[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 30 (Tuesday, February 16, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7648-7649]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-3639]


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FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY


Project Impact: Building Disaster Resistant Communities

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

ACTION: Notice of funds and grant availability.

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SUMMARY: FEMA gives notice of the availability of $25 million of 
appropriated grant funds to pre-determined Project Impact communities 
(see list in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION) and States with Project Impact 
communities.

DATES: Grant funds are available as of February 16, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Approved communities have received grant application 
packages. States with approved Project Impact communities that have not 
already received grant application materials should contact their FEMA 
regional office.

FOR POINT OF CONTACT INFORMATION CONTACT: Carol Transou, Federal 
Emergency Management Agency, 500 C Street SW., room 402, Washington, DC 
20472, (202) 646-3701, (telefax) (301) 646-3231, or (email) 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under Public Law 105-276, 112 Stat. 2461, 
Department of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development and 
Independent Agencies Appropriation Act, 1999, we are issuing today a 
Request for Application (RFA) to implement a $25 million grant program 
that is limited to Project Impact communities and to States with 
Project Impact communities.
    Community grants. The community grant is available to designated 
Project Impact communities to facilitate the development and 
implementation of a comprehensive, long-term mitigation strategy 
through collaboration with private sector and non-profit organizations, 
and with local, State and Federal government partners. Within this 
framework, the community grant is to fund prevention projects that 
result in long-term reductions in property damage as well as contribute 
to the sustainability of the partnership.
    State grants. The State grant is available to States with a Project 
Impact community through the FEMA Performance Partnership Agreement/
Cooperative Agreement process for activities that directly support 
Project Impact communities.
    Who is eligible for grants? The community that a State has 
designated, with FEMA concurrence, as a Project Impact community is 
eligible for a community grant. Each State with a Project Impact 
community is eligible for a state grant.
    What are mitigation measures? Mitigation measures generally are 
those projects and actions that reduce the potential losses to life and 
property from natural hazard events in a permanent or long-term manner. 
Communities will categorize mitigation projects as: (1) Mitigation for 
existing structures; (2) Mitigation of existing infrastructure, utility 
facilities, and transportation systems that are publicly owned and 
operated on a non-profit basis; (3) Adoption of policies or practices 
for mitigation in existing structures, development or redevelopment; 
(4) Activities that lead to building or sustaining public/private 
partnerships, or that support public awareness of mitigation; (5) 
Hazard identification and risk assessment; (6) Mitigation of new 
construction; and (7) Personnel support.
    What is the process for applying? For designated community 
assistance, communities must submit a grant application package to 
FEMA. FEMA regions will work with the communities to complete this 
application package. The community must submit the application to the 
FEMA Regional Director on or before March 15, 1999.
    For State funding assistance, the State with a Project Impact 
community must submit a letter or memorandum to the Regional Director 
indicating its desire for funds to support the Project Impact community 
by convening an inclusive forum of State agencies for the purpose of 
developing an implementation strategy and commitment documents. This 
document will delineate comprehensive integration of mitigation in 
State agencies' daily operations. Additionally, the State should agree 
to coordinate and communicate with FEMA regions on Project Impact 
activities, meetings, etc.
    What criteria will FEMA apply to grant applications? For a 
designated

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community, we will review and negotiate with the local jurisdiction to 
determine whether the proposed activities would: (1) Reduce the 
likelihood of future disaster costs under the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, and (2) help sustain the 
community's momentum in broad-based mitigation efforts. We describe 
activities that the community may pursue in the previous section 
entitled ``What are mitigation measures.''
    A State with a Project Impact community must agree to use the funds 
in direct support of the Project Impact community and to convene 
statewide support for comprehensive hazard mitigation. For example, a 
State may use the FEMA funding to support Project Impact communities:
     To fund State activities in direct support of Project 
Impact communities such as travel, costs associated with logistics and 
meetings, and staff support;
     To fund State travel costs to FEMA Project Impact 
meetings;
     To fund training of State officials supporting Project 
Impact;
     To provide mini-grants to Project Impact communities to 
augment or expedite Project Impact activities;
     To fund travel of local community officials to other 
communities, state meetings or national conferences at State request to 
share Project Impact information;
     To fund State costs in information development and 
dissemination in support of Project Impact;
     To fund development of training packages for State and 
local officials;
     To fund expert, short-term technical assistance support to 
Project Impact communities.

    Dated: February 4, 1999.
Michael J. Armstrong,
Associate Director, Mitigation Directorate.
[FR Doc. 99-3639 Filed 2-12-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6718-04-P