[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 151 (Friday, August 6, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42948-42949]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-20348]
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FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
Notice of Distribution of Funds to Address Unmet Needs Resulting
From Presidentially Declared Disasters
AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: FEMA announces the allocation of Fiscal Year (FY) 1999 funds
for grants to States to address disaster-related needs not met by
Federal disaster relief programs. The amount of $230 million is
available to certain States for use in communities that have
experienced Presidentially declared major disasters in FY 1998 and/or
FY 1999. The funds will be allocated to States (grantees) for
distribution in communities affected by the disasters.
EFFECTIVE DATE: This notice is effective August 6, 1999.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert F. Shea, Jr., Director, Program
Support Division, Mitigation Directorate, Federal Emergency Management
Agency, 500 C Street SW, Room 417, Washington, DC 20472, (telephone)
202-646-4621, (facsimile) 202-646-3104, or (email)
robert.shea@fema.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Congress recently appropriated $230 million
to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to address
communities' unmet disaster assistance needs for Fiscal Years 1998 and
1999. Congress instructed FEMA to award these funds expeditiously to
States for use in eligible communities. Pub. L. 106-31, Emergency
Supplemental Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 1999, requires the
publication of a notice governing the allocation and use of these
funds.
Authority: Pub. L. 106-31, Emergency Supplemental Appropriations
Act for Fiscal Year 1999.
Eligible Applicants
States are to use these funds to benefit communities affected by
Presidentially-declared major disasters, including Native American
tribes. We surveyed States for their unmet needs related to disasters
declared before January 1, 1999. We are currently requesting States to
identify unmet needs related to disasters declared between January 1,
1999 and May 21, 1999. The later date is the date of enactment of the
appropriations bill that provides the funds for this effort.
State emergency management organizations (grantees) will administer
these grants in conjunction with their administration of FEMA disaster
assistance programs.
Availability of Funds
We will initially allocate funding to States that meet the
following criteria:
Certain States affected by the January 1998 ice storms;
Certain States affected by Hurricane Georges;
States with major disasters declared between October 1,
1998 and January 1, 1999.
These States are: Louisiana, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, Alabama, New
York, New Hampshire, Kansas, Washington, Florida, Texas, Vermont, and
Missouri.
Allocations The initial allocations are as follows:
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Disaster
State No. Allocation
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Alabama........................................ 1250 $7,112,000
Florida........................................ 1259 2,559,000
Florida [*].................................... 1249 27,337,000
Kansas......................................... 1254 7,994,000
Kansas......................................... 1258 5,514,000
Louisiana...................................... 1246 5,840,000
Mississippi.................................... 1251 13,273,000
Missouri....................................... 1253 7,029,000
Missouri....................................... 1256 4,130,000
New Hampshire.................................. 1199 3,937,000
New York....................................... 1196 41,668,000
Puerto Rico.................................... 1247 15,600,000
Texas.......................................... 1257 42,108,000
Vermont........................................ 1201 481,000
Washington..................................... 1252 836,000
Washington..................................... 1255 4,247,000
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Total...................................... 189,665,000
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[*] $40,000 of the allocation for disaster number 1249 is designated for
the Poarch Band of Creek Indians (Florida).
We will provide an application package to States that receive
allocations. States will submit applications to us indicating the
proposed use of the funds. Awards will be made, up to the amount of the
allocation, after an expedited review of the State application package.
The application will require additional information and data that
was used by the States in identifying the amount of their unmet needs
in the submission to HUD and FEMA. This additional information and data
must be specific and include supporting documentation. To the extent
the information and data is deemed insufficient or supports an
ineligible activity, the amount of the initial allocation will be
reduced accordingly.
Grant Requirements/Use of Funds
The purpose of these funds is to provide to the extent possible for
unmet needs that are the direct result of Presidentially declared major
disasters in Fiscal Years 1998 and 1999. States (grantees) and
subrecipients must use these funds for activities for which there is no
available funding through FEMA, the Small Business Administration, or
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The funds can be used only for unmet needs for the purposes of
mitigation, buyout assistance, disaster relief, and long-term recovery.
We urge States to use funding in all categories in a manner that will
reduce future disaster related costs.
The State must administer any funding used for buyouts or
mitigation activities by the State consistent with the intent of the
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. For example, States must ensure that
mitigation and buy-out activities are cost effective and that the use
of acquired properties will be restricted in the same manner as under
the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.
Environmental Review
The State and FEMA will complete an environmental review for all
activities. Generally these reviews must be completed before beginning
projects. Applicants for funding under this program will be responsible
for preparing environmental documentation, conducting appropriate
consultation with authoritative State agencies, and forwarding the
results of such documentation and consultation to us for final review
and approval to enable us to ensure compliance with the National
Environmental Policy Act, the National Historic Preservation Act, the
Endangered Species Act, and all other Federal environmental statutes
and Executive Orders. Costs to prepare documentation and conduct
consultation are eligible project costs and should be included within
the budgeted project cost.
Cost Share
Each State must provide an assurance that there will be not less
than 25 percent in non-Federal funds, or equivalent value, to match
unmet needs funds. Funds provided under this Act
[[Page 42949]]
cannot be used as the non-Federal match for other Federal funds nor can
other Federal funds be used as the required non-Federal match for these
funds.
Allowable Costs
States may use up to 7% of these funds for costs to administer or
manage the grant. Administrative and management costs should be
included in the State's application. Further guidance on allowable
costs for states and subgrantees can be found in Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) Circulars on the Cost Principles.
State and local governments should consult OMB Circular A-
87.
Private Non-Profit organizations should consult OMB
Circular A-122.
Educational institutions should consult OMB Circular A-21.
Reports
States will provide quarterly progress and financial reports to
FEMA within 30 days after the end of each Federal quarter. We will
include the suggested format for these reports and exact due dates in
the application package. The report will include specific information
on actual projects funded during that quarter and the needs for which
the funds were provided for each of those projects.
Evaluation Process
Our regional offices will review State applications and quarterly
progress reports to determine whether activities fall within the four
eligible categories and that other Federal disaster relief programs do
not already address them.
Remaining Funds
The remaining funds will be allocated to States that have had a
Presidentially declared major disaster between January 1, 1999 and May
21, 1999, after we complete our survey of their unmet needs. Those
states are: Tennessee, Alabama, Maine, Mississippi, Louisiana,
Arkansas, California, Wyoming, Missouri, Georgia, Oklahoma, Kansas,
Texas, Colorado, and Iowa.
FEMA will implement a system in which mitigation (including buyout
assistance) will be our priority, followed by long-term recovery and
other unmet needs generally categorized as disaster relief. States may
submit unmet needs in any category, but FEMA will place emphasis on
mitigation and buyout assistance. FEMA will determine other unmet needs
(disaster relief and long-term recovery) based on State submission.
FEMA will ask for reviews by appropriate Federal agencies so as to
avoid duplication of existing Federal programs.
Based on the congressional action to place these funds under FEMA's
disaster authorities, E.O. 12372 review procedures do not apply.
Application Submission and Deadline
We will mail application packages to States that are allocated
funds in this notice. States should complete the application package
and return it to the FEMA regional office listed in the material that
they receive.
Applications are due on or before 30 calendar days from the receipt
of the application package sent by FEMA. Unless we receive a request
for an extension, States that have not submitted an application by the
due date will be considered for the next allocation of funds after this
initial allocation is complete.
Dated: August 2, 1999.
James L. Witt,
Director.
[FR Doc. 99-20348 Filed 8-5-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6718-05-P
