[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 169 (Wednesday, September 1, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53458-53459]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-19793]


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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, U.S. 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 a proposed 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 need to 
continue collecting information from state, local, and tribal 
government officials; businesses; and, individuals residing in the 
immediate and surrounding areas of chemical stockpile sites.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Chemical Stockpile Emergency 
Preparedness Program (CSEPP) is one facet of the multi-hazard readiness 
program in eight U.S. states that deal with hazardous material spills 
or releases. The program's goal is to improve preparedness to protect 
the people of these communities in the unlikely event of an accident. 
CSEPP, a cooperative effort between FEMA and the U.S. Army, provides 
funding (grants), training, community outreach, guidance, technical 
support and expertise to State, local, and tribal governments to 
improve their capabilities to prepare for and respond to this type of 
disaster. Since no preparedness program can be successful without the 
public's understanding and cooperation, input from the residents and 
businesses of immediate and/or surrounding areas is vital to program 
managers' ability to design custom-tailored strategies to educate and 
communicate risks and action plans at the local level. This survey, 
which was initiated three years ago, will continue as the assessment 
mechanism to document and quantify program achievements. There are two 
authorities supporting this information collection: (1) The Government 
Performance Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), which mandates federal agencies 
to provide valid and reliable quantification of program achievements, 
and (2) Executive Order 12862, which requires agencies to survey 
customers to determine their level of satisfaction with existing 
services.

Collection of Information

    Title: Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP) 
Evaluation and Customer Satisfaction Survey.
    Type of Information Collection: Extension of a currently approved 
collection.
    OMB Number: 1660-0057.
    Abstract: Consistent with performance measurement requirements set 
forth by the Government Performance Results Act, the Chemical Stockpile 
Preparedness Program (CSEPP) will continue collecting data from state, 
local, and tribal governments; individuals; and, businesses residing in 
the immediate or surrounding areas of eight chemical stockpile sites. 
This study will: (1) Assess program effectiveness using five national 
performance indicators unique to the CSEPP program, (2) measure and 
monitor customer satisfaction with CSEPP products and services, and (3) 
identify weaknesses and strengths of individual sites and program 
components. Data findings will be used to set customer service 
standards, while providing quantitative benchmarks for program 
monitoring and evaluation.
    Affected Public: State, local, and tribal government officials; 
individuals; and businesses.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,781 hours.

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                                                     Number of                                     Annual burden
                                                    respondents    Frequency of      Hours per     hours  (A x B
                                                        (A)        response  (B)   response  (C)       x C)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
State/local.....................................             176               1             .25              44
Individuals and Businesses......................           6,945               1             .25           1,737
                                                 -----------------
    Total.......................................           7,121               1             .25           1,781
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    Estimated Cost: $29,393.00.

                                      Table 2.--Annual Cost to Respondents
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                                                                                                    Annualized
                                                                    Median hour    Average cost      cost all
                     Program                       Burden  hours     rate ($)      per response     respondents
                                                                                        ($)             ($)
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Open-Ended Questionnaire:
    State/local officials.......................              44       \1\ 23.41  ..............        1,030.00
Surveys:
    Individuals and Businesses..................           1,737       \2\ 16.32  ..............       28,363.00
                                                 -----------------
        Grand Total.............................           1,781  ..............  ..............      29,393.00
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\1\ National median hourly rate for emergency management-related occupations per Bureau of Labor Statistics
  (BLS).
\2\ Average of median hourly rate for all occupations at state level per BLS: AL=$15.06; KY=$15.15; UT=$15.88;
  MD=$19.07; IN=$15.90; AR=$13.72; CO=$18.50; OR=$17.09.


[[Page 53459]]

    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 Section, Information Resources 
Management Branch, Information Technology Services Division, 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 Joe Herring, Program 
Specialist, CSEPP at (202) 646-3987 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: August 23, 2004.
Edward W. Kernan,
Branch Chief, Information Resources Management Branch, Information 
Technology Services Division.
[FR Doc. 04-19793 Filed 8-31-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-17-P