[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 203 (Friday, October 19, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53221-53222]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-26431]


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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), Inc., an insurance industry service organization 
with varied experience, especially with community fire rating.

Collection of Information

    Title: Community Rating System (CRS) Program--Application Policy, 
Instructions, and Worksheets.
    Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved 
collection.
    OMB Number: 3067-0195.
    Document Numbers: FEMA FIA 15 and 15A.
    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 
were used to apply to the CRS Program for the 1999 through 2001 
calendar years. We are coordinating with the public the draft January 
2002 edition for comments on the collections of information and all 
approved comments will be incorporated into the final January 2002 
manual, to be effective January 2002-December 2004. 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                                     Annual burden
             Application worksheets                 respondents      Frequency       Hours per     hours  (A  x
                                                        (A)        response  (B)   response  (C)     B  x  C)
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New, Modified and Cycle Applications............             220               1              29           6,380
Recertification Applications....................             720               1               4           2,880
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................             940  ..............  ..............           9,260
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    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

[[Page 53222]]

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 Section, Program Services and 
Systems Branch, Facilities Management and Services Division, 
Administration and Resource Planning Directorate, 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, 
Federal Insurance & Mitigation Administration, 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: October 11, 2001.
Reginald Trujillo,
Director, Program Services Division, Operations Support Directorate.
[FR Doc. 01-26431 Filed 10-18-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6718-01-P