[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 8 (Thursday, January 12, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2059-2060]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-212]


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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, 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 extension of a currently approved information 
collection. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 
this notice seeks comments concerning reimbursement of claims submitted 
for fighting fires on Federal property.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The collection of information is necessary 
in order to reimburse fire services for claims submitted for fighting 
fires on property that is under jurisdiction of the United States. 
Section II of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974, 
implemented under 44 CFR part 151, provides that each fire service that 
engages in the fighting of a fire on property which is under the 
jurisdiction of the United States and who has a mutual aid agreement in 
effect between claimant and the \1\ Federal Emergency Management Agency 
(FEMA) for the property upon which the fire occurred, may file a claim 
with FEMA for the amount of direct expense and direct losses incurred 
by such fire services as a result of fighting fires.
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    \1\ The Reimbursement for Cost of Fighting Fire on Federal 
Property program is currently being transferred to the newly created 
Preparedness Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security. 
During this transition FEMA, also part of the Department of Homeland 
Security, will continue to support this program as the new 
Directorate stands up. Ultimately this data collection will be 
transferred to the Preparedness Directorate.
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Collection of Information

    Title: Reimbursement for Cost of Fighