[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 41 (Monday, March 3, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10018-10020]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-4903]


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FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY


Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program

AGENCY: Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration, Federal 
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

ACTION: Notice of availability of Pre-Disaster Mitigation planning 
grants.

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SUMMARY: FEMA gives notice of the availability of mitigation planning 
grants for fiscal year (FY) 2003 under the Pre-Disaster Mitigation 
(PDM) Program, authorized by section 203 of the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act), 42 U.S.C. 
5133, as amended by section 102 of the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 
(DMA), Public Law 106-390, 114 Stat. 1552. Consolidated Appropriations 
Resolution, 2003, H.J. Res. 2 (February 20, 2003), directs FEMA to 
provide $250,000 of the FY 2003 appropriation to each of the fifty 
States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, 
Guam, and American Samoa for eligible State and local (to include 
Indian Tribal governments) hazard mitigation planning. However, a 
general provision in the law directs that every program, project, and 
activity be reduced by .65 percent. Therefore, the maximum Federal 
share is $248,375.
    FEMA will contribute up to 75 percent of the cost of activities 
approved for funding up to a maximum of $248,375. At least 25 percent 
of the total eligible costs must be provided from a non-Federal source. 
There will be no additional FEMA funding available for cost overruns.
    All contributions, cash and in-kind, are accepted as part of the 
non-Federal matching share. Except as allowed by Federal statute, no 
other Federal funds can be used as a match. Requirements for in-kind 
contributions can be found in 44 CFR 13.24. In-kind contributions must 
be comprised of eligible program costs. The following documentation is 
required for in-kind contributions: record of source of donor, dates, 
rates, amounts, and deposit slips (cash contributions only).
    Grants awarded to small, impoverished communities may receive a 
Federal cost share of up to 90 percent of the total cost to implement 
eligible PDM activities. A small, impoverished community must meet all 
of the following criteria:
    [sbull] It must be a community of 3,000 or fewer individuals that 
is identified by the State as a rural community, and is not a remote 
area within the corporate boundaries of a larger city;
    [sbull] It must be economically disadvantaged, with residents 
having an average per capita annual income not exceeding 80 percent of 
national per capita income, based on best available data;
    [sbull] It must have a local unemployment rate that exceeds by one 
percentage point or more, the most recently reported, average yearly 
national unemployment rate; and
    [sbull] It must meet any other factors as determined by the State 
in which the community is located.

DATES: Each of the fifty States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, 
the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa must submit a grant 
application to the appropriate FEMA Regional Office by April 30, 2003. 
If an applicant cannot meet the April 30, 2003, application deadline 
due to budget issues related to cost share, a letter of intent must be 
submitted to the Regional Director by April 30, 2003. The letter should 
indicate the intent to submit a FY 2003 PDM planning grant application, 
include an explanation of relevant budget issues, and provide a list of 
proposed activities and sub-grantees. Grant applications from 
applicants that submit a letter of intent by April 30, 2003, are due to 
FEMA by July 31, 2003.

ADDRESSES: FEMA Regional Offices:

Serving Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and 
Massachusetts: FEMA Region I, Federal Regional Center, Building A, 63 
Old Marlboro Road, Maynard, MA 01754-2147.

Serving New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands: 
FEMA Region II, 26 Federal Plaza, Rm. 1337, New York, NY 10278-0002.

Serving the District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, 
Virginia, and West Virginia: FEMA Region III, 1 Independence Mall, 6th 
Floor, 615 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106-4404.

Serving Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North 
Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee: FEMA Region IV, 3003 Chamblee 
Tucker Road, Atlanta, GA 30341.

Serving Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin: 
FEMA Region V, 536 S. Clark Street, 6th Floor, Chicago, IL 60605.

Serving Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas: FEMA 
Region VI, FRC 800 North Loop 288, Denton, TX 76201-3698.

Serving Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska: FEMA Region VII, 2323 
Grand Avenue, Suite 900, Kansas City, MO 64108.

