[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 163 (Thursday, August 22, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54422-54423]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-20961]


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FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Emergency Management Agency is submitting a 
request for review and approved of a collection of information in use 
without OMB approval. The Collection of information concerns FEMA's 
collecting information about the financial state of affairs and the 
housing plans of disaster victims. FEMA needs the information in order 
to effectively evaluate an applicant's need for mortgage and rental 
assistance provided under the Mortgage and Rental Assistance Program.
    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 August 
12, 2002. The approval will authorize FEMA to use the collection 
through February 28, 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

[[Page 54423]]

processing of the emergency and normal clearance submissions to OMB, 
FEMA invites the general public to comment on the 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 Mortgage and Rental Assistance Program 
is authorized by section 408(b) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, as amended. The program was 
established to allow the Federal government to assist disaster victims 
who, as a result of financial hardship caused by a major disaster, are 
unable to continue paying their mortgage or rent and are in jeopardy of 
being evicted or foreclosed. In order for FEMA to comply with the 
statutory criterion of financial hardship for the Mortgage and Rental 
Assistance Program, we must collect financial information on the 
disaster assistance applicant to determine the level of financial loss 
and if the applicant qualifies as a hardship.
    Collection of Information:
    Title: Mortgage and Rental Assistance Program.
    Type of Information Collection: Existing collection in use without 
OMB approval.
    Forms: MRA Financial Certification; MRA Certification of Household 
Income; MRA Request for Additional Assistance; MRA Notice of 
Delinquency.
    Abstract: Individuals requesting mortgage and rental assistance, 
will be required to provide, in writing, information about their 
financial state of affairs and their housing plans to that FEMA can 
effectively evaluate their need for mortgage and rental assistance. The 
requested information from the applicant is not available from any 
other source. The information collected has limited use and is only 
applicable to FEMA's Mortgage and Rental Assistance Program. The 
information collected from the applicant will be used exclusively for 
reviewing the financial loss of the applicant and making eligibility 
decisions. A FEMA disaster housing officer will review the information 
submitted in accordance with established program criteria and 
procedures.
    Affected Public: Individuals and households.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 10,200 hours.

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                                        Number of     Frequency of                                 Annual burden
   Information collection request      respondents      response          Time per response            hours
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MRA Financial Certification........            2550               1  120 minutes................            5100
MRA Certification of Household                 2550               1  60 minutes.................            2550
 Income.
MRA Request for Additional                     2550               1  30 minutes.................            1275
 Assistance.
MRA Notice of Delinquency..........            2550               1  30 minutes.................            1275
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    Total..........................           2,550               1  Avg. 1 hr..................          10,200
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    Estimated Cost: The total estimated annual cost to the applicant is 
$105, 774.00. The cost is determined by the average hourly rate of 
$10.37 (average wage plus the price of a stamp) times the 10,200 
estimated annual burden hours.
    Comments: Written comments are solicited to (a) evaluate whether 
the proposed data collection is necessary for the proper performance 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. Submit comments to OMB 
within 30-days of the publication date of this notice. To ensure that 
FEMA is fully aware of any comments or concerns that you share with 
OMB, please provide us with a copy of your comments. FEMA will continue 
to accept comments for 60 days from the date of this notice.
    OMB Addressee: Interested persons should submit written comments to 
the Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Attention: Desk Officer for the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency, 725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503.
    FEMA Addressee: Submit written comments to Muriel B. Anderson, 
Chief, Records Management Section, Program Services and System Branch, 
Facilities Management and Services Division, Administration and 
Resource Planning Directorate, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 500 
C Street, SW., Room 316, Washington, DC 20472 or via e-mail at 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact David Porter, Programs 
Specialist, Community and Family Services Branch, Recovery Division, 
Readiness, Response and Recovery Directorate, Federal Emergency 
Management Agency, at telephone number (202) 646-3939 for additional 
information. You may contact Ms. Anderson for copies of the proposed 
collection of information at telephone number (202) 646-2625, FAX 
number (202) 646-3347, or email address: 
[email protected].

    Dated: August 6, 2002.
Reginald Trujillo,
Branch Chief, Program Services and Systems Branch, Facilities 
Management and Services Division, Administration and Resource Planning 
Directorate.
[FR Doc. 02-20961 Filed 8-21-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6718-01-M