E8-3905. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION:

Notice; 60-day notice and request for comments; Extension of a currently approved collection 1660-0025, Standard Forms: SF-LLL, SF-424, SF-270, FEMA Forms: 20-10, 20-15, 20-16A,B,C, 20-17, 20-18, 20-19, 20-20, and 76-10A.

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 continuing information collection. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice seeks comments concerning the forms used to collect financial, programmatic and administrative information from States and local governments pertaining to grant and cooperative agreement.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This information is provided in accordance with the requirements in 44 CFR part 13, Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Government (subpart B 13.10, and subpart C 13.32, 13.33, 13.40, 13.41, and subpart D 13.50). This is FEMA implementation of the Common Rule for grants.

Collection of Information

Title: FEMA Grant Administration Forms.

Type of Information Collection: Extension of a currently approved collection.

OMB Number: 1660-0025.

Form Numbers: SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance, FEMA Form 20-20, Budget Information, FEMA Form 20-15, Budget Information—Construction, FEMA Form 20-16,A,B,C, Summary Sheet for Assurances and Certifications, SF LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities, FEMA Form 76-10A, Obligating Document for Award/Amendment, FEMA Form 20-10, Financial Status Report and Performance Reports, FEMA Form 20-17, Outlay Report and Request for Reimbursement for Construction Program, FEMA Form 20-18, Report of Government Property, FEMA Form 20-19, Reconciliation of Grants and Cooperative Agreements, and SF 270 Request for Advance or Reimbursement.

Abstract: This collection of information focuses on the standardization and consistent use of standard and FEMA forms associated with grantees requests for disaster and non-disaster Federal assistance, submission of financial and administrative reporting and record keeping. The use of the forms will minimize burden on the respondent and enable FEMA to continue to improve in its grants administration practices. The forms are used to administer the following FEMA grant programs.

National Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Response System—To develop an immediately deployable, national response capability to locate and extricate, and medically stabilize victims of structural collapse during a disaster, while simultaneously enhancing the US&R response capabilities of State and local governments.

Community Assistance Program-State Support Services Element (CAP-SSSE)—To ensure that communities participating in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) are achieving flood loss reduction measures consistent with program direction. The CAP-SSSE is intended to identify, prevent and resolve floodplain management issues in participating communities before they develop into problems requiring enforcement action.

Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP)—To enhance emergency preparedness capabilities of the States and local communities at each of the eight chemical agent stockpile storage facilities. The purpose of the program is to assist States and local communities in efforts to improve their capacity to plan for and respond to accidents associated with the storage and ultimate disposal of chemical warfare materials.

National Dam Safety Program (NDSP)—To encourage the establishment and maintenance of effective State programs intended to ensure dam safety, to protect human life and property, and to improve State dam safety programs.

Interoperable Communications Equipment (ICE)—To provide funding to jurisdictions across the nation for demonstration projects on uses of equipment and technologies to increase communications interoperability among the fire service, law enforcement, and emergency medical service communities. These projects will illustrate and encourage the acceptance of new technologies and operating methods to assist communities in achieving interoperability.

Earthquake Consortium (EqC)—To operate a program of grants and assistance to enable States to develop mitigation, preparedness and response plans prepare inventories and conduct seismic safety inspection of critical structures and lifelines, update building and zoning codes and ordinances to enhance seismic safety, increase earthquake awareness and education, and encourage the development of multi-State groups for such purposes.

Disaster Donations Management Program (AIDMATRRIX)—To distribute technology solutions to State and local government and voluntary agencies throughout the country prior, to a major event, through the Aidmatrix Foundation/FEMA partnership. This will allow end-users to incorporate technology solutions into their planning, increasing their capacity to respond quickly and effectively once a disaster occurs.

Alternative Housing Pilot Program (AHPP)—Evaluate the efficacy of non-traditional short and intermediate-term housing alternatives for potential future use in a catastrophic disaster environment. Identify, develop and evaluate alternatives to and alternative forms of FEMA Disaster Housing to assist victims of the 2005 hurricanes in the Gulf Coast.

Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP)—To increase local involvement in, and ownership of, the development and maintenance of flood hazard maps produced for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

Map Modernization Management Support (MMMS)—To increase local involvement in, and ownership of, management of the development and maintenance of flood hazard maps produced for the National Flood Insurance

New Repetitive Flood Claims (RFC)—The Repetitive Flood Claims (RFC) Program was authorized in 2004 under Public Law 108-264, funds were not appropriated until FY 2006. The RFC program is authorized under the NFIA to award grants for actions that reduce flood damages to individual properties for which one or more claim payments for losses have been made. FEMA is not required to publish regulations; however, FEMA will provide notice to eligible applicants, post notice on OMB's Grants.gov Web site, and post the RFC program guidance on its Web site at http://www.fema.gov.

Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA)—To assist States and communities in implementing measures to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk of flood damage to buildings, manufactured homes, and other structures insurable under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM)—To provide States and communities with a much needed source of pre-disaster mitigation funding for cost-effective hazard mitigation activities that are part of a comprehensive mitigation program, and that reduce injuries, loss of life, and damage and destruction of property. Competitive grants are part of this program including grants to universities.

Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG)—To provide direct assistance, on a competitive basis, to fire departments of a State or tribal nation for the purpose of protecting the health and safety of the public and firefighting personnel against fire and fire-related hazards.

Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER)—To increase the number of firefighters in local communities and to help them meet industry minimum standards and attain 24/7 staffing for adequate protection against fire and fire-related hazards, and fulfill related roles associated with fire departments.

Disaster Programs

Public Assistance Grants (PA)—To provide supplemental assistance to States, local governments, and political subdivisions to the State, Indian Tribes, Alaskan Native Villages, and certain nonprofit organizations in alleviating suffering and hardship resulting from major disasters or emergencies declared by the President.

Crisis Counseling (SCC)—To provide immediate crisis counseling services, when required, to victims of a major Federally-declared disaster for the purpose of relieving mental health problems caused or aggravated by a major disaster or its aftermath.

Presidential Declared Disaster Assistance to Individuals and Households—Other Needs (ONA)—To provide assistance to individuals and households affected by a disaster or emergency declared by the President, and enable them to address necessary expenses and serious needs, which cannot be met through other forms of disaster assistance or through other means such as insurance.

Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)—To provide States and local governments' financial assistance to implement measures that will permanently reduce or eliminate future damages and losses from natural hazards through safer building practices and improving existing structures and supporting infrastructure.

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAGP)—To provide grants to States, Indian tribal government and local governments for the mitigation, management and control of any fire burning on publicly (nonfederal) or privately owned forest or grassland that threatens such destruction as would constitute a major disaster.

Affected Public: State, local, and tribal government.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours

Data collections activity/instruments	Number of respondents per form	Frequency of responses	Hour burden per response	Annual responses	Total annual burden hours
	(A)	(B)	(C)	(D = A × B)	(C × D)
Disaster Programs
PA:
SF 424	56	1	1	56	56
FF 20-20	56	1	9.7	56	543
FF 20-16, A, B, C	56	1	1.7	56	95
FF 20-10	56	4	1	224	224
SF-LLL	56	1	0.167	56	9
Sub-total Annual Responses & Burden Hours				448	928
Number of disasters grant applies to				57	57
Total PA				25536	52882
SCC:
SF 424	17	1	1	17	17
FF 20-20	17	1	9.7	17	165
FF 20-16, A, B, C	17	1	1.7	17	29
FF 20-10 (SF 269)	17	4	1	68	68
SF-LLL	17	1	0.167	17	3
Sub-total Annual Responses & Burden Hours				136	282
Number of disasters grant applies to				57	57
Total SCC				7752	16053
ONA:
SF 424	40	1	1	40	40
FF 20-20	40	1	9.7	40	388
FF 20-16, A, B, C	40	1	1.7	40	68
FF 20-10	40	4	1	160	160
SF-LLL	40	1	0.167	40	7
Sub-total Annual Responses & Burden Hours				320	663
Number of disasters grant applies to				57	57
Total ONA				18240	37773
HMGP:
SF 424	52	1	1	52	52
FF 20-20	52	15	9.7	780	7566
FF 20-16, A, B, C	52	1	1.7	52	88
FF 20-10	52	4	1	208	208
FF 20-17	52	15	17.2	780	13416
FF 20-18	52	6	4.2	312	1310
FF 20-19	52	6	0.084	312	26
SF LLL	52	1	0.167	52	9
Sub-total Annual Responses & Burden Hours				2548	22676
Number of disasters grant applies to				57	57
Total HMGP				145236	1292514
FMAGP:
SF 424	12	4	1	48	48
FF 20-20	36	4	9.7	144	1397
FF 20-16, A, B, C	36	4	1.7	144	245
FF 20-15	36	4	17.2	144	2477
FF 20-10	12	4	1	48	48
FF 20-18	36	4	4.2	144	605
FF 20-19	36	4	0.084	144	12
SF-LLL	36	4	0.167	144	24
Sub-total Annual Responses & Burden Hours				960	4855
Number of disasters grant applies to				94	94
Total FMGP				90,240	456,402
Total of Annual Responses and Burden Hours for Disaster-Related Programs				287004	1855625
Non-Disaster Programs
US&R:
SF 424	28	1	1	28	28
FF 20-20	28	1	9.7	28	272
FF 20-16, A, B, C	28	1	1.7	28	48
FF 76-10A	28	1	1.2	28	34
FF 20-10	28	2	1	56	56
SF 270	28	1	1	28	28
SF LLL	28	1	0.167	28	5
Total US&R				224	469
CAP-SSSE:
SF 424	56	1	1	56	56
FF 20-20	56	1	9.7	56	543
FF 20-15	56	1	17.2	56	963
FF 20-16, A, B, C	56	1	1.7	56	95
FF 76-10A	56	1	1.2	56	67
FF 20-10	56	2	1	112	112
FF 20-18	56	1	4.2	56	235
FF 20-19	56	1	0.084	56	5
SF LLL	56	1	0.167	56	9
Total CAP-SSSE				560	2086
CSEPP:
SF 424	10	1	1	10	10
FF 20-20	10	1	9.7	10	97
FF 20-10	10	4	1	40	40
FF 20-16, A, B, C	10	1	1.7	10	17
FF 76-10A	10	1	1.2	10	12
FF 20-18	10	1	4.2	10	42
FF 20-19	10	1	0.084	10	1
SF LLL	10	1	0.167	10	2
Total CSEPP				110	221
NDSP:
SF 424	51	1	1	51	51
FF 20-20	51	1	9.7	51	495
FF 20-16, A, B, C	51	1	1.7	51	87
FF 76-10A	51	1	1.2	51	61
FF 20-10	51	4	1	204	204
SF 270	51	1	1	51	51
SF LLL	51	1	0.167	51	9
Total NDSP				510	957
ICE:
FF 20-10	17	4	1	68	68
ICE				68	68
EqC:
FF 20-10	3	2	1	6	6
Total EqC				6	6
AIDMATRIX:
SF 424	1	1	1	1	1
FF 20-20	1	1	9.7	1	10
FF 20-10	1	4	1	4	4
FF 20-16 A, B, C	1	1	1.7	1	2
SF LLL	1	1	0.167	1	0
Total AIDMATRIX				8	17
AHPP:
SF 424	4	1	1	4	4
FF 20-20	4	1	9.7	4	39
FF 20-10	4	4	1	16	16
FF 20-16, A, B, C	4	1	1.7	4	7
SF LLL	4	1	0.167	4	1
Total AHPP				32	66
CTP:
SF 424	20	1	1	20	20
FF 20-20	20	1	9.7	20	194
FF 20-15	20	1	17.2	20	344
FF 20-16, A, B, C	20	1	1.7	20	34
FF 20-10	20	4	1	80	80
SF LLL	20	1	0.167	20	3
Total CTP				180	675
MMMS:
SF 424	20	1	1	20	20
FF 20-20	20	1	9.7	20	194
FF 20-15	20	1	17.2	20	344
