2016-16626. Meeting of the Board of Visitors for the National Fire Academy

AGENCY:

Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION:

Committee Management; Notice of Open Federal Advisory Committee Meeting.

SUMMARY:

The Board of Visitors for the National Fire Academy (Board) will meet on August 29-30, 2016, in Emmitsburg, Maryland. The meeting will be open to the public.

DATES:

The meeting will take place on Monday, August 29, 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time and on Tuesday, August 30, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. Please note that the meeting may close early if the Board has completed its business.

ADDRESSES:

The meeting will be held at the National Emergency Training Center, 16825 South Seton Avenue, Building H, Room 300, Emmitsburg, Maryland. Members of the public who wish to obtain details on how to gain access to the facility and directions may contact Ruth MacPhail as listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section by close of business August 15, 2016. Photo identification that meets REAL ID ACT standards (https://www.usfa.fema.gov/​training/​nfa/​admissions/​campus_​access.html) is required for access. Members of the public may also participate by teleconference and may contact Ruth MacPhail to obtain the call-in number and access code. For information on services for individuals with disabilities or to request special assistance, contact Ruth MacPhail as soon as possible.

To facilitate public participation, we are inviting public comment on the issues to be considered by the Board as listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section. Comments must be submitted in writing no later than August 15, 2016, must be identified by Docket ID FEMA-2008-0010 and may be submitted by one of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
• Email: [e-mail]. Include the docket number in the subject line of the message.
• Mail/Hand Delivery: Ruth MacPhail, 16825 South Seton Avenue, Emmitsburg, Maryland 21727.

Instructions: All submissions received must include the words “Federal Emergency Management Agency” and the Docket ID for this action. Comments received will be posted without alteration at http://www.regulations.gov,, including any personal information provided.

Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or comments received by the National Fire Academy Board of Visitors, go to http://www.regulations.gov,, click on “Advanced Search,” then enter “FEMA-2008-0010” in the “By Docket ID” box, then select “FEMA” under “By Agency,” and then click “Search.”

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Alternate Designated Federal Officer: Kirby E. Kiefer, telephone [phone], email [e-mail].

Logistical Information: Ruth MacPhail, telephone [phone] and email [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Board of Visitors for the National Fire Academy (Board) will meet on Monday, August 29, and Tuesday, August 30, 2016. The meeting will be open to the public. Notice of this meeting is given under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. Appendix.

Purpose of the Board

The purpose of the Board is to review annually the programs of the National Fire Academy (NFA) and advise the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), through the United States Fire Administrator, on the operation of the NFA and any improvements therein that the Board deems appropriate. In carrying out its responsibilities, the Board examines NFA programs to determine whether these programs further the basic missions that are approved by the Administrator of FEMA, examines the physical plant of the NFA to determine the adequacy of the NFA's facilities, and examines the funding levels for NFA programs. The Board submits a written annual report through the United States Fire Administrator to the Administrator of FEMA. The report provides detailed comments and recommendations regarding the operation of the NFA.

Agenda

On Monday, August 29, 2016, there will be five sessions, with deliberations and voting at the end of each session as necessary. The Board will also select a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson for Fiscal Year 2017. NFA program activities deliberation will continue on Tuesday, August 30, 2016, if not concluded on Monday.

1. The Board will receive updates on United States Fire Administration data, research, and response support initiatives.

2. The Board will discuss deferred maintenance and capital improvements on the National Emergency Training Center campus and Fiscal Year 2016 Budget Request/Budget Planning.

3. The Board will receive activity reports on the Professional Development Initiative Subcommittee, Whole Community Subcommittee, and National Fire Incident Reporting System Subcommittee.

4. The Board will receive annual ethics training.

5. The Board will deliberate and vote on recommendations on NFA program activities, including:

• The Managing Officer Program, a multiyear curriculum that introduces emerging emergency services leaders to personal and professional skills in change management, risk reduction, and adaptive leadership; a progress report to include pre-program course requirements;
• Curriculum development and revision updates for NFA courses;
• The Executive Fire Officer (EFO) Program assessment results and recommendations;
• The EFO Program application selection results;
• The EFO Program Symposium being held September 10-12, 2016; an annual event for alumni which recognizes outstanding applied research completed by present EFO Program participants, recognizes recent EFO Program graduates, provides high-quality presentations offered by private and public sector representatives, facilitates networking between EFO Program graduates, promotes further dialog between EFO Program graduates and United States Fire Administrator and National Fire Academy faculty and staff; agenda update;
• Review and update to Coffee Break Training courses;
• Staffing update;
• Discussion on the approval process for state-specific courses;
• Online mediated instruction program update;
• Distance learning program update;
• Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) Recognition Program update, a certification program acknowledging that a collegiate emergency services degree meets the minimum standards of excellence established by FESHE development committees and the NFA;
• The National Professional Development Symposium Report held on June 27-29, 2016 which brought national training and education audiences together for their annual conference and support initiatives.

NFA Program Activities deliberations will continue on Tuesday, August 30, 2016, if not concluded.

On Tuesday, August 30, 2016, the Board will conduct classroom visits and tour the campus facility. The Board will also engage in an annual report writing session. Deliberations or voting may occur as needed during the report writing session.

There will be a 10-minute comment period after each agenda item and each speaker will be given no more than 2 minutes to speak. Please note that the public comment period may end before the time indicated, following the last call for comments. Contact Ruth MacPhail to register as a speaker. Meeting materials will be posted at https://www.usfa.fema.gov/​training/​nfa/​about/​bov.html by August 15, 2016.

Dated: July 7, 2016.

Kirby E. Kiefer,

Acting Superintendent, National Fire Academy, United States Fire Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency.