[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 115 (Friday, June 14, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40925-40926]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-15051]


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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 (FEMA), 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 a proposed new collection of information. This notice 
seeks comments concerning the creation and use of evaluation forms for 
arbitrators and claimants. 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 collection of 
information be approved by July 7, 2002. The approval will authorize 
FEMA to use the collection through January 31, 2003..
    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: The Cerro Grande Fire Assistance Act is 
authorized under Public Law 106-246, Division C, and is implemented by 
FEMA regulation 44 CFR 295.46. The Act establishes the Cerro Grande 
Fire Claim Program to provide assistance to claimants who were 
adversely impacted when the National Park Service's prescribed burn 
flared out of control at Bandolier National Monument, New Mexico, on 
May 4, 2000. This collection of information surveys claimants and 
arbitrators who participate in the Agency's Alternative Dispute 
Resolution process. The survey questionnaires provide feedback to the 
Agency on customer satisfaction and for program quality improvement 
purposes. It will assist us in complying with goals and objectives of 
the Government Performance Results Act (GPRA).

Collection of Information

    Title: Cerro Grande Arbitrator Questionnaire and Cerro Grande 
Claimant Questionnaire.
    Type of Information Collection: New.
    Abstract: The survey questionnaires will be used to gather 
information on how satisfied participants are with the arbitration 
currently in place. The respective arbitrator and claimant will be 
asked to complete the survey questionnaire and submit it to FEMA's 
Alternative Dispute Resolution Office after arbitration. This is 
strictly voluntary. The information will be collected over the course 
of the year and submitted to the Office of General Counsel in an End of 
Year Report. The information will also be formulated to answer specific 
questions regarding the satisfaction with the program. The information 
will also provide ways to improve the program so that it continues to 
provide a fair resolution to the claimant's problems and that its 
processes are the least burdensome and the most time- and cost-
effective to the claimant, the arbitrator, and to the Federal 
Government.
    Affected Public: Individuals and households; business or other for-
profit; not-for-profit institutions; farms; Federal government; and 
State, local or tribal governments.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 205 hours.

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                                                     Number of     Frequency of      Hours per     Annual burden
                   FEMA forms                       respondents      response        response          hours
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                                                             (A)             (B)             (C)     (A x B-x C)
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Arbitrators.....................................             420              *1             .25             105
Claimants.......................................             400               1             .25             100
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................             428  ..............             .25             205

    Estimated Cost: The total estimated burden hours is 205 hours based 
on 428 respondents surveyed once (arbitrators' frequency of response 
refers to one response per case/arbitration). Arbitrators hourly rate 
is estimated at $150, or $38 per arbitration. The estimated total 
annual cost for arbitrators is $15,960. The cost for claimants is 
estimated at $13.42 per hour or $3.50 per response. The estimated total 
annual cost for claimants is $1,400.
    Comments: Written comments are solicited to (a) evaluate whether 
the

[[Page 40926]]

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 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Cindy Mazur, ADR Specialist, 
Federal Emergency Management Agency, 202/646-4094, for additional 
information. You may contact Ms. Anderson for copies of the proposed 
collection of information at telephone number (202) 646-2625 or 
facsimile number (202) 646-3347 or e-mail: [email protected].

    Dated: June 7, 2002.
Muriel B. Anderson,
Acting Branch Chief, Program Services and Systems Branch, Facilities 
and Services Management Division, Administration and Resource Planning 
Directorate.
[FR Doc. 02-15051 Filed 6-13-02; 8:45 am]
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