[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 129 (Wednesday, July 5, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 41466]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-16911]


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FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY


Notice of Field Test of the State Management of the Public 
Assistance Operations in Small Disasters

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: We (FEMA) give notice that we will field test the devolution 
of major management responsibility of the Public Assistance Program to 
interested States in small disasters beginning on or after July 1, 
2000. We award Public Assistance grants, which supplement community 
assets in the recovery of State, local and eligible private non-profit 
infrastructure when the President declares an emergency or major 
disaster. The proposed change in the program management does not 
constitute changes to the process by which assistance is provided nor 
does it constitute a change in benefits under the law or regulation.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James A. Walke, Engineering Branch 
Chief, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Washington D.C. 20472, 202-
646-2751 (phone), 202-646-3304 (fax), or [email protected] (e-mail).

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2000.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act provides for the award of grants to assist in 
the repair and reconstruction of community infrastructure. With the 
help of State officials, we have explored the option of having capable 
States manage the Public Assistance Program in small disasters. 
However, before formally instituting the option of devolving this 
responsibility, we will field test the concept in selected disasters 
occurring on or after July 1, 2000, to validate the concept and to 
determine whether additional refinements are necessary. State 
participation in the field test(s) will be voluntary. FEMA and an 
affected State will enter into an operational agreement for the field 
test after the State elects to manage the disaster and FEMA determines 
that the State is capable. The operational agreement will define the 
roles and responsibilities of both the State and FEMA as well as the 
processes and procedures in effect under the agreement.
    Under this initiative, a capable State will manage the Public 
Assistance Program operation, including project eligibility reviews, 
process control, and resource allocation on small disasters. We will 
retain obligation authority, final approval of environmental and 
historic preservation reviews, and we will help the State to the extent 
that the State requests such assistance. We and the State will conduct 
on-going quality control checks of a sample of Project Worksheets to 
ensure accurate eligibility decisions, scopes of work, and cost 
estimates. A Quality Assurance Team consisting of our and State staff 
will evaluate the Public Assistance recovery operation and determine 
the level of success of the pilot program. We will develop evaluation 
criteria before the pilot program and will include the criteria in the 
operational agreement.

    Dated: June 20, 2000.
Lacy E. Suiter,
Executive Associate Director, Response and Recovery Directorate.
[FR Doc. 00-16911 Filed 7-3-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6718-02-P