[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
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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