[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 171 (Tuesday, September 6, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53022-53023]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-17627]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

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 information collections. In accordance with the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), this notice 
seeks comments concerning information required by FEMA to amend or 
revise National Flood Insurance Program Maps to remove certain property 
from the 1-percent annual chance floodplain.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. With the passage of the Flood Disaster 
Protection Act of 1973, an owner of a structure, with a federally 
backed mortgage, located in the 1-percent annual chance floodplain, was 
required to purchase federal flood insurance. This was in response to 
the escalating damage caused by flooding and the unavailability of 
flood insurance from commercial insurance companies. As part of this 
effort, FEMA mapped the 1-percent annual chance floodplain in 
communities. However, due to scale limitations, individual structures 
that may be above the base flood cannot always be shown as being out of 
the 1-percent annual chance floodplain. FEMA will issue a Letter of Map 
Amendment (LOMA) or a Letter of Map Revision--Based on Fill (LOMR-F) to 
waive the Federal requirement for flood insurance when data is 
submitted to show that the property or structure is ``reasonably safe 
from flooding'' and at or above the elevation of the base flood.

Collection of Information

    Title: Right to Submit Technical or Scientific Data to Correct 
Mapping Deficiencies.
    Type of Information Collection: Revision of a Currently Approved 
Collection.
    OMB Number: 1660-0015.
    Form Numbers: FEMA Forms 81-87, 81-87A, 81-87B.
    Abstract: The certification forms (referred to as MT-1 series 
forms) are designed to assist requesters in gathering information that 
FEMA needs to determine whether a certain property is likely to be 
flooded during the flood event that has a 1-percent annual chance of 
being equaled or exceeded in any given year (base flood). FEMA Form 81-
87, Property Information, describes the location of the property, what 
is being requested, and what data are required to support the request. 
FEMA Form 81-87A, Elevation Information, indicates what the Base (1-
percent annual chance) Flood Elevation (BFE) for the property is, how 
the BFE was determined, the lowest ground elevation on the property, 
and/or the elevation of the lowest adjacent grade to any structures on 
the property. This information is required in order for FEMA to 
determine if the property that the requester would like removed from 
the SFHA FEMA Form 81-87B, Community Acknowledgment, requires that a 
community official certify that the request complies with minimum 
floodplain management criteria specified in 44 CFR 60.3, as per NFIP 
regulations 44 CFR 65.5(a)(4).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 57,300.

                                                                   Annual Burden Hours
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                                                    Number of                                              Burden hours       Annual       Total annual
Project/activity (survey, form(s), focus group,    respondents         Frequency of  responses  (B)       per respondent   responses  (A   burden hours
                     etc.)                             (A)                                                      (C)            x B)         (A x B x C)
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81-87..........................................          18,272  Annual (1).............................            1.63          18,272          29,783
81-87A.........................................          18,272  Annual (1).............................            1.25          18,272          22,840
81-87B.........................................           3,389  Annual (1).............................            1.38           3,389           4,677
                                                -----------------
    Total......................................          39,933  .......................................            4.26          39,933          57,300
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    Estimated Cost. Cost to respondents is estimated to be $1,325,597 
annually, while the cost to the Federal Government is estimated to be 
$94,300 annually.
    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 
submissions of responses. Comments should be received within 60 days of 
the date of this notice.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons should submit written comments to Chief, 
Records Management Section, Information Resources Management Branch, 
Information Technology

[[Page 53023]]

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 Ms. Cecilia Lynch, FEMA, 
Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration at (202) 646-7045 for 
additional information. You may contact the Records Management Section 
for copies of the proposed collection of information at facsimile 
number (202) 646-3347 or email address: [email protected].

    Dated: August 26, 2005.
Deborah A. Moradi,
Acting Branch Chief, Information Resources Management Branch, 
Information Technology Services Division.
[FR Doc. 05-17627 Filed 9-2-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-12-P