2010-6350. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request, 1660-NEW; Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) After Action Report (AAR) Improvement Plan (IP)

AGENCY:

Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION:

Notice; 60-day notice and request for comments; new information collection; OMB No. 1660-NEW; FEMA Form 091-0, Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) After Action Report (AAR) Improvement Plan (IP).

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 new information collection. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this Notice seeks comments concerning the data collection activity required to prepare the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) After Action Report (AAR) Improvement Plan (IP).

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before May 24, 2010.

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-2010-0008-. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

(2) Mail. Submit written comments to Office of Chief Counsel, Regulation and Policy Team, 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-2010-0008- 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 on the Privacy and Use Notice link on the Administration Navigation Bar of http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Contact Robert Schweitzer, National Preparedness, [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:

Homeland Security Presidential Directive-8 (HSPD-8: National Preparedness) issued on December 17, 2003, establishes policies to strengthen the preparedness of the United States to prevent and respond to threatened or actual domestic terrorist attacks, major disasters, and other emergencies by requiring a National Preparedness Goal that establishes measurable priorities and targets, establishing mechanisms to improve delivery of Federal preparedness assistance to State, local, and tribal governments, and outlining actions to strengthen preparedness capabilities of Federal, State, local, and tribal governments and their private sector partners. HSPD-8 further directs that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in coordination with other appropriate Federal departments and agencies, establish a “national program and a multi-year planning system to conduct homeland security preparedness-related exercises that reinforces identified training standards, provides for evaluation of readiness, and supports the National Preparedness Goal.” Section 648(b)(1) of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (6 U.S.C. 748(b)(1)) also provides for these exercises and states the Administrator “shall carry out a national exercise program to test and evaluate the national preparedness goal, National Incident Management System, National Response Plan, and other related plans and strategies.” The Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) provides the program structure, multi-year planning system, tools, and guidance necessary for entities to build and sustain exercise programs that enhance homeland security capabilities and, ultimately, preparedness. The Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation (HSEEP) After Action Report (AAR) Improvement Plan (IP) answers HSPD-8 requirements that a system be developed and maintained to collection, analyze and disseminate lessons learned and other information resulting from these exercises.

Collection of Information

Title: Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) After Action Report (AAR) Improvement Plan (IP).

Type of Information Collection: New information collection.

OMB Number: 1660-NEW.

Form Titles and Numbers: FEMA Form 091-0, Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) After Action Report (AAR) Improvement Plan (IP).

Abstract: The Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) After Action Report (AAR) Improvement Plan (IP) collection provides reporting on the results of preparedness exercises and provides assessments of the respondent's capabilities so that strengths and areas for improvement are identified, corrected, and shared as appropriate prior to a real incident. This information is also required to be submitted as part of certain FEMA grant applications.

Affected Public: State, Local or Tribal Government; Federal Government.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 44,800 Hours.

Table A.12—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
State, Local or Tribal Government; Federal Government	HSEEP/AAR/IP/FEMA Form 091-0	56	5	280	160	44,800	$36.15	$1,619,520
Total		56		280		44,800		1,619,520

Estimated Cost: There is no annual reporting and recordkeeping cost associated with this collection.

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 12, 2010.

Larry Gray,

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