[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 243 (Monday, December 20, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71138-71139]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-32854]


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FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Emergency Management Agency is submitting a 
request for review and approval of an expired information collection. 
The information collection concerns the certification of basements as 
floodproofed by licensed engineers of architects. This certification is 
normally performed during or immediately following construction of a 
house.
    The request is submitted under the emergency processing procedures 
in Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulation 5 CFR 1320.13. FEMA 
is requesting that this information collection be approved by December 
17, 1999. The approval will authorize FEMA to use the collection 
through June 30, 2000.
    FEMA plans to follow this emergency request with a request for a 3-
year approval. The request will be processed under OMB's normal 
clearance procedures in accordance with the provisions of OMB 
regulation 5 CFR 1320.10. To help us with the timely processing of the 
emergency and normal clearance submissions to OMB, FEMA invites the 
general public to comment on the proposed collection of information. 
This notice and request for comments is in accordance with the 
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the floodplain management regulations 
of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) at 44 CFR 60.3, 
communities that participate in the NFIP must ensure that all new 
construction in Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) has the lowest floor 
elevation to or above the 100-year flood elevation, or Base Flood 
Elevation (BFE). This requirement is to ensure that the risks to new 
buildings in SFHAs is sufficiently small that frequent flood losses are 
reduced and flood insurance can be made available at reasonable rates. 
However at 44 CFR 60.6 (c), regulations allow communities to apply for 
an exception to permit the construction of floodproofed residential 
basements in SFHAs. If the community meets the criteria for an 
exception as described in 44 CFR 60.6 (d) (2) (i)-(iii), the community 
requests and receives an exception from FEMA that will allow 
floodproofed basements to be built in SFHAs in the community. 
Construction

[[Page 71139]]

of a floodproofed basement requires specific design attention to 
materials, flood loads, and openings where floodwaters may enter a 
basement. When a community is granted an exception to allow 
floodproofed basements it agrees that an engineer and architect will 
properly certify that these basements are in fact floodproofed. In 
addition, this certificate is also presented to the flood insurance 
agent by the homeowner so that the homeowner receives the 
``discounted'' rate applicable to floodproofed basements. The 
homeowner, community official and the insurance agent normally retain a 
copy of this form for recordkeeping only. Collection of Information
    Title: Residential Basement Floodproofing Certificate.
    Type of Information Collection: Reinstatement of a previously 
approved collection of information.
    OMB Number: 3067-0235.
    Form Number: FEMA Form 81-78, Residential Basement Floodproofing 
Certificate.
    Abstract. The certificate provides licensed design professionals a 
standard means of certifying the construction of floodproofed basements 
below the Base Flood Elevation. This certificate is only used in 
communities participating in the National Flood Insurance Program who 
have been granted a ``basement'' exception. The homeowner must pay for 
the cost of the certification.
    Affected Public: This affects individuals who are in communities 
with ``basement'' exceptions and who build houses with basements in 
Special Flood Hazard Areas. Communities who have been granted these 
``basement'' exceptions also keep copies of the certificate to ensure 
compliance with local floodplain management ordinances.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours. 163 hours (50 respondents x 
3.25 hours per response. The respondents are engineers or architects 
who complete the form as a professional service to a homeowner. There 
are three inspections during the construction of a flood proof 
basement. Each inspection is estimated to be 45 minutes, plus one hour 
for the review of basement design documentation and recordkeeping by 
insurance agents and community officials.)
    Estimated Cost to Respondents. $16,250.00 (The estimated cost of a 
professional engineering service is $100. That cost multiplied by 
3.25--the hour burden per respondent--equals $325 per homeowner to 
obtain professional engineering services.)
    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; (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. Submit comments to OMB within 30 days of the 
date of this notice. To ensure that FEMA is fully aware of any comments 
or concerns that you share with OMB, please provide us with a copy of 
your comments. FEMA will continue to accept comments for 60 days from 
the date of this notice.
    OMB Addressee: Interested persons should submit written comments to 
the Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Attention: Desk Officer for the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency, 725 17th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20503.
    FEMA Addressee: 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 Paul Tertell, Civil Engineer, 
Program Policy and Assessment Branch, Mitigation Division, 202-646-3935 
for additional information. Contact Ms. Anderson at (202) 646-2625 for 
copies of the proposed collection of information.

    Dated: December 6, 1999.
Reginald Trujillo,
Director, Program Services Division, Operations Support Directorate.
[FR Doc. 99-32854 Filed 12-17-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6718-01-P