[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 204 (Tuesday, October 22, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64897-64898]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-26797]


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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 a reinstatement without change of a previously approved 
information collection for which approval has expired. In accordance 
with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), 
this notice seeks comments concerning the Individual and Family Grant 
(IFG) 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 information collection be approved by November 
4, 2002. The approval will authorize FEMA to use the collection through 
May 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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act, Pub. L. 93-288, as amended, and 44 CFR 
206.131 are the statutory and regulatory provisions that govern the 
program and the purpose of the data collection. The collection of 
information will assist FEMA in monitoring program delivery to disaster 
applicants and compliance with other Federal requirements--flood 
insurance, environmental assessments, and floodplain management.

Collection of Information

    Title: Individual and Family Grant (IFG) Program Administration 
Information.
    Type of Information Collection: Reinstatement of a previously 
approved collection, which has expired.
    OMB Number: 3067-0163.
    Form Numbers:
    FEMA Form 76-27, DARIS Entry Document, Initial Report, is initiated 
by the Region based on the data provided by the State. The State 
provides FEMA preliminary information on the IFG Program for staffing 
and management purposes. This report is completed once for each 
disaster, and establishes an account for each new IFG program.
    FEMA Form 76-28, DARIS Entry Document, Status Report, is completed 
by the State IFG staff and provided to the FEMA Regional Director. It 
serves as the framework for reviewing, analyzing and monitoring the 
progress of the program. The report tracks the number and dollar amount 
of applications approved by the State, the number and dollar amount of 
grants disbursed and the number of grants appealed. The data carried on 
this report is used to make determinations on the need for

[[Page 64898]]

additional allocation and obligation of funds for program activity.
    FEMA Form 76-29, DARIS Entry Document, Final Statistical Report, 
captures information that constitutes a funding history by category of 
each IFG program. This data is critical for reports to OMB and the 
Congress. The information reveals the total IFG program cost. The form 
can also be used as a management tool to check on the States' record of 
accuracy in estimating IFG Program costs and in requesting advances. 
The State is responsible for completing the form, and the FEMA Region 
is responsible for entering the information into DARIS.
    FEMA Form 76-32, Worksheet for Case File Reviews, is utilized by 
State IFG personnel in reviewing five percent of all cases. FEMA 
requires the State to keep the information and on occasion make 
requests to the States for information derived from the reviews.
    FEMA Form 76-34, Checklist for IFG Program Review, is used during 
the interview process of the IFG Mid-Program Review of the States' 
administration program. The form is completed by FEMA Recovery Division 
staff and is designed as a guide for the reviewer. It covers all items 
that must be monitored by FEMA to ensure effective management of the 
IFG program.
    FEMA Form 76-38, Floodplain Management Analysis, Executive Orders 
11988, Floodplain Management Analysis, and 11990, Protection of 
Wetlands, place a responsibility on FEMA and the State to perform 
reviews before certain IFG assistance in the housing category can be 
approved. The review involves an eight-step decision-making process if 
the action, such as providing funds for purchase of a mobile home and 
the location (prior to the disaster) of the unit could affect a 
floodplain or wetland. The State is responsible for completing steps 3 
and 4 of the process, while the Region retains responsibility for steps 
2, 6 and 7, with the State providing the background information for 
these three steps. Steps 1, 5 and 8 are jointly shared by the State and 
Region.
    Abstract: This collection of information is essential to the 
effective monitoring and management of the State administered IFG 
Program by FEMA Regional Office. FEMA Regional staff and Headquarters 
staff will utilize the information to effectively monitor and evaluate 
the States' administration of the IFG Program, thus enabling FEMA to 
assess compliance, consistency, and uniformity with Federal 
requirements. It is FEMA's responsibility of ensuring that the States 
perform and adhere to FEMA regulations and policy guidance.
    Affected Public: Federal, State, Local or Tribal Governments.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 814 hours.

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                                                                                                   Annual burden
                          FEMA form No.                               No. of        Minutes per    hours  [(A x
                                                                   responses (A)   response  (B)      B)/60]
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76-27...........................................................              40              15           10.00
76-28...........................................................            7200               5          600.00
76-29...........................................................              40              30           20.00
76-32...........................................................              40              30           20.00
76-34...........................................................              40             240          160.00
76-38...........................................................               2             120            4.00
                                                                 -----------------
                                                                            7362  ..............          814.00
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    Estimated Cost: The total estimated annual cost to the respondent 
States is $15,229.94. The cost is determined by the average hourly rate 
of a GS9/5 ($18.71) times the 814 estimated annual burden hours. The 
total estimated annual cost to the Federal Government is $ 9,213.25. 
The cost is determined from calculating the amount of time (5%) that a 
Senior Federal employee spends reviewing the accuracy the forms and 
multiplying it by their annual salary of roughly $80,000 (GS14/5). 
Then, we add it to the amount of time (25%) that a data entry clerk 
spends inputting these figures into our database (25 %) and multiplying 
it by their annual salary of $20,853. (4,000 + 5, 213.25 = 9,213.25) 
This cost covers all responses submitted by all respondents.
    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. Submit comments to the OMB within 30 days of 
the 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 Branch, Information Resources Management 
Division, Information Technology and Services Directorate, Federal 
Emergency Management Agency, 500 C Street, SW., Room 316, Washington, 
DC 20472.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Kenyatta Osman, Recovery 
Division, Response and Recovery Directorate, at (202) 646-4528. Contact 
Ms. Anderson at (202) 646-2625, facsimile number (202) 646-3347, or e-
mail address [email protected] for copies of the proposed 
collection of information.

    Dated: October 4, 2002.
Brenda Erickson,
Acting Director, Information Resource Management Division, Information 
Technology and Services Directorate.
[FR Doc. 02-26797 Filed 10-21-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6718-01-P