[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 158 (Friday, August 15, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48929-48931]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-20855]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency


Grants to States for Community Emergency Response Teams

AGENCY: U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), Federal Emergency Management 
Agency, Emergency Preparedness and Response Directorate, Department of 
Homeland Security.

ACTION: Notice of funds availability.

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SUMMARY: FEMA gives notice of the availability of grant funding in the 
amount of $18.8 million for fiscal year (FY) 2003 for the development 
or improvement of Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sam Isenberger, National Emergency 
Training Center, Training Division, 16825 S. Seton Avenue, Emmitsburg, 
MD 21727. Telephone No. (301) 447-1071 or e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The CERT concept was developed and 
implemented by the Los Angeles City Fire Department in 1985. When 
emergencies occur, CERT members can give critical support to first 
responders, provide immediate assistance to victims, and organize 
spontaneous volunteers at a disaster site. CERT members can also help 
with non-emergency projects that help improve the safety of the 
community.
    The CERT training program, made available nationally by FEMA in 
1993, is a 20-hour course typically delivered over a seven-week period. 
Training sessions cover disaster preparedness, disaster fire 
suppression, basic disaster

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medical operations, light search and rescue, and team operations.
    The FY 2003 grant funding is in addition to $17 million distributed 
under the FY 2002 emergency supplemental appropriation. In the FY 2003 
program, FEMA intends to continue, maintain, and expand existing State 
and local CERT programs while supporting new CERT Train-The-Trainer 
courses and extending the CERT program into new jurisdictions 
nationwide.

Authority

    Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act 
(Stafford Act), 42 U.S.C. 5121-5206.

Appropriations

    The Consolidated Appropriations Resolution, 2003, Pub. L. 108-7, 
provides $20 million for CERTs of which FEMA is using $18.8 million for 
grants and $1.2 million for FEMA activities essential for the 
development and maintenance of the CERT training program.

Applicant Eligibility

    States are eligible to apply for the assistance described in this 
notice. The term ``State'' as used in this notice and consistent with 
the Stafford Act, 42 U.S.C. 5122(4), means any State of the United 
States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, 
Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands.
    Local governments may receive assistance as subgrantees of the 
States in which they are located. The term ``Local government'' as used 
in this notice shall have the meaning set forth in the Stafford Act, 42 
U.S.C. 5122(6).

Target Funding Allocations

    Funds are allocated on the basis of population with minimums, or 
base amounts, derived using the percentages prescribed in Section 1014 
of the USA Patriot Act. Each of the fifty States, the District of 
Columbia, and Puerto Rico will be allocated a base amount of 0.75 
percent of the total funding available. The insular areas of the Virgin 
Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands will be allocated a base amount of 0.25 percent of the 
total funding available. The remainder of the funding available will be 
allocated on the basis of the most recent official population 
estimates.

Cost-Share and Pass-Through Requirements

    There is no cost-share, or matching, requirement associated with 
funding under this program. Grantees must pass through at least 75 
percent of the funding received to local governments, also with no 
matching requirement.

Activities To Be Funded

    [sbull] Grantees conduct CERT Train-The-Trainer courses to prepare 
program managers and instructional teams who will initiate or expand 
the CERT training program.
    [sbull] Local governments initiate, organize, train, and maintain 
CERTs and use these teams as an emergency management resource and as a 
volunteer pool to perform special projects that improve a community's 
preparedness. This may include the purchase of CERT equipment including 
hard hats, safety vests, goggles, and gloves that will remain the 
property of the State or local jurisdiction.
    [sbull] Communities with established CERT programs continue, 
maintain, and expand these programs.

