2011-5827. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request, 1660-0103; Property Acquisition and Relocation for Open Space

AGENCY:

Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION:

Notice; 60-day notice and request for comments; extension, without change, of a currently approved information collection; OMB No. 1660-0103; FEMA Form 086-0-31 (previously FEMA Form 81-112), Statement of Voluntary Participation for Acquisition of Property for Purpose of Open Space.

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 extension, without change, of a currently approved information collection. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice seeks comments concerning the Property Acquisition and Relocation for Open Space process as part of the administration of FEMA's mitigation grant programs.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before May 13, 2011.

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-2011-0006. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

(2) Mail. Submit written comments to Docket Manager, Office of Chief Counsel, DHS/FEMA, 500 C Street, SW., Room 835, Washington, DC 20472-3100.

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

(4) E-mail. Submit comments to [e-mail]. Include Docket ID FEMA-2011-0006 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 via the link in the footer of http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulations implementing Property Acquisition and Relocation for Open Space are codified at 44 CFR part 80. These regulations govern property acquisitions for the creation of open space under all of FEMA mitigation grant programs authorized under both the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 5121-5207, and the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 4001 et seq. Acquisition and relocation of property for open space use is one of the most common mitigation activities and is an eligible activity type authorized for Federal grant funds under all of FEMA mitigation grant programs. FEMA mitigation grant programs require all properties acquired with FEMA funds to be deed restricted and maintained as open space in perpetuity. This ensures that no future risks from hazards occur to life or structures on that property, and no future disaster assistance or insurance payments are made as a result of damages to that property. This extension of a currently approved collection of information is necessary to establish uniform requirements for State and local implementation of acquisition activities, and to enforce open space maintenance and monitoring requirements for properties acquired with FEMA mitigation grant funds.

Collection of Information

Title: Property Acquisition and Relocation for Open Space.

Type of Information Collection: Extension, without change, of a currently approved information collection.

OMB Number: 1660-0103.

Form Titles and Numbers: FEMA Form 086-0-31 (previously FEMA Form 81-112), Statement of Voluntary Participation for Acquisition of Property for Purpose of Open Space.

Abstract: FEMA and State and local recipients of FEMA mitigation grant programs will use the information collected to meet the Property Acquisition requirements to implement acquisition activities under the terms of grant agreements for acquisition and relocation activities. FEMA and State/local grant recipients will also use the information to monitor and enforce the open space requirements for all properties acquired with FEMA mitigation grants.

Affected Public: State, local or Tribal Government; individuals or households.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 11,273 hours.

Estimated Annualized Burden Hours and Costs

Type of respondent	Form name/Form number	Number of respondents	Number of responses per respondent	Total number of responses	Avg. burden per response (in hours)	Total annual burden (in hours)	Avg. hourly wage rate	Total annual respondent cost
Individuals or Households	Property Owners Voluntary Participation Statements/FEMA Form 086-0-31 (previously FEMA Form 81-112)	56	40	2240	1 hour	2240	$27.38	$61,331.20
State, Local, and Tribal Government	States Review and Submit Deed Restrictions/No Form	56	40	2240	4 hours	8960	67.73	606,860.80
State, Local, and Tribal Government	State Officials Reporting Requirements/No Form	56	1	56	1.3 (1 hour and 18 minutes)	72.8	67.73	4,930.74
State, Local, and Tribal Government	Transfer Certification/No Form
State, Local, and Tribal Government	Enforcement Notices/No Form
Total		56		4,356		11,273		673,122.74

Estimated Cost: There are no operation and maintenance, or capital and start-up costs associated with this collection of information.

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.

Dated: March 8, 2011.

Lesia M. Banks,

Director, Records Management Division, Mission Support Bureau, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security.