2018-05769. Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Revision to National Flood Insurance Program Maps: Application Forms and Instructions for LOMRs and CLOMRs

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. FEMA will submit the information collection abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget for review and clearance in accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The submission will describe the nature of the information collection, the categories of respondents, the estimated burden (i.e., the time, effort and resources used by respondents to respond) and cost, and the actual data collection instruments FEMA will use.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before April 23, 2018.

ADDRESSES:

Submit written comments on the proposed information collection to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget. Comments should be addressed to the Desk Officer for the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and sent via electronic mail to [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection should be made to Senior Director, Information Management Division, 500 C Street SW, Washington, DC 20472, email address [e-mail] or Brian Koper, Emergency Management Specialist, Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration, DHS/FEMA, 202-646-3085.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is authorized by the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 4001 et seq. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) administers the NFIP and maintains the maps that depict flood hazard information. In 44 CFR 65.3, communities are required to submit technical information concerning flood hazards and plans to avoid potential flood hazards when physical changes occur. In 44 CFR 65.4, communities are provided the right to submit technical information when inconsistencies on maps are identified. In order to revise the Base (l-percent annual chance) Flood Elevations (BFEs), Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs), and floodways presented on the NFIP maps, a community must submit scientific or technical data demonstrating the need for a revision. The NFIP regulations cited in 44 CFR part 65 outline the data that must be submitted for these requests. This collection serves to provide a standard format for the general information requirements outlined in the NFIP regulations, and helps establish an organized package of the data needed to revise NFIP maps. This information collection expired on May 31, 2017. FEMA is requesting a reinstatement, with change, of a previously approved information collection for which approval has expired.

This proposed information collection previously published in the Federal Register on December 29, 2017 at 82 FR 61787 with a 60 day public comment period. No comments were received. The purpose of this notice is to notify the public that FEMA will submit the information collection abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget for review and clearance.

Collection of Information

Title: Revision to National Flood Insurance Program Maps: Application Forms and Instructions for LOMRs and CLOMRs.

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

OMB Number: 1660-0016.

Form Titles and Numbers: FEMA Form 086-0-27, Overview and Concurrence Form; FEMA Form 086-0-27A, Riverine Hydrology and Hydraulics Form; FEMA Form 086-0-27B, Riverine Structures Form; FEMA Form 086-0-27C, Coastal Analysis Form; FEMA Form 086-0-27D, Coastal Structures Form; FEMA Form 086-0-27E, Alluvial Fan Flooding Form.

Abstract: The forms in this information collection are used to determine if the collected data will result in the modification of a BFE, a SFHA, or a floodway. Once the information is collected, it is submitted to FEMA for review and is subsequently included on the NFIP maps. Using these maps, lenders will determine the application of the mandatory flood insurance purchase requirements, and insurance agents will determine actuarial flood insurance rates. The maps are also used by communities participating in the NFIP to establish floodplain management requirements.

Affected Public: State, Local and Tribal Government and Business or Other for-Profit Institutes.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 5,291.

Estimated Number of Responses: 5,291.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 16,107.

Estimated Total Annual Respondent Cost: $1,084,308.

Estimated Respondents' Operation and Maintenance Costs: $22,010,000.

Estimated Respondents' Capital and Start-Up Costs: None.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to the Federal Government: $24,559.06.

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 15, 2018.

William H. Holzerland,

Senior Director of Information Management, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer Mission Support, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security.