Grant Application Process

    The grant application for CERT funding must include:
    [sbull] Application for Federal Assistance, Standard Form 424;
    [sbull] Budget Information--Non-Construction Program, FEMA Form 20-
20;
    [sbull] Budget Narrative;
    [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 Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements, 
FEMA Form 20-16C;
    [sbull] Disclosure of Lobbying Activities, Standard Form LLL; and
    [sbull] Program Narrative identifying the activities for which 
funding is requested.
    The Program Narrative should include the following:
    [sbull] A timeline for conducting CERT Train-The-Trainer (TTT) 
courses for the State's jurisdictions;
    [sbull] A process for soliciting, evaluating, and awarding 
subgrants to local governments that will establish or continue CERT 
programs as part of their community preparedness efforts;
    [sbull] Criteria for awarding subgrants; and
    [sbull] Description of the procedure the State will use to meet the 
reporting requirements to the FEMA Regional office.
    Applications should be submitted to the FEMA Regional Offices no 
later than four weeks after receipt of request for applications from 
the FEMA Regional offices. The FEMA Regional addresses are found at the 
end of this notice. FEMA Regional offices will work directly with State 
points of contact, as needed, on the development of applications. 
Applications will be reviewed to determine that:
    [sbull] A time line has been identified for distributing funds to 
localities.
    [sbull] A time line has been identified, if applicable, for 
conducting CERT Train-The-Trainer courses.
    [sbull] The State has explained how it will solicit, evaluate, and 
award subgrants to local governments.
    [sbull] The State has identified the sponsorship for State's and 
localities' Emergency Management Institute CERT programs: public sector 
emergency management, response agency, or local Citizen Corps Council.
    [sbull] The State has given a proposed number of trained CERT 
instructors.
    [sbull] The State has given a proposed number of people who will be 
trained using the CERT program.
    [sbull] The State provides information on its plans for maintaining 
CERT members including how they can be used to supplement emergency 
management activities in disaster and non-disaster situations.
    [sbull] The State will require as part of the subgrant to local 
governments that they will list their programs in the Directory of CERT 
Programs by State on the CERT Internet Web site.
    State points of contact will be notified of all relevant time 
requirements for submission of applications.

Performance Periods

    The performance period for grants to support CERT activities is 12 
months from the date of the grant award.

Reporting Requirements

    The States are required to submit quarterly financial and 
performance reports 30 days after the end of each quarter, per 44 CFR 
13.40 and 41. Reporting dates are: January 30, April 30, July 30, and 
October 30. The performance reports will provide a comparison of actual 
accomplishments to the objectives approved for the period. Grantee and 
subgrantee activities should be reported for the reporting period and 
for the cumulative period from the grant award date. Program 
performance reports shall include the following information:
    [sbull] Total amount of grant funds used to date and for what 
activities;
    [sbull] Number of CERT trainers and members trained, by location;

[[Page 48931]]

    [sbull] Concerns regarding a jurisdiction using its grant 
allocation or meeting its training targets (Include any suggested 
remedies); and
    [sbull] Examples of emergency and non-emergency use of CERT in the 
community.
    When the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Payment 
Management System (SMARTLINK) is used for advanced or reimbursement 
payments, the grantee is required to submit a copy of Federal Cash 
Transaction Report (HHS/PMS 272) to FEMA when it is submitted to HHS. 
In addition, final financial and performance reports are required 90 
days after the close of the grant, per 44 CFR 13.50.
    Addresses: FEMA Regional Offices:
    FEMA Region I--Serving the States of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, 
Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts: 442 J.W. McCormack POCH, 
Boston, MA 02109-4595.
    FEMA Region II--Serving the States of New York and New Jersey, the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the Territory of the U.S. Virgin 
Islands: 26 Federal Plaza, Rm. 1337, New York, NY 10278-0002.
    FEMA Region III--Serving the District of Columbia and the States of 
Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia: 1 
Independence Mall, 6th Floor, 615 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 
19106-4404.
    FEMA Region IV--Serving the States of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, 
Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee: 
3003 Chamblee Tucker Road, Atlanta, GA 30341.
    FEMA Region V--Serving the States of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, 
Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin: 536 S. Clark Street, 6th Floor, Chicago, 
IL 60605.
    FEMA Region VI--Serving the States of Arkansas, Louisiana, New 
Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas: FRC 800 North Loop 288, Denton, TX 76201-
3698.
    FEMA Region VII--Serving the States of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and 
Nebraska: 2323 Grand Blvd., Suite 900, Kansas City, MO 64108.
    FEMA Region VIII--Serving the States of Colorado, Montana, North 
Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming: Denver Federal Center, 
Building 710, Box 25267, Denver, CO 80225-0267.
    FEMA Region IX--Serving the States of Arizona, California, Hawaii 
and Nevada; the Territories of American Samoa and Guam, and the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands: 1111 Broadway, Suite 
1200, Oakland, CA 94607-4052.
    FEMA Region X--Serving the States of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and 
Washington: Federal Regional Center, 130 228th Street, SW., Bothell, WA 
98021-9709.

Michael D. Brown,
Under Secretary, Emergency Preparedness and Response Directorate.
[FR Doc. 03-20855 Filed 8-14-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6718-04-P