01-31110. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

In compliance with section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 concerning opportunity for public comment on proposed collections of information, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects. To request more information on the proposed projects or to obtain a copy of the information collection plans, call the SAMHSA Reports Clearance Officer on [phone].

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collections of information are necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Proposed Project

Title: Emergency Response Grants Regulations—42 CFR part 51—(OMB No. 0930-0229, Extension)—This rule implements section 501(m) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C 290aa), which authorizes the Secretary to make noncompetitive grants, contracts or cooperative agreements to public entities to enable such entities to address emergency substance abuse or mental health needs in local communities. The rule establishes criteria for determining that a substance abuse or mental health emergency exists, the minimum content for an application, and reporting requirements for recipients of such funding.

SAMHSA will use the information in the applications to make a determination that the requisite need exists; that the mental health and/or substance abuse needs are a direct result of the precipitating event; that no other local, State, Tribal or Federal funding sources available to address the need; that there is an adequate plan of services; that the applicant has appropriate organizational capability; and, that the budget provides sufficient justification and is consistent with the documentation of need and the plan of services.

Eligible applicants may apply to the Secretary for either of two types of substance abuse and mental health emergency response grants: Immediate awards and Intermediate awards. The former are designed to be funded up to $50,000, or such greater amount as determined by the Secretary on a case-by-case basis, and are to be used over the initial 90-day period commencing as soon as possible after the precipitating event; the latter awards require more documentation, including a needs assessment, other data and related budgetary detail. The Intermediate awards have no predefined budget limit. Typically, Intermediate awards would be used to meet systemic mental health and/or substance abuse needs during the recovery period following the Immediate award period. Such awards may be used for up to one year, with a possible second year supplement based on submission of additional required information and data.

This program is an approved user of the PHS-5161 application form, approved by OMB under control number 0920-0428. The quarterly financial status reports in 51d.10(a)(2) and (b)(2) are as permitted by 45 CFR 92.41(b); the final program report, financial status report and final voucher in 51d.10(a)(3) and in 51d.10(b)(3-4) are in accordance with 45 CFR 92.50(b). Information collection requirements of 45 CFR part 92 are approved by OMB under control number 0990-0169. The following table presents annual burden estimates for the information collection requirements of this regulation.

42 CFR citation	Number of respondents	Responses/respondent	Burden/response (hrs.)	Total burden (hrs.)
Immediate award application:
51d.4(a) and 51d.6(a)(2)	3	1	3	* (9)
Intermediate award application:
51d.4(b) and 51d.6(a)(2)—Intermediate Awards	3	1	10	* (30)
51d.10(a)(1)—Immediate awards—mid-program report if applicable	3	1	2	* (6)
Final report content for both types of award:
51d.10(c)	6	1	3	18
Total	6			18
* This burden is carried under OMB control number 0920-0428.

Send comments to Nancy Pearce, SAMHSA Reports Clearance Officer, Room 16-105, Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857. Written comments should be received within 60 days of this notice.

Dated: December 11, 2001.

Richard Kopanda,

Executive Officer, SAMHSA.