[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 232 (Friday, December 3, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70273-70274]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-26603]


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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 continuing information collections. In 
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)), this notice seeks comments concerning the information 
collection outlined in 44 CFR part 71, as it pertains to application 
for National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) insurance for buildings 
located in Coastal Barrier Resource System (CBRS) communities.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Coastal Barrier Resources Act (CBRA Pub. 
L. 97-3480) and the Coastal Barrier Improvement Act (CBRA Pub. L. 101-
591) are Federal laws that were enacted on October 1, 1982, and 
November 16, 1990, respectively. The legislation was implemented as 
part of a Department of the Interior (DOI) initiative to preserve the 
ecological integrity of areas DOI designates as coastal barriers and 
otherwise protected areas. The laws provide this protection by 
prohibiting all Federal expenditures or financial assistance including 
flood insurance for residential or commercial development in areas 
identified with the system. When an application for flood insurance is 
submitted for buildings located in CBRS communities, documentation must 
be submitted as evidence of eligibility.
    FEMA regulation 44 CFR part 71 implements the Coastal Barrier 
Resources Act. The documentation required in 44 CFR section 71.4 is 
provided to FEMA for a determination that a building which is located 
on a designated coastal barrier and for which a application for flood 
insurance is being made, is neither new construction or a substantial 
improvement, and is, therefore, eligible for NFIP coverage. If the 
information is not collected, NFIP policies would be provided for 
buildings, which are legally ineligible for it, thus exposing the 
Federal Government to an insurance liability Congress chose to limit.

Collection of Information

    Title: Implementation of Coastal Barrier Resources Act.
    Type of Information Collection: Extension of a currently approved 
collection.
    OMB Number: 1660-0010.
    Abstract: When an application for flood insurance is submitted for 
buildings located in CBRS communities, one of the following types of 
documentation must be submitted as evidence of eligibility:

--Certification from a community official stating the building is not 
located in a designated CBRS area.

--A legally valid building permit or certification from a community 
official stating that the building's start of construction date 
preceded the date that the community was identified in the system.
--Certification from the governmental body overseeing the area 
indicating that the building is used in a manner consistent with the 
purpose for which the area is protected.

    Affected Public: Individuals or households; Businesses or other 
for-profits; Not-for-profit institutions; Farms; Federal Government; 
and State, local or tribal governments.
    Number of Respondents: 60.
    Frequency of Response: One time.
    Hours Per Response: 1.5 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 90.

[[Page 70274]]

    Estimated Total Cost to Respondents: $600 (60 respondents x $10 per 
respondent). The cost to the respondent, i.e., applicant for flood 
insurance, is the cost if any, to obtain the required documentation 
from local officials. Fees charged, if any, to the applicants, are 
nominal, i.e., the cost of photocopying the public record. Information 
of this type is frequently provided upon request free of charge by the 
community as a public service. The average cost to the respondent is 
estimated to be $10, the cost to make phone calls, mail a written 
request, or make a trip to a local office to obtain the document, and 
includes any copying fees, which may be charged by the local office.
    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, Section Chief, Records Management, 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 Lynn Sawyer, Program Analyst, 
Risk Insurance Branch, Mitigation Division, at 301-918-1452 for 
additional information. You may contact Ms. Anderson for copies of the 
proposed collection of information at facsimile number (202) 646-3347 
or e-mail address: [email protected].

    Dated: November 18, 2004.
Edward W. Kernan,
Branch Chief, Information Resources Management Branch, Information 
Technology Services Division.
[FR Doc. 04-26603 Filed 12-2-04; 8:45 am]
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