2010-4447. Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request, OMB No. 1660-NEW; FEMA Preparedness Grants: Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Grant Program

AGENCY:

Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION:

Notice; 30-day notice and request for comments; new information collection; OMB No. 1660-NEW; FEMA Form 089-3, EOC Grant Program Investment Justification and Scoring Criteria; FEMA Form 089-18, Prioritization of Competitive Investment Justifications Template.

SUMMARY:

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has submitted 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 describes 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 5, 2010.

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] or faxed to [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection should be made to Director, Office of Records Management, 1800 South Bell Street, Arlington, VA 20598-3005, facsimile number [phone], or e-mail address [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Collection of Information

Title: FEMA Preparedness Grants: Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Grant Program.

Type of information collection: New information collection.

OMB Number: 1660-NEW.

Form Titles and Numbers: FEMA Form 089-3, EOC Grant Program Investment Justification and Scoring Criteria; FEMA Form 089-18, Prioritization of Competitive Investment Justifications Template.

Abstract: The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Grant Program is intended to improve emergency management and preparedness capabilities by supporting flexible, sustainable, secure, and interoperable EOCs with a focus on addressing identified deficiencies and needs. Fully capable emergency operations facilities at the State, territory, local and/or tribal levels are an essential element of a comprehensive national emergency management system and are necessary to ensure continuity of operations and continuity of government in major disasters caused by any hazard. The information collection activity is the collection of financial and programmatic information from State, territory, local, tribal, and/or for-profit partners pertaining to grant and cooperative agreement awards that include application, program narrative statements, grant award, performance information, outlay reports, grant funding and property management, and closeout information. The information enables FEMA and any federal partners to evaluate applications and make award decisions, monitor ongoing performance and manage the flow of federal funds, and to appropriately close out grants or cooperative agreements.

Affected Public: State, Local or Tribal Government.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 756.

Frequency of Response: On occasion.

Estimated Average Hour Burden per Respondent: 13.5 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 5,908 hours.

Estimated Cost: There is no annual reporting or recordkeeping costs associated with this collection.

Larry Gray,

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