98-9522. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 69 (Friday, April 10, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17861-17862]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-9522]


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FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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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 of a collection of information. In 
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)), this notice seeks comments concerning requests for a 
major disaster or an emergency declaration by the President.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act, Public Law 93-288, as amended (the Stafford 
Act), requires that all requests for a major disaster or an emergency 
declaration by the President must be made by the Governor of the 
affected State. Section 401 of the Act stipulates specific information 
the Government must submit with a request for any major disaster 
declaration. Section 501(a) of the Act stipulates specific information 
the Governor must submit with a request for any emergency declaration. 
Section 403(c) of the Act authorizes emergency assistance, without a 
Presidential declaration, through the utilization of Department of 
Defense personnel and resources. Information needed to process the 
request from the Governor is set forth in 44 CFR Part 206.34 and 
206.45.

Collection of Information

    Title. The Declaration Process: Requests for Damage Assessment, 
Federal Disaster Assistance, Cost Share Adjustments, and Loans of the 
Non-Federal Share.
    Type of Information Collection. Reinstatement, without change, of a 
previously approved collection for which approval has expired.
    OMB Number: 3067-0113.
    Form Numbers. None.
    Abstract. The State Governor must submit requests for Federal 
disaster assistance for major disaster or emergency declarations, loans 
of the non-Federal share, and cost share adjustments to the President 
through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). FEMA senior 
staff evaluates the information supporting the Governor's request for 
supplemental Federal disaster assistance and forwards the findings and 
recommendations to the Director, FEMA. The Director forwards the 
request to the President with a FEMA report and recommendation. The 
President approves/disapproves the request, and the Governor is 
promptly notified by the Director that an emergency or major disaster 
exists or that the Governor's request does not justify the use of the 
authorities under the Stafford Act. FEMA will also notify other Federal 
agencies and interested parties. If approved, a disaster or emergency 
declaration is made, published in the Federal Register, and the 
Governor notified of the designations of assistance and areas eligible 
for such assistance. The information to be submitted by the Governor is 
set forth in FEMA regulations 44 CFR Part 206, Subpart B--The 
Declaration Process. The specific sections are as follows: section 
206.33, Preliminary Damage Assessment; section 206.34, Request for 
utilization of Department of Defense (DOD) resources; section 206-35, 
Requests for emergency declarations; section 206-36, Requests for major 
disaster declarations; section 206.44, FEMA-State Agreement; section 
206.45, Loans of non-Federal share; and section 206.46, Appeals.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households, Not-for-profit 
institutions; and State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: The number of respondents for the 
information collections is 58 and includes the Governors of the 50 
states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, 
Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianna 
Islands, and Federal States of Micronesia, and the Republic of the 
Marshall Islands.
    Frequency of Response: Average of 3 times per year per respondent.
    Hours per Response: FEMA estimates that will take each respondent 
an average of 8 hours to gather data and submit a request for Federal 
disaster

[[Page 17862]]

assistance that complies with the provision of 44 CFR Part 206, Subpart 
B.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,392.

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 should be received within 60 days of 
the date of this notice.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons should submit written comments to Muriel 
B. Anderson, FEMA Information Collections Officer, Federal Emergency 
Management Agency, 500 C Street, SW, Room 316, Washington, DC 20472. 
Telephone number [phone]. FAX number [phone]. FEMA is 
particularly interested in comments on the burden hours estimated at 8 
hours to gather data and submit a request for Federal disaster 
assistance through the Director, FEMA for approval by the President.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information concerning 
the collection of information contact Magdalena M. Ruiz, Acting 
Division Director, Federal Disaster Declaration Policy and Processing 
Division, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 500 C Street, SW, 
Washington, DC 20472. Telephone number [phone]. For a copy of 
the OMB paperwork clearance package contact Ms. Anderson at the address 
or telephone number provided above.

    Dated: April 1, 1998.
Tom Behm,
Acting Director, Program Services Division, Operations Support 
Directorate.
[FR Doc. 98-9522 Filed 4-9-98; 8:45 am]
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