FF 20-16, A, B, C	20	1	1.7	20	34
FF 20-10	20	2	1	40	40
SF LLL	20	1	0.167	20	3
Total MMMS				140	635
RFC:
SF 424	56	1	1	56	56
FF 20-20	56	1	9.7	56	543
FF 76-10A	56	1	1.2	56	67
FF 20-16, A, B, C	56	1	1.7	56	95
FF 20-10	56	4	1	224	224
FF 20-18	56	1	4.2	56	235
FF-20-19	56	1	0.084	56	5
SF LLL	56	1	0.167	56	9
Total RFC				616	1235
FMA:
SF 424	56	3	1	168	168
FF 20-20	56	3	9.7	168	1630
FF 20-16, A, B, C	56	1	1.7	56	95
FF 76-10A	56	3	1.2	168	202
FF 20-10	56	4	1	224	224
FF 20-18	56	1	4.2	56	235
FF 20-19	56	1	0.084	56	5
SF LLL	56	1	0.167	56	9
Total FMA				952	2568
PDM:
SF 424	56	2	1	112	112
FF 20-15	56	1	17.2	56	963
FF 20-20	56	2	9.7	112	1086
FF 76-10A	56	2	1.2	112	134
FF 20-16, A, B, C	56	2	1.7	112	190
FF 20-10	56	8	1	448	448
FF 20-17	56	20	17.2	1120	19264
FF 20-18	56	2	4.2	112	470
FF 20-19	56	2	0.084	112	9
SF LLL	56	2	0.167	112	19
Total PDM				2408	22697
*AFG:
SF 424*	4948	1	1	4948	4948
FF 20-20	4948	2	9.7	9896	95991
FF 76-10A	4948	2	1.2	9896	11875
FF 20-16, A, B, C	4948	1	1.7	4948	8412
FF 20-10	4948	2	1	9896	9896
FF 20-17	4948	1	17.2	4948	85106
FF 20-18	4948	1	4.2	4948	20782
FF 20-19	4948	1	0.084	4948	416
SF LLL	4948	1	0.167	4948	826
Total AFG				59376	238251
*FP&S:
SF 424	218	1	1	218	218
FF 20-20	218	2	9.7	436	4229
FF 76-10A	218	2	1.2	436	523
FF 20-16, A, B, C	218	1	1.7	218	371
FF 20-10	218	4	1	872	872
FF 20-17	218	1	17.2	218	3750
FF 20-18	218	1	4.2	218	916
FF 20-19	218	1	0.084	218	18
SF LLL	218	1	0.167	218	36
Total FP&S				3052	10933
*SAFER:
SF 424	262	1	1	262	262
FF 20-20	262	2	9.7	524	5083
FF 76-10A	262	2	1.2	524	629
FF 20-16, A, B, C	262	1	1.7	262	445
FF 20-10	262	4	1	1048	1048
FF 20-17	262	1	17.2	262	4506
FF 20-18	262	1	4.2	262	1100
FF 20-19	262	1	0.084	262	22
SF LLL	262	1	0.167	262	44
Total SAFER				3668	13140
SRL:
SF 424	56	1	1	56	56
FF 20-20	56	1	9.7	56	543
FF 76-10A	56	1	1.2	56	67
FF 20-16, A, B, C	56	1	1.7	56	95
FF 20-10	56	4	1	224	224
FF 20-18	56	1	4.2	56	235
FF-20-19	56	1	0.084	56	5
SF LLL	56	1	0.167	56	9
Total SRL				616	1235
Total of Annual Responses and Burden Hours for Non-Disaster Programs				72,877	295,261
Total of Annual Responses and Burden Hours for Disaster and Non-Disaster Programs				359881	2150885

Estimated Cost: The annualized hour burden cost to respondents is estimated to be $57,365,765. This estimate is based on the hourly wage rate for State Representative and Fire Department Chiefs completing and submitting the FEMA Grant Administration forms to FEMA for review and approval.

Comments: Written 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. Comments must be submitted on or before April 29, 2008.

ADDRESSES:

Interested persons should submit written comments to Office of Management, Records Management Division, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 500 C Street, SW., Washington, DC 20472, Mail Drop Room 301, 1800 S. Bell Street, Arlington, VA 22202.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Contact Cecelia Rosenberg, Section Chief, Mitigation Directorate, [phone] for additional information. You may contact the Records Management Branch for copies of the proposed collection of information at facsimile number [phone] or e-mail address: [e-mail].

Dated: February 13, 2008.

John A. Sharetts-Sullivan,

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