[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) 
[email protected].

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:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Disaster
                     State                          No.      Allocation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
                                                           -------------
    Total......................................              189,665,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[*] $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