Serving Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and 
Wyoming: FEMA Region VIII, Denver Federal Center, Building 710, Box 
25267, Denver, CO 80225-0267.

Serving Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, the Territory of American 
Samoa, the Territory of Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States 
of Micronesia: FEMA Region IX, Building 105, Presidio of San Francisco, 
San Francisco, CA 94129-1250.

Serving Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington: FEMA Region X, Federal 
Regional Center, 130 228th Street, SW., Bothell, WA 98021-979.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Margaret Lawless, Program Planning and 
Delivery Division, Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration, 
FEMA, 500 C Street, SW., Room 401, Washington, DC 20472, (202) 646-3027 
or E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Appropriations

    Consolidated Appropriations Resolution, 2003, H.J. Res. 2 (February

[[Page 10019]]

20, 2003), directs FEMA to provide $250,000 of the $150M appropriated 
in FY 2003 for each of the fifty States, the District of Columbia, 
Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa for eligible 
State and local (to include Indian tribal governments) hazard 
mitigation planning. However, a general provision in the law directs 
that every program, project, and activity be reduced by .65 percent. 
Therefore, the maximum Federal share is $248,375. We are requesting 
applications for mitigation planning grants from these entities.

Background

    44 CFR part 201, Hazard Mitigation Planning, establishes criteria 
for State and local hazard mitigation planning, pursuant to section 322 
of the Stafford Act, as amended by section 104 of the DMA. After 
November 1, 2003, FEMA-approved local mitigation plans will be required 
as a condition of receiving Pre-Disaster Mitigation grants for local 
mitigation project grants. After November 1, 2004, a FEMA-approved 
Standard State mitigation plan will be required as a condition of 
receiving Pre-Disaster Mitigation grants for State and local mitigation 
project activities. The Standard State Mitigation Plan will also be 
required for non-emergency assistance provided under the Stafford Act, 
including Public Assistance restoration of damaged facilities and 
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding. Therefore, the development of 
State and local multi-hazard mitigation plans is key to maintaining 
eligibility for future FEMA mitigation funding.
    For FY 2003 PDM planning funds, awards will be governed by H.J. 
Res. 2 (February 20, 2003), section 203 of the Stafford Act, this 
notice, and program guidance, which will be made available to the 
public on the FEMA Internet site: http://www.fema.gov.

Applicant Eligibility

    Each of the fifty States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, 
the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa is eligible to apply to 
FEMA for assistance as a grantee under this Notice of Funds 
Availability.
    Local governments and Indian Tribal governments should consult the 
official designated point of contact in their State/Territory for more 
information on the process the State requires to be followed in 
applying for assistance.
    All applicants must be participating in the National Flood 
Insurance Program (NFIP) if they have been identified through the NFIP 
as having a Special Flood Hazard Area (a Flood Hazard Boundary Map 
(FHBM) or Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) has been issued). In 
addition, the community must not be suspended or on probation from the 
NFIP (except as directed by H.J. Res 2, February 20, 2003).

Grant Application Process

    Local governments and Indian Tribal governments should consult the 
official designated point of contact in their State for more 
information on the process the State requires to be followed in 
applying for assistance.
    Each of the fifty States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, 
the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa are requested to submit to 
the appropriate FEMA Regional Office the grant application, which can 
be obtained from the FEMA Regional Office.
    The grant application should include:
    [sbull] Application for Federal Assistance, Standard Form 424;
    [sbull] Budget Information--Non-Construction Program, FEMA Form 20-
20;
    [sbull] Budget Narrative explaining cost items that have been 
budgeted;
    [sbull] Summary Sheet for Assurances and Certification, FEMA Form 
20-16;
    [sbull] Assurances--Non-Construction Program, FEMA Form 20-16A;
    [sbull] Certification Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and 
Other Responsible Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements, FEMA 
Form 20-16C;
    [sbull] Disclosure of Lobbying Activities, Standard Form LLL;
    [sbull] Approved Indirect Cost Agreement, if applicable; and,
    [sbull] Program Narrative identifying the activities for which 
funding is requested.
    The Program Narrative should include the following:
    [sbull] Individual planning locations and name of Sub-grantees;
    [sbull] Individual planning costs, including Federal and non-
Federal shares;
    [sbull] Individual planning scopes of work, including timelines and 
key milestones;
    [sbull] Certification that the included planning activities have 
been evaluated, meet all PDM Program eligibility criteria, and will be 
implemented in accordance with 44 CFR Part 13, Uniform Administrative 
Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local 
Governments.
    [sbull] Assessment of the extent to which communities meet the 
relevant criteria under section 203(g) of the Stafford Act.
    All planning activities included in the Program Narrative should be 
ranked in order of priority to the grantee.

