[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 53 (Monday, March 19, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15478-15479]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-6673]


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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 Emergency Management Exercise 
Reporting System (EMERS) which collects data on the results of a State 
or local exercise or actual disaster response.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EMERS was designed in 1992 as a means of 
capturing information on the positive and negative results based on the 
conduct of an emergency management exercise or an actual disaster 
response. The revised EMERS 2.0 is an automated data collection 
software program that is Windows-based and will allow State and local 
emergency managers to download the program from a FEMA web site. It is 
based on 13 functional areas: Alert/Notification (Emergency Response); 
Warning (Public); Communication; Coordination/Control; Emergency Public 
Information; Damage Assessment; Health & Medical; Individual/Family 
Assistance; Public Safety; Public Works/Engineering; Transportation; 
Resource Management; and Continuity of Government.
    The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance 
Act, (Public Law 93-288, as amended) title III, section 313, states:

    The President shall conduct annual reviews of activities of 
Federal agencies and State and local governments in major disaster 
and emergency preparedness and in providing major disaster and 
emergency assistance in order to assure maximum coordination and 
effectiveness of such program and consistency in policies for 
reimbursement of States under this Act.

Title VI, section 613 (a)(5) concerning financial contributions to 
States for necessary and essential State and local emergency 
preparedness personnel and administrative expenses provides that the 
State ``shall make such report in such form and content as the Director 
may require.''

Collection of Information

    Title: Emergency Management Exercise Reporting System (EMERS).
    Type of Information Collection: Reinstatement, with change of a 
previously approved collection for which approval has expired.
    OMB Number: 3067-0248.
    Form Numbers: 95-44.
    Abstract: EMERS is an automated data collection software program 
that captures the positive and negative results of emergency management 
exercises and actual disaster occurrences. This data is used to analyze 
the capabilities of State and local governments to respond to 
disasters. FEMA will use this data to determine areas of strengths and 
weaknesses and actions that can be taken at the national level to 
improve programs that deliver funding to State and local governments. 
State and local governments use EMERS data to track exercise activity 
on an annual basis and to use the lessons learned for the development 
of corrective action plans, strategic planning and budgeting.
    Affected Public: State, Local and/or Tribal Government.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 4,668.
    Estimated Cost: Cost to the Federal Government is $122,449. The 
cost to State and local governments is $89,700.

[[Page 15479]]

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, Chief, Records Management Branch, Program Services 
Division, Operations Support Directorate, Federal Emergency Management 
Agency, 500 C Street, SW., Room 316, Washington, DC 20472.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bruce Hildebrand, Preparedness, 
Training & Exercises Directorate, Readiness Division, Program 
Development Branch, 500 C Street, SW., Washington, DC, or call (202) 
646-3114 or email [email protected] for additional information. 
Contact Ms. Anderson at (202) 646-2625 or by facsimile number (202) 
646-3524 or by email [email protected] for copies of the 
proposed collection of information.

    Dated: March 12, 2001.
Reginald Trujillo,
Director, Program Services Division, Operations Support Directorate.
[FR Doc. 01-6673 Filed 3-16-01; 8:45 am]
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