[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 39 (Friday, February 27, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 9350]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-4405]



[[Page 9350]]

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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 (FEMA), 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 a continuing 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 Mission Assignment forms that are 
used to record requests for Federal assistance by State and Federal 
entities to FEMA.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Mission Assignment forms are necessary 
to support the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act, Pub. L. 93-288 as amended, 42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.; 
also, the Stafford Act and its implementing regulations 44 CFR 206.7 
have provided for FEMA to issue mission assignments for disaster work 
performed by other Federal agencies. A written request for Federal 
assistance may be submitted on an Action Request Form (ARF). The ARF is 
the working document requesting Federal assistance. The mission 
assignments are directives provided by FEMA to another agency to 
perform specific work in disaster operations on a reimbursable basis 
and are defined in the title 44, Code of Federal Regulations, 
206.2(a)18. The mission assignment is used to record a request for 
Federal assistance by States and Federal entities to FEMA, and may 
become the official FEMA obligating document when a mission assignment 
to another Federal agency results from the request. The mission 
assignment contains information that is used by FEMA management to 
evaluate requests for assistance from States, other Federal agencies 
and internal FEMA organizations. The requirement that requests for 
assistance to be made in writing and approved by the requesting State 
can be found in 44 CFR part 206. Requirements for program and finance 
officials to sign for the approval of funds from the President's 
Disaster Relief Fund are found in standard Federal financial 
regulations regarding financial operations and separation of duties.

Collection of Information

    Title: Request for Federal Assistance Form--How to Process Mission 
Assignments in Federal Disaster Operations.
    Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved 
collection.
    OMB Number: 1660-0047.
    Form Numbers: FEMA Form 90-129, Mission Assignment (MA), and FEMA 
Form 90-136, Action Request Form (ARF).
    Abstract: The Mission Assignment Form is used to record a request 
for Federal assistance by States and Federal entities to FEMA, and may 
become the official FEMA obligating document if a mission assignment to 
another Federal agency results from the request. A written request for 
Federal assistance may be submitted on an Action Request Form (ARF). 
The ARF is the working document requesting Federal assistance. Mission 
assignments are directives provided by FEMA to another agency to 
perform specific work in disaster operations, on a reimbursable basis 
and are defined in the title 44, Code of Federal Regulations, 
206.2(a)18 and to record Federal approving signatures.
    Affected Public: State, local or tribal government and Federal 
government.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours:

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                                                                     Number of
                                                     Number of    responses x 12     Hours per     Annual burden
                   FEMA forms                       respondents    disasters per     response          hours
                                                        (A)          year  (B)     minutes  (C)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FEMA Form 90-129................................              56   33 x 12 =396*               1             396
FEMA Form New, Action Request Form..............              56   95 x 12=1140*              20             380
                                                 -----------------
    Total.......................................              56            1536              21            776
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* It is estimated that an average of 33 Mission Assignments (FEMA Form 90-129) will be processed per disaster
  and an average of 95 Action Request Forms (FEMA Form 90-136) will be received from States.

    Estimated Cost: There is no cost associated with completing these 
forms.
    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 must be received on or before April 
27, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons should submit written comments on the 
proposed information collection to Muriel B. Anderson, Chief, Records 
Management Branch, FEMA at 500 C Street, SW., Room 316, Washington, DC 
20472, facsimile number (202) 646-3347, or email address 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Michael W. Lowder Branch 
Chief, Operations Branch 202-646-3866 for additional information. You 
may contact Ms. Anderson for copies of the proposed information 
collection (see ADDRESSES information above).

    Dated: February 20, 2004.
Edward W. Kernan,
Division Director, Information Resources Management Division, 
Information Technology Services Directorate.
[FR Doc. 04-4405 Filed 2-26-04; 8:45 am]
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