Eligible Activities

    Funds may be used to develop State, Tribal, and local hazard 
mitigation plans that meet the planning criteria outlined in 44 CFR 
part 201, which implements Sec.  322 of the Stafford Act. This may 
include developing countywide or multi-jurisdictional plans (must be 
adopted by all jurisdictions participating) since many issues are 
better resolved by evaluating hazards in a more comprehensive fashion. 
Multi-hazard mitigation planning may include hazards caused by non-
natural forces but must be primarily focused on natural hazards. Risk 
assessments for mitigation plans are also eligible.
    As part of the planning grant, up to 10 percent of the funds 
awarded may be used to fund activities to disseminate information 
regarding cost-effective mitigation technologies. These activities 
include marketing, outreach, training and education (including planning 
workshops), as related to plan development.
    Up to 5 percent of the funds awarded may be used to assist in 
soliciting and reviewing PDM applications and for providing technical 
assistance to sub-grantees. Sub-grantee management costs to implement 
awarded activities will be limited to 5 percent of the sub-grant award 
and may be included as part of the activity costs. Indirect costs 
should be included as part of management costs, if applicable, and must 
be supported with a current Indirect Cost Rate approved by a Federal 
Cognizant Agency.

Reporting Requirements

    The following reports are required:
    [sbull] Federal Cash Transaction Reports. If the Grantee uses the 
HHS Payment Management System-SMARTLINK, the Grantee shall submit a 
copy of the PMS 272 Cash Transaction Report submitted to the Federal 
Health and Human Services (HHS) to FEMA.
    [sbull] Financial Status Reports. The Grantee shall submit 
Financial Status Reports, SF 269 or FF 20-10, to the FEMA regional 
office within 30 days from the end of the first federal quarter 
following the initial grant award. The Regional Director may waive this 
initial report. The Grantee shall submit quarterly financial status 
reports thereafter until the grant ends. Reports are due on January 30, 
April 30, July 30, and October 30.
    [sbull] Performance Reports:
    1. The Grantee shall submit performance reports (no required 
format) to the FEMA Regional Office within 30 days after end of each 
quarter.

[[Page 10020]]

The report shall consist of a comparison of actual accomplishment to 
the approved activity objectives. Reports are due January 30, April 30, 
July 30 and October 30. Final financial reports are due 90 days after 
the close of the grant. Performance Reports should be submitted to the 
Assistance Officer, listed under Article V, FEMA Officials.
    2. Quarterly performance report shall report the name, completion 
status, expenditure, and payment-to-date of each approved activity/sub-
grant award under the Grant Award.
    [sbull] Final Reports. The Grantee shall submit a Final Financial 
Status Report and Performance Report within 90 days from Grant Award 
Performance Period expiration date, per 44 CFR 13.50.
    [sbull] Enforcement. The Regional Director may suspend draw downs 
from the HHS/Payment Management System-SMARTLINK if quarterly reports 
are not submitted on time.

    Dated: February 26, 2003.
Anthony S. Lowe,
Administrator, Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration.
[FR Doc. 03-4903 Filed 2-28-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6718-04-P