[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 184 (Monday, September 23, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59520-59521]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-24082]


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FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency.

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 new 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 development of the Fire and 
Emergency Services

[[Page 59521]]

Higher Education Academic Fire Programs Database using a survey 
instrument.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As chief officer promotional requirements 
for bachelor's degree in U.S. fire departments increases, so do 
interest in the academic fire programs that offer them. Moreover, the 
work schedules of fire fighters oftentimes direct them to distance 
education programs as alternative to traditional programs. Likewise, 
since the events of September 11, increased interest in fire fighting 
as a career choice may drive up enrollments in two- and four-year 
colleges offering degrees in fire science and fire administration.
    All of these factors contribute to a national need for this 
database and the consequence of not doing this project is an unmet need 
of an important constituency. Finally, the Government Performance and 
Results Act require our measuring program results. The program office 
has established four areas of measurement, of which this survey will 
directly support one.

Collection of Information

    Title: Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education Academic Fire 
Programs Database and Performance Measurement.
    Type of Collection: New.
    Form Numbers: To be assigned.
    Abstract: Over the past fifteen years the role and scope of the 
fire service has changed considerably. Increasingly, fire department 
responses have changed from mainly structural fires to responding to a 
wide variety of incidents such as medical calls, hazardous materials 
incidents, and advanced rescues. The tragic events of September 11, 
2001, further changed its role and scope as fire departments begin to 
prepare for future terrorist acts. The fire service is in a critical 
period as it attempts to provide efficient and effective service 
delivery at the same time as expanding services. To meet these new 
challenges, fire service related organizations must work together at 
the local, state, and national level. One such area where collaboration 
among and between fire services related organizations is lacking is 
Training an Education. The U.S. Fire Administration's National Fire 
Academy has taken a lead role in coordinating and supporting 
communication between degree programs and interaction between state 
training agencies and degree programs.
    This study will help this process by providing the fire service 
community with descriptive data on fire service degree programs from 
which to begin cooperative planning. The information collected as part 
of this study will provide baseline data for future studies allowing 
for more accurate tracking of trends. In addition, institutions 
offering fire service degree programs can use this information as a 
benchmark and/or for comparing their program to national averages. 
Policymakers at the state and national level can use the information 
gathered to initiate and/or support program and legislative 
initiatives.
    Affected Public: Individuals or heads of households, Not-for-profit 
institutions:
    The three audiences for whom the survey is intended are:
    (1) Potential students looking for a fire-related degree program;
    (2) Fire Science Coordinators looking to start or revamp their 
programs; and
    (3) Researchers of fire degree-related information, e.g., students 
working on term papers, fire service textbook publishers, Executive 
Fire Officer Program Papers and others.
    As Not-for-Profit Institutions, colleges and universities offering 
fire-related degree programs are the recipients of the survey 
instruments.
    Number of Respondents: 332.
    Hour Burden Per Respondent: 45 minutes to complete initial survey 
and 30 minutes to complete annual updates.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: Range from 166-249 hours with 
an average of 208 hours.
    Estimated Cost to the Federal Government: $75,412.50.
    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 and Services Management Division, 
Administration and Resource Planning Directorate, Federal Emergency 
Management Agency, 500 C Street, SW, Room 316, Washington, DC 20472.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Edward J. Kaplan, Education 
Specialist, U. S. Fire Administration, 16825 S. Seton Ave., Emmitsburg, 
MD 21727 or at [email protected] 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 information collection.

    Dated: September 16, 2002.
Reginald Trujillo,
Branch Chief, Program Services and Systems Branch, Facilities and 
Services Management Division, Administration and Resource Planning 
Directorate.
[FR Doc. 02-24082 Filed 9-20-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6718-01-P