[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 102 (Friday, May 27, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30767-30768]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-10587]


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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 revision of a currently approved information collection 
requirement. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), this notice seeks comments concerning the use of 
FEMA Forms 81-92 and 81-92A, Amendments to National Flood Insurance 
Program Maps Application Form for Single Residential Structure or Lot 
(English and Spanish versions).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) 
regulations, 44 CFR Parts 65 and 70, outline the data that must be 
submitted by an owner or lessee of the property (requester) and 
certified by a Licensed Land Surveyor or Registered Professional 
Engineer who believes the property has been incorrectly included in a 
Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). In order to remove an area from a 
SFHA, the requester must submit scientific or technical data 
demonstrating that the area is ``reasonably safe from flooding'' and 
not in the SFHA. SFHAs have been mapped in over 19,000 communities 
nationwide.

Collection of Information

    Title: Instructions and Application Form for Single Lot or 
Structure Amendments to National Flood Insurance Program Maps.
    Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved 
collection.
    OMB Number: 1660-0037.
    Form Numbers: FEMA Form 81-92, Amendments to National Flood 
Insurance Program Maps Application Form for Single Residential 
Structure or Lot, (English version) and FEMA Form 81-92A (Spanish 
version).
    Abstract: Requesters complete and Licensed Land Surveyors or 
Professional Engineers certify FEMA Form 81-92 or 81-92A to request 
that FEMA remove a single structure or a legally recorded parcel of 
land or portions thereof from a designated SFHA via a Letter of Map 
Amendment (LOMA). A SFHA is an area that would be inundated by a flood 
event that has a one-percent-annual-chance of being equaled or exceeded 
in any given year (base flood). FEMA uses the information provided in 
FEMA Form 81-92 or 81-92A to make a LOMA determination. A LOMA is a 
letter from FEMA stating that an existing structure or parcel of land 
that has not been elevated by fill would not be inundated by the base 
flood. Fill is defined as material placed to raise the ground to or 
above the Base Flood Elevation (BFE).
    Affected Public: Individuals or households (property owners or 
lessees); Business or other for-profit (Licensed Land Surveyors or 
Professional Engineers).
    Number of Respondents: 26,400.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 31,680.

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                                  Number of                                       Annual  burden    Annualized
          FEMA forms             respondents      Frequency of       Hours per     hours  (A x B     cost all
                                     (A)         response  (B)     response  (C)       x C)         respondents
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81-92 (English):
    Owners/Lessees...........          11,550  Annual...........             1.0          11,550        $157,658
    Surveyors/Engineers......          11,550  .................             1.4          16,170         442,735
81-92A (Spanish):
    Owners/Lessees...........           1,650  Annual...........             1.0           1,650          22,523
    Surveyors/Engineers......           1,650  .................             1.4           2,310          63,248
                              -----------------
        Total................          26,400  Annual...........             2.4          31,680         686,164
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[[Page 30768]]

    Estimated Cost. The total estimated annual cost is $686,164.00. 
This estimate is based on the average annual cost per respondent as 
follows: owners/lessees $13.65 and surveyors/engineers is $38.33.
    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 the 
Section 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 Cecelia Lynch, Program 
Specialist, Mitigation Division at 202-646-7045 for additional 
information. You may contact the Records Management Section for copies 
of the proposed information collection at facsimile number (202) 646-
3347 or e-mail address: [email protected].

    Dated: May 23, 2005.
George S. Trotter,
Acting Branch Chief, Information Resources Management Branch, 
Information Technology Services Division.
[FR Doc. 05-10587 Filed 5-26-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-12-P