2014-01789. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Emergency Notification System (ENS)

AGENCY:

Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION:

Notice.

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 new information collection. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice seeks comments concerning the Emergency Notification System (ENS).

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before March 3, 2014.

ADDRESSES:

To avoid duplicate submissions to the docket, please use only one of the following means to submit comments:

(1) Online. Submit comments at www.regulations.gov under Docket ID FEMA-2014-0001. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

(2) Mail. Submit written comments to Docket Manager, Office of Chief Counsel, DHS/FEMA, 500 C Street SW., Room 8NE, Washington, DC 20472-3100.

All submissions received must include the agency name and Docket ID. Regardless of the method used for submitting comments or material, all submissions will be posted, without change, to the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov,, and will include any personal information you provide. Therefore, submitting this information makes it public. You may wish to read the Privacy Act notice that is available via the link in the footer of http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

John Shaffer, IT Specialist, Office of Response & Recovery (ORR), Federal Emergency Management Agency at [phone] for additional information. You may contact the Records Management Division for copies of the proposed collection of information at facsimile number [phone] or email address: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

FEMA's Office of Response & Recovery (ORR) owns and operates the Emergency Notification System (ENS), which has been designated by FEMA Directive 262-3 as the agency solution for all notification and alerts activities, sends electronic notifications and relays messages, whether critical in nature, routine, or for testing purposes with appropriate authorization, to DHS employees and contractors, as well as emergency response personnel. In accordance with Executive Order 12656, National Security Presidential Directive (NSPD)-51, Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD)-20, and Federal Continuity Directive (FCD)-1, all DHS organizational components shall have in place a viable Continuity of Operations Planning (COOP) capability and plan that ensures the performance of their essential functions during any emergency or situation that could disrupt normal operations. An effective ENS solution is a critical part of this plan.

Collection of Information

Title: Emergency Notification System (ENS).

OMB Number: 1660-NEW.

Type of Information Collection: New information collection.

FEMA Forms: None.

Abstract: The ENS contains contact information for FEMA emergency team members. The ENS uses this information to send email, call cell, home, work phones and SMS devices to inform team members they have been activated. Teams include FEMA HQ COOP, Hurricane Liaison Team (HLT), Urban Search & Rescue (US&R), Emergency Response Group (ERG), etc. The system can only be accessed via DHS OneNet.

Affected Public: State, Local or Tribal Government; Federal Government.

Number of Respondents: 500.

Number of Responses: 500.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 8 hours.

Estimated Annualized Burden Hours and Costs

Type of respondent	Form name/ form No.	Number of respondents	Number of responses per respondent	Total number of responses	Avg. burden per response (in hours)	Total annual burden (in hours)	Avg. hourly wage rate	Total annual respondent cost
State, Local or Tribal Government; Federal Government	Emergency Notification System (ENS)/No Form	500	1	500	1 minute (0.01666)	8	$18.27	$146.16
Total		500		500		8		146.16
• Note: The “Avg. Hourly Wage Rate” for each respondent includes a 1.4 multiplier to reflect a fully-loaded wage rate.

Estimated Cost: The estimated annual cost to respondents for the hour burden is $146.16. There are no annual costs to respondents operations and maintenance costs for technical services. There is no annual start-up or capital costs. The cost to the Federal Government is $173,401.85.

Comments

Comments may be submitted as indicated in the ADDRESSES caption above. 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.

Dated: January 10, 2014.

Charlene D. Myrthil,

Director, Records Management Division, Mission Support Bureau, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security.