E6-5536. Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has submitted the following information collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 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 includes the actual data collection instruments FEMA will use.

Title: The Declaration Process: Requests for Damage Assessment, Federal Disaster Assistance, Cost Share Adjustment, and Appeals.

OMB Number: 1660-0009.

Abstract: When a disaster occurs in a State, the Governor of the State or the Acting Governor in his/her absence, may request a major disaster declaration or an emergency declaration. The Governor should submit the request to the President through the appropriate Regional Director to ensure prompt acknowledgment and processing. The information obtained by joint Federal, State, and local preliminary damage assessments will be analyzed by FEMA regional senior level staff. The regional summary and the regional analysis and recommendation shall include a discussion of State and local resources and capabilities, and other assistance available to meet the disaster related needs. The Director of FEMA provides a recommendation to the President and also provides a copy of the Governor's request. In the event the information required by law is not contained in the request, the Governor's request cannot be processed and forwarded to the White House. In the event the Governor's request for a major disaster declaration or an emergency declaration is not granted, the Governor may appeal the decision.

Affected Public: State, local or tribal governments, and other Federal agencies.

Number of Respondents: 58.

Estimated Time per Respondent: 76 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 13,224.

Frequency of Response: Per Disaster Declaration Request.

Comments: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments on the proposed information collection to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for the Department of Homeland Security/FEMA, Docket Library, Room 10102, 725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503, or facsimile number [phone]. Comments must be submitted on or before May 15, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection should be made to Chief, Records Management, FEMA, 500 C Street, SW., Room 316, Washington, DC 20472, facsimile number [phone], or e-mail address [e-mail].

Dated: April 5, 2006.

Deborah Moradi,

Acting Branch Chief, Information Resources Management Branch, Information Technology Services Division.