[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 139 (Monday, July 21, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43151-43152]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-18392]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, Emergency Preparedness and 
Response Directorate, Department of Homeland Security.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Emergency Preparedness and Response Directorate (EP&R), 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 continuing information 
collections. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), this notice seeks comments on information 
collected and maintained on students attending National Fire Academy 
(NFA) and Emergency Management Institute (EMI) courses.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public Law 93-498, Federal Fire Prevention 
and Control Act, as amended, (15 U.S.C. 2201 et seq.) established the 
National Fire Academy (NFA) to ``advance the professional development 
of fire service personnel and of other persons engaged in fire 
prevention and control activities * * *'' and authorizes the 
Superintendent, NFA, to ``conduct courses and programs of training and 
education * * *'' Public Law 93-288, Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
and Emergency Assistance Act, (42 U.S.C. 5121-5206) authorizes the 
President to establish ``a program of disaster preparedness that 
utilizes services of all appropriate agencies and includes * * * (2) 
training and exercises * * *.'' Under the authorities of Executive 
Order 12127 and 12148, as amended, the Secretary of the Department of 
Homeland Security, Emergency Preparedness and Response Directorate, 
Federal Emergency Management Agency, is responsible for carrying out 
the mandates of the public laws mentioned above. The Secretary 
established the National Emergency Training Center (NETC), located in 
Emmitsburg, Maryland, which houses both NFA and EMI. The data 
collection is used to (1) determine eligibility for courses and 
programs offered by NFA and EMI, (2) provide a consolidated record of 
all EP&R/FEMA training taken

[[Page 43152]]

by a student, (3) provide a transcript which can be used by the student 
in requesting college credit or continuing education units for courses 
completed, and (4) to determine eligibility for student stipends.

Collection of Information

    Title: General Admissions Application/General Admissions 
Application Short Form.
    Type of Information Collection: Revision of a Currently Approved 
Collection.
    OMB Number: 1660-0007 (formerly under OMB Number 3067-0024, which 
OMB transferred from FEMA to the Department of Homeland Security 
effective March 1, 2003).
    Form Numbers: FEMA Form 75-5, General Admissions Application (paper 
and electronic versions); FEMA Form 75-5a, General Admissions 
Application Short Form paper and electronic versions).
    Abstract: Currently EMI, NFA and the NETC Admissions Office are 
working towards consolidating, or linking databases so that EP&R/FEMA 
can eventually have a single source for training information. In 
attempting to accomplish this goal it was determined that specific 
information needs to be collected by all parties so a unified database 
can be developed. In the near future, the FEMA Form 75-5 will be 
available for the public to enroll in EMI and NFA courses 
electronically. In addition, the EMI Independent Study Program has made 
a commitment to begin using the new FEMA Form 75-5a (automated) to 
enroll students in EMI's Independent Study Program. Presently the 
Independent Study Program uses the OMB approved FEMA Form 95-23 (under 
OMB control number 1660-0046) to enroll students in this program. It is 
EP&R/FEMA's intent to replace FEMA Form 95-23 with the FEMA Form 75-5a 
(automated) form.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households, Business or other for-
profit, not-for-profit institutions, Federal Government, and State, 
local or tribal government.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 27,333.

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                                                             Number of                     Hours/Minutes   Annual burden
                       FEMA forms                           respondents    Frequency of    per response    hours  (A x B  Average hourly     Estimated
                                                                (A)        response  (B)   (C) (minutes)       x C)          wage rate      annual cost
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75-5....................................................          10,000               1               9           1,500          $33.65          $7,571
75-5a...................................................          25,000               1               6           2,500          $22.84           5,710
75-5 (Automated)........................................          20,000               1              10           3,333          $33.65          18,693
75-5a (Automated).......................................         150,000               1               8          20,000          $22.84          60,907
=========================================================
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    Estimated Annual Cost to the Respondent: $92,881.
    Estimated Annual Cost to the Federal Government: Costs include 50% 
of the data entry contract ($307,000), 50% of the annual salary cost of 
three full-time personnel working in the NETC Admissions Office (two 
GS9's and one GS11) at approximately $72,000, printing at $500 per 
year. Contract cost for supporting use of the new FEMA Forms 75-5 and 
75-5a (automated) is estimated at $198,000, based on 20% of data entry 
contract ($123,000) and 20% of independent study contract ($75,000). 
Contract cost of the maintenance contract that includes the Admissions 
System, is estimated at $150,000, based on 25% of that contract. Total 
average estimated cost to the Federal Government is $727,500 annually.
    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 Branch, Information Resources 
Management Division, Information Technology Services Directorate, 
Federal Emergency Management Agency, Emergency Preparedness and 
Response Directorate, Department of Homeland Security, 500 C Street, 
SW., Room 316, Washington, DC 20472.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Darlyn Vestal, Admissions 
Specialist, Management, Operations and Support Services, U.S. Fire 
Administration, (301) 447-1415 for additional information. You may 
contact Ms. Anderson for copies of the proposed collection of 
information at facsimile number (202) 646-3347 or email address: 
[email protected].

    Dated: July 15, 2003.
Edward W. Kernan, Division Director, Information and Resources 
Management Division, Information Technology Services Directorate.
[FR Doc. 03-18392 Filed 7-18-03; 8:45 am]
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