[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 248 (Thursday, December 26, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78803-78805]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-32521]


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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 approval of a collection of information under 
the

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emergency processing procedures in the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) regulation 5 CFR 1320.13. FEMA is requesting that this 
information collection be approved by January 21, 2003. The approval 
will authorize FEMA to use the collection through July 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: Section 420 of the Robert R. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, Public Law 93-288, as 
amended, authorizes the President to provide assistance, including 
grants, equipment, supplies, and personnel, to any State for the 
suppression of any fire on publicly or privately-owned forest or 
grassland, which threatens such destruction as would constitute a major 
disaster. Under E.O. 12148, the President has delegated this authority 
to the Director of FEMA, who in turn has re-delegated the authority to 
the Response and Recovery Executive Associate Director. FEMA has issued 
regulations pertaining to fire suppression assistance (FSA) contained 
in 44 CFR part 206, subpart L.
    Collection of Information:
    Title: Request for Fire Suppression Assistance.
    Type of Information Collection: Reinstatement, with change, of a 
previously approved collection for which approval has expired.
    OMB Number: 3067-0066.
    Abstract: FEMA provides assistance for fire suppression of forest 
or grassland fires, which threatens destruction to life and/or improved 
property as would constitute a major disaster under Fire Suppression 
Assistance Program (FSAP). FEMA Form 20-10, Financial Status Report, is 
used by the Grantee during the closeout process to provide FEMA with a 
final reporting of costs under the FSAP. FEMA Form 90-91, Damage Survey 
Report, is prepared by the Principal Advisor, State Forester, and a 
FEMA representative upon termination of eligible fire suppression 
assistance. Standard Form (SF) 424, Federal Assistance (referred to by 
States as a Fire Project Application), is submitted by a State 
immediately after FEMA's Regional Director terminates fire suppression 
assistance. Standard Form 270, Request for Advance or Reimbursement, is 
used by the State as an option to receive funds. In addition, under 
Section 420 of the Stafford Act there must be a FEMA-State Agreement. 
Also, a State Administrative Plan must be developed by the State for 
the Administration of a Fire Suppression Assistance Grant. The plan 
must designate the State agency that will be responsible for the 
administration of the program and ensure compliance with the law and 
regulation applicable to (FSA) grants and ensure the administrative 
plan is incorporated into the State Emergency Plan. Applicants are 
required to notify FEMA of all benefits, actual or anticipated, 
received from other sources for the lost for which they are applying to 
FEMA for assistance. The State may appeal any cost or eligibility 
determination under the approved declaration within 60 days after 
receipt of the notice of action being appealed.
    Affected Public: State, local or tribal government.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours:

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                                            Respondents
         Information collection              per year         House per  response            Total burden
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FEMA-Statement Agreement................              11  1.5 hour..................  16.5 hours
Standard Form 424.......................              42  1 hour....................  42 hours
FEMA Form 20-10.........................              42  1 hour....................  42 hours
FEMA Form 90-91.........................              42  30 minutes................  21 hours
Standard Form 270 or Letter of Credit...               1  30 minutes................  30 minutes
State Administrative Plan...............              11  8 hour....................  88 hours
Hazard Mitigation Plan..................              11  160 hours.................  1,760 hours
Appeals.................................               1  1 hour....................  1 hour
Duplication of Benefits.................               1  1 hour....................  1 hour
    Estimated total.....................              42  ..........................  1,972
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    Estimated Cost: FEMA anticipate costs will be significantly less 
for the majority of applying States--approximately $500.00 per year for 
those States with State Administrative Plans and Hazard Mitigation 
Plans already developed as a requirement of receiving fire suppression 
assistance grants previously. A GS-12 at $23.94 per hour processes 6 
fire suppression assistance grants, it takes no more than 11 hours to 
process each grant from start to finish. Seven personnel processing 6 
grants = 42 grants x 11 hours = 462 hours x $23.94 = $11,060.28.
    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; (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 Addresses: 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 Addresses: 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: Requests for additional information

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contact Lorine Boardwine, Response and Recovery Directorate, at (202) 
646-2948. 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: December 17, 2002.
Edward W. Kernan,
Division Director, Information Resources Management Division, 
Information Technology Services Directorate.
[FR Doc. 02-32521 Filed 12-24-02; 8:45 am]
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