[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 172 (Tuesday, September 7, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48636-48637]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-23180]


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FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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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 proposed revised information collections. In accordance 
with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), 
this notice seeks comments concerning the collection requirements for 
participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Community 
Rating System (CRS).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NFIP began in 1968. A central element in 
the NFIP is the promotion and implementation of a sound local 
floodplain management program. Communities must adopt minimum 
floodplain management standards in order to participate in the NFIP and 
receive the benefits of flood insurance. The Community Rating System 
(CRS) was designed by FEMA to encourage, through the use of flood 
insurance premium discounts, communities and states to undertake 
activities that will mitigate flooding and flood damage, beyond the 
minimum standards for NFIP participation. The National Flood Insurance 
Reform Act of 1994 codified the CRS.
    The NFIP/CRS Coordinator's Manual includes a schedule and 
commentary. The Application Worksheets and CRS Application are 
published separately. Communities will use the manuals to apply for 
activity points leading up to a CRS rating and commensurate flood 
insurance premium discounts. The schedule describes the floodplain 
management and insurance activities available to qualifying communities 
that undertake the selected additional activities that will reduce 
flood losses. To apply, communities submit to FEMA the attached 
application worksheets and requisite documentation. Once approved, the 
applications are reviewed and field verified by Insurance Service 
Organization (ISO), Commercial Risk Services, Inc., an insurance 
industry service organization with varied experience, especially with 
community fire rating.

Collection of Information

    Title: Community Rating System (CRS) Program--Application 
Worksheets and Commentary.
    Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved 
collection.
    OMB Number: 3067-0195.
    Form Numbers: FEMA Form 81-83, FIA 15.
    Abstract: The CRS Program establishes a system for FEMA to grade 
communities' floodplain management activities to determine flood 
insurance rates for communities. Communities exercising floodplain 
management activities that exceed Federal minimum standards qualify for 
lower insurance rates.
    The January 1999 edition of the NFIP CRS Coordinator's Manual 
contains instructions for preparing the application worksheets that 
will be used to apply to the CRS Program for the 1999 through 2001 
calendar years. The Application Worksheets and CRS Application are 
published separately. Communities will use the manuals to apply for 
activity points leading up to a CRS rating and commensurate flood 
insurance premium discounts. The schedule describes the floodplain 
management and insurance activities available to qualifying communities 
that undertake the selected additional activities that will reduce 
flood losses. Annually, all CRS participating communities must certify 
they are maintaining the activities for which they receive credit.
    Affected Public: State, Local, or Tribal Government.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 9,260.

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                                                     Number of
                   FEMA forms                       respondents    Frequency of      Hours per     Annual burden
                                                        (A)        response  (B)   response  (C)  hours  (A B C)
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81-83 (New, Modified and Cycle Applications)....             220               1              29           6,380
81-83 (Recertification Applications)............             720               1               4           2,880
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................             940  ..............  ..............           9,260
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[[Page 48637]]

    Estimated Cost: There is no cost to communities for this collection 
other than staff time, which, is part of their normal floodplain 
management duties.

Comments

    Written 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. 
Comments should be received within 60 days of the date of this notice.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons should submit written comments to Muriel 
B. Anderson, FEMA Information Collections Officer, Federal Emergency 
Management Agency, 500 C Street, SW, Room 316, Washington, DC 20472. 
Telephone number (202) 646-2625. FAX number (202) 646-3524 or e:mail 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Bret Gates, CRS Coordinator, 
Mitigation Directorate, Federal Emergency Management Agency, at (202) 
646-4133, or by e:mail at [email protected] for additional 
information. Contact Ms. Anderson at (202) 646-2625 for copies of the 
proposed collection of information.

    Dated: August 25, 1999.
Reginald Trujillo,
Director, Program Services Division, Operations Support Directorate.
[FR Doc. 99-23180 Filed 9-3-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6718-01-P