[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 42 (Friday, March 4, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10660-10661]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-4194]


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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 collection of information. In 
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)), this notice seeks comments concerning information 
collections required for Fire Management Assistance Grant Program 
(FMAGP) eligibility determinations, grants management, and compliance 
with other Federal laws and regulations,

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FMAGP was established under Section 420 of 
the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 
42, U.S.C. 5187, as amended by section 303 of the Disaster Mitigation 
Act of 2000, and implemented under 44 CFR Part 204. The program 
authorizes the President to provide assistance to any State or local 
government for the mitigation, management, and control of any fire on 
public or private forestland or grassland that threatens such 
destruction, as would constitute a major disaster. The information 
collection is necessary to facilitate the provision of assistance under 
the FMAGP, and is used by both State and FEMA Regional staff to 
facilitate the declaration request and grant administration of the 
program, as well as end of year internal reporting of overall 
declaration requests and estimated grant outlays.

Collection of Information

    Title: Fire Management Assistance Grant Program.
    Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved 
collection.
    OMB Number: 1660-0058.
    Form Numbers: FEMA Form 90-58, Request for Fire Management 
Assistance Declaration, FEMA Form 90-133, Request for Fire Management 
Assistance Subgrant, and FEMA Form 90-32, Principal Advisor's Report.
    Abstract: The collection of information is used by both State and 
FEMA Regional staff to facilitate the declaration request and grant 
administration processes of FMAGP, as well as end of year internal 
reporting of overall declaration requests and estimated grant outlays. 
The following information collections are used:
    FEMA-State Agreement and Amendment. Federal assistance under 
Section 420 of the Stafford Act must be provided in accordance with the 
FEMA-State Agreement for FMAGP. The State Governor and the Regional 
Director must sign the Agreement, which contains the necessary terms 
and conditions consistent with the provisions of applicable laws, 
executive orders, and regulations, and specifies the type and extent of 
Federal assistance to be provided. The Agreement is an annual agreement 
applicable only for the calendar year in which it is signed.
    Amendments to the FEMA-State Agreement may be executed throughout 
the calendar year as necessary. One amendment, Exhibit E, must be 
completed upon each approval of a fire management assistance 
declaration. Exhibit E confirms the name, incident period, location, 
and official designation number of the fire. Other amendments modifying 
the standing agreement may be added throughout the year to reflect 
changes in the program or signatory parties.
    FEMA Form 90-133, Request for Fire Management Assistance Subgrant, 
is used by State, local and tribal governments to state their interest 
in applying for sub-grants under a approved fire management assistance 
grant. The form provides essential subgrantee contact information.
    FEMA Form 90-58, Request for Fire Management Assistance 
Declaration, is used by the State to provide information in support of 
its request for a fire management assistance declaration. This form 
must be completed by the Governor or Governor's Authorized 
Representative (GAR) and forwarded to FEMA's Regional Director for 
review and transmittal to FEMA's National Office in Washington DC. 
Additional supporting information may be furnished by the State or 
requested by FEMA after the initial request has been received.
    FEMA Form 90-32, Principal Advisor's Report, form is used to 
provide FEMA with technical assessment of a fire or fire complex for 
which the State is requesting a fire management assistance declaration. 
FEMA will review all information submitted in the State's request along 
with the Principal Advisor's assessment and Regional summary and will 
render a determination.
    A State Administrative Plan for FMAGP must be developed by the 
State for the administration of fire management assistance grants. The 
plan must describe the procedures for the administration of FMAGP, 
designate the State agency to serve as Grantee, and ensure State 
compliance with the provisions of law and regulation applicable to fire 
management assistance grants. The plan must also identify staffing 
functions, the sources of staff to fill these functions, and the 
management and oversight responsibilities of each. The plan should 
describe the procedures to notify potential applicants of the 
availability of the program, assist FEMA in determining applicant 
eligibility, review PWs, process payment of subgrants, and audit and 
reconcile subgrants. The plan should also outline the processes to be 
used to facilitate close-out of the fire management assistance grant in 
accordance with 44 CFR, Part 13, Subpart D. The Regional Director must 
ensure that the State has an up-to-date Administrative Plan or approve 
a new plan prior to approval of the SF 424. The State may request the 
Regional Director to provide technical assistance in the preparation of 
the State Administrative Plan.
    Training sessions are provided primarily for Regional staff and 
State officials who administer FMAGP for the purpose of instructing and 
updating attendees on the laws, regulations, policies, and process that 
govern the program, as well as to discuss any program issues.
    Appeals. When a State's request for a fire management assistance 
declaration is denied, the Governor of a State or GAR may appeal the 
decision in writing pursuant to 44 CFR 204.26. The State may submit 
this one-time request for reconsideration in writing, with additional 
information, to the Director, Recovery Division. The appeal must be 
submitted within 30 days of the date of the letter denying the State's/
Indian tribal government's request. A time

