proposed actions on communities, public health and safety, and cultural, historic, and natural resources including endangered and threatened species prior to implementing those actions. The GPD process of considering these potential impacts is called an environmental and historic preservation (EHP) review which is employed to achieve compliance with multiple EHP authorities through one consolidated process.

With input from recipients, FEMA is proposing to revise the EHP Screening Form for clarity and ease of use. The 2022 EHP Screening Form does not require any new information and includes an appendix with guidance on providing photographs with the EHP submission. Recipients are no longer required to submit Authorized Equipment List (AEL) numbers.

Collection of Information

Title: Environmental and Historic Preservation Screening Form.

Type of Information Collection: Extension, with change, of a currently approved information collection.

OMB Number: 1660-0115.

FEMA Forms: FEMA Form FF-119-FY-21-105 (formerly 024-0-1), Environmental and Historic Preservation Screening Form.

Abstract: The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) requires that each Federal agency examine the impact of a major Federal action (including the actions of recipients using grant funds) significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. This involves considering the environmental impact of the proposed action, alternatives to the proposed action, informing both decision-makers and the public of the impacts through a transparent process, and identifying mitigation measures for any potential adverse impacts (40 CFR 1500.1, 1501.5 and 1501.6). Among other environmental laws, the review also involves considering the effects of the undertaking on historic properties under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and the effects of the action on any threatened or endangered species and their habitat under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973. This Screening Form will facilitate the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) review of recipient Federally-funded actions in FEMA's effort to comply with the environmental requirements.

Affected Public: State, local or Tribal government; Not-for-Profit Institutions.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,300.

Estimated Number of Responses: 2,300.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 16,752.

Estimated Total Annual Respondent Cost: $1,039,877.

Estimated Respondents' Operation and Maintenance Costs: $0.

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

Estimated Total Annual Cost to the Federal Government: $6,153,716.

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 Brown Wilson,

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