[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 115 (Friday, June 14, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40926-40927]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-15052]


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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 the proposed continuation of a 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 renewal of 
the National Flood Insurance Program Biennial Report forms.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FEMA is seeking to extend the use of the 
National Flood Insurance Program Biennial Report forms, which is 
required by FEMA regulation 44 CFR 59.22(b)(2). The regulation requires 
that communities participating in the National Flood Insurance Program 
submit an annual or biennial report describing the progress made during 
the year in the implementation and enforcement of floodplain management 
regulations. FEMA has decided that the data be collected on a biennial 
rather than annual reporting cycle. The data collected on the Biennial 
Report forms will also be used to assess the need to revise and update 
all floodplain areas and flood risk zones identified, delineated, or 
established under section 1360 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 
1968.

Collection of Information

    Title: National Flood Insurance Program--Biennial Report.
    Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved 
collection.
    OMB Number: 3067-0018.
    Form Numbers: FEMA 81-28, Emergency and Regular Program (Minimally 
Floodprone); FEMA Form 81-29, Regular Program (with Base Flood 
Elevations); and FEMA Form 81-29A, Regular Program (No Special Flood 
Hazard Areas Designated).
    Abstract: The National Flood Insurance Program Biennial Report 
forms provide information on changes to each participating community's 
flood hazard area, which may include new corporate boundaries, changes 
in flood hazard areas, new floodplain management measures, and changes 
in the rate of floodplain development. The information is also used to 
evaluate the effectiveness of a community's floodplain management 
activities by analyzing the number of variances and floodplain permits 
granted by each community against other information in the Biennial 
Report and the FEMA Community Information System. FEMA regional offices 
use the information to provide technical assistance to communities 
implementing a floodplain management program. Information from the 
forms will be input in FEMA's Mapping Needs Update Support System 
(MNUSS) for use in ranking and prioritizing one community's mapping 
needs against all other communities in the National Flood Insurance 
Program to determine how the limited flood hazard mapping funds will be 
allocated for map updates. Communities will have the option of 
responding on-line through a FEMA website or completing the paper forms 
and returning them via the mail system.
    Affected Public: State, local, or Tribal Government.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: Annual burden ranges from 
8,925 `` 13,641 hours with an average of 11,283 hours per year (one-
half of the biennial burden hours.)

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                                                         Frequency of
              FEMA form                  Number of         response       Estimated hours per    Biennial burden
                                         responses        (biennial)            response              hours
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81-28, Section II Only..............            5,317                1  35 minutes.............            3,099
81-29, Section II Only..............           12,124                1  63 minutes.............           12,773
81-28, or 81-29.....................       3,059-7308                1  .05-1.5 hours..........     1,530-10,962
Section I, Estimated average........            5,184  ...............  1 hour.................            5,184
8-29A...............................            2,246                1  12 minutes.............              449
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    Total Biennial Hours............    22,746-26,995                1  .......................    17,851-27,283
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    Estimated average...............           24,871  ...............  .......................           22,567
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[[Page 40927]]

    Estimated average Estimated Annual Cost to Respondents: Costs range 
from $135,503--$269,234 with an average of $202,369 (one-half of the 
biennial estimated costs). Costs include: respondent's cost at $20.00 
per hour to complete section II of FEMA Form 81-28 or 81-29 or FEMA 
Form 81-29A; responses to Section I of FEMA Form 81-28 or 82-29 at 
$20.00 per hour; mailing cost at $.34 to return the form; and mailing 
costs to return supplementary materials or oversized items at $3.00 per 
response.
    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 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 William Lesser, Federal 
Insurance and Mitigation Administration, (202) 646-2807, for additional 
information. Contact Ms. Anderson at (202) 646-2625 (voice), (202) 646-
3347(facsimile), or e-mail address: [email protected] for copies 
of the proposed collection of information.

    Dated: June 7, 2002.
Muriel B. Anderson,
Acting Chief, Program Services and Systems Branch, Facilities 
Management and Services Division, Administration and Resource Planning 
Directorate.
[FR Doc. 02-15052 Filed 6-13-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6718-01-P