[[Page 10661]]

extension of 30 days may be granted by the Director if the Governor or 
GAR submits a written request for a time extension within the 30-day 
period. Similarly, applicants may appeal any cost or eligibility 
determination under an approved declaration within 60 days after 
receipt of the notice of the action that is being appealed. The request 
must be submitted in writing to FEMA through the Grantee in accordance 
with the appeal procedures detailed in 44 CFR 204.60. Appeals usually 
consist of a letter briefly describing the reason for the appeal and 
any new supporting documentation the State or applicant submits to FEMA 
for review.
    Duplication of Benefits. Applicants are required to notify FEMA of 
all benefits, actual or anticipated, received from other sources for 
the same loss for which they are applying to FEMA for assistance. 
Notification can be accomplished in a letter, accompanied by supporting 
documentation.
    Affected Public: State, Local or Tribal Government and Federal 
Government.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 664.

                 OMB No. 1660-0058, Fire Management Assistance Grant Program Annual Burden Hours
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                                   Number of
  Project/activity  (survey,      respondents    Frequency of   Burden hours per      Annual       Total annual
  form(s), focus group, etc.)         (A)       responses  (B)   respondent  (C)     responses     burden hours
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FEMA-State Agreement and                    12               4  5 minutes.......              48               4
 Amendment.
State Administrative Plan for               12               4  8 hours.........              48             384
 Fire Management Assistance.
FEMA Form 90-32, Principal                  12               4  20 minutes......              48              16
 Advisor's Report.
FEMA Form 90-58, Request for                12               4  1 hour..........              48              48
 Fire Management Assistance
 Declaration.
FEMA Form 90-133, Request for               24               4  10 minutes......              96              16
 Fire Management Assistance
 Subgrant (Locals Only).
Appeals (10 States and 10                   20           \1\ 1  1 hour..........              20              20
 Locals).
Duplication of Benefits (10                 20           \1\ 1  1 hour..........              20              20
 State States and 10 Locals).
Training Sessions.............              12           \1\ 1  13 hours........              12             156
                                               -----------------
    Total Burden Estimate.....  ..............  ..............  24.6 hours......             328            664
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\1\ Annually.

    Estimated Cost: The information collection process for FMAGP is 
managed by one Program Manager, under a State's Department of Emergency 
Management or Department of Forestry. The annualized cost to 
respondents is estimated to be $16,163 annually. This is based on an 
hourly wage rate of $23.65 (Bureau of Labor Services) for a State's 
Program Manager, spending 23.35 burden hours to manage the application 
and grants process for the FMAGP. There is no capital start-up cost or 
capital maintenance costs
    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 Ann Piesen, Program 
Specialist, Recovery Division, (202) 646-3925, 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].

George S. Trotter,
Acting Branch Chief, Information Resources Management Branch, 
Information Technology Services Division.
[FR Doc. 05-4194 Filed 3-3-05; 8:45 am]
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