[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 54 (Monday, March 20, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14973-14974]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-6847]


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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 is submitting a 
request for review and approval of an expired information collection. 
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 March 24, 
2000, for use through September 31, 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, we invite the 
general public to comment on the proposed collection of information. In 
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)), this notice seeks comments concerning the collection of 
information which will assist FEMA in monitoring program delivery to 
disaster applicants and complying with other Federal requirements 
(flood insurance, environmental assessments, and floodplain 
management).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act, Public Law 100-707; 44 CFR 206.13, effective 
March 21, 1989 and the interim IFG Program Federal regulations, are the 
statutory, regulatory and agency policies that covers why the program 
was established, why the data was collected is needed and the purpose 
of the data collection.

Collection of Information

    Title: Individual and Family Grant (IFG) Program Information.
    Type of Information Collection: Reinstatement, with change, of a 
previously approved collection for which approval has expired.
    OMB Number: 3067-0163.
    Form Numbers:
    FEMA Form 76-27, DARIS Entry Document, Initial Report, is initiated 
by the Region based on the data provided by the State. The State 
provides FEMA preliminary information on the IFG Program for staffing 
and management purposes. This report is completed once for each 
disaster, and establishes an account for each new IFG program.
    FEMA Form 76-28, DARIS Entry Document, Status Report, is completed 
by the State IFG staff and provided to the FEMA Regional Director. It 
serves as the framework for reviewing, analyzing and monitoring the 
progress of the program. The report tracks the number and dollar amount 
of applications approved by the State, the number and dollar amount of 
grants disbursed and the number of grants appealed. The data carried on 
this report is used to make determinations on the need for additional 
allocation and obligation of funds for program activity.
    FEMA Form 76-29, DARIS Entry Document, Final Statistical Report, 
captures information that constitutes a funding history by category of 
each IFG program. This data is critical for reports to OMB and the 
Congress. The information reveals the total IFG program cost. The form 
can also be used as a management tool to check on the States' record of 
accuracy in estimating IFG Program costs and in requesting advances. 
The State is responsible for completing the form, and the FEMA Region 
is responsible for entering the information into DARIS.
    FEMA Form 76-32, Worksheet for Case File Reviews, is utilized by 
State IFG personnel in reviewing five percent of all cases. FEMA 
requires the State to keep the information and on occasions makes 
requests to the States for information derived from the reviews.
    FEMA Form 76-34, Checklist for IFG Program Review, is used during 
the interview State of the IFG Mid-Program Review of the States' 
administration of the program. The form is completed by FEMA Human 
Services staff and is

[[Page 14974]]

designed as a guide for the reviewer. It covers all items that must be 
monitored by FEMA to ensure effective management of the IFG program.
    FEMA Form 76-38, Floodplain Management Analysis, Executive Orders 
11988, Floodplain Management Analysis, and 11990, Protection of 
Wetlands, place a responsibility on FEMA and the State to perform 
reviews before certain IFG assistance in the housing category can be 
approved. The review involves an eight step decision-making process if 
the action, such as providing funds for purchase of a mobile home and 
the location (prior to the disaster) of the unit could affect a 
floodplain or wetland. The State is responsible for completing steps 3 
and 4 of the process, while the Regions retains responsibility for 
steps 2, 6 and 7, with the State providing the background information 
for these three steps. Steps 1, 5 and 8 are jointly shared by the State 
and Region.
    Abstract. This collection of information is essential to the 
effective monitoring and management of the State administered IFG 
Program by FEMA Regional Office. FEMA Regional staff and Headquarters 
staff will utilize the information to effectively monitor and evaluate 
the States' administration of the IFG Program, thus enabling FEMA to 
assess compliance, consistency and uniformity with Federal 
requirements. It is FEMA's responsibility to ensure that States perform 
and adhere to FEMA regulations and policy guidance.
    Affected Public: Federal, State, Local or Tribal Governments.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 814 hours.

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                                                                                                 Annual burden
                     FEMA form No.                        No. of responses     Minutes per     hours  [(A  x  B)/
                                                                               response (B)           60]
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76-27..................................................                 40                 15              10.00
76-28..................................................               7200                  5             600.00
76-29..................................................                 40                 30              20.00
76-32..................................................                 40                 30              20.00
76-34..................................................                 40                240             160.00
76-38..................................................                  2                120               4.00
                                                                      7362                                814.00
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    Estimated Cost. The total estimated annual cost to the respondent 
States is $13,789.16. The cost is determined by the average hourly rate 
of a GS9/5 ($16.94) times the 814 estimated annual burden hours. The 
total estimated annual cost to the Federal Government is $9,213.25. The 
cost is determined from calculating the amount of time (5%) that a 
Senior Federal employee spends reviewing the accuracy the forms and 
multiplying it by their annual salary of roughly $80,000 (GS14/5). 
Then, we add it to the amount of time (25%) that a data entry clerk 
spends inputting these figures into our database (25%) and multiplying 
it by their annual salary of $20,853. (4,000+5,213.25=9,213.25) This 
cost covers all responses submitted by all respondents.
    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 email 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Charles D. Robinson, Branch 
Chief, Program Guidance and Implementation Branch, Human Services 
Division (202) 646-3649 for additional information. Contact Ms. 
Anderson at (202) 646-2625 for copies of the proposed collection of 
information.


    Dated: March 10, 2000.
Thomas Behm,
Acting Director, Program Services Division, Operations Support 
Directorate.
[FR Doc. 00-6847 Filed 3-17-00; 8:45 am]
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