[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 183 (Monday, September 22, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 55060]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-24126]


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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 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 proposed extension of a currently approved information 
collection. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), this notice seeks comments concerning the 
certification of flood proof residential basements in Special Flood 
Hazard Areas.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) 
administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), 
regulation 44 CFR 60.3, Floodplain Management Criteria for Flood-Prone 
Areas, ensures that communities participating in the NFIP, in Special 
Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs), have basement construction at the lowest 
flood elevation or above the 100 year flood elevation, or Base Flood 
Elevation (BFE). This requirement reduces the risks of flood hazards to 
new buildings in SFHAs and reduces insurance rates. However, FEMA 
regulation 44 CFR 60.6(c) allows communities to apply for an exception 
to permit and certify the construction of flood proof residential 
basements in SFHAs. This certification must ensure that the community 
has demonstrated that the areas of special flood hazard, in which 
residential basements will be permitted, are subject to shallow and low 
velocity flooding and adequate flood warning time to notify residents 
of impending floods. This allows the community to ensure that local 
floodplain management ordinances are met as well as a certificate that 
allows homeowners to receive a ``discounted'' flood insurance rate 
applicable to flood proof basements.

Collection of Information

    Title: Residential Basement Floodproofing Certificate.
    Type of Information Collection: Extension of a currently approved 
collection.
    OMB Number: 1660-0033.
    Form Numbers. FEMA Form 81-78.
    Abstract: FEMA Form 81-78 is only used in communities that have 
been granted an exception by FEMA to allow the construction of flood 
proof residential basements in Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs). 
Homeowners must have a registered professional engineer or architect 
complete FEMA Form 81-78 for development or inspection of structural 
design basements and certify that the basement design and methods of 
construction are in accordance with floodplain management ordinances. 
In any case homeowners are responsible for the fees involved with these 
services. Homeowners also provide FEMA Form 81-78 to their insurance 
agent to receive discounted flood insurance under the National Flood 
Insurance Program (NFIP).
    Affected Public: Individuals or Households.
    Number of Respondents: 50.
    Frequency of Response: On occasions.
    Hour Burden Per Response: 3.25 hrs. There are three inspections 
during the construction for a flood proof basement. Each inspection is 
estimated to be 45 minutes, plus one hour for the review of basement 
design documentation and recordkeeping by insurance agents and 
community officials. Therefore, 45 minutes times three inspections plus 
one hour for review and recordkeeping = 3.25 hours per response.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 163 hours.
    Estimated Cost: $16,250. FEMA Form 81-78 has a one time cost when 
used to certify the design of a flood proof basement by an engineer or 
architect. The estimated cost of professional engineering services is 
$100 per hour. This rate is based on $65 per hour of a certified 
engineer or architect and an overhead cost of approximately $35. 
Therefore, $100 per hour times 3.25 burden hours = $325 total cost to 
respondent. There are 50 respondents times $325 per respondent = 
$16,250 total annual cost to 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. 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, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 500 C 
Street, SW., Room 316, Washington, DC 20472, or e-mail address: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Tertell, PE, Civil Engineer, 
Program Policy and Assessment Branch, Mitigation Division, 202-646-3935 
for additional information regarding this information collection. You 
may contact Ms. Anderson for copies of the proposed information 
collection at the e-mail address above.

    Dated: September 15, 2003.
Edward W. Kernan,
Division Director, Information Resources Management Division, 
Information Technology Services Directorate.
[FR Doc. 03-24126 Filed 9-18-03; 12:01 pm]
BILLING CODE 6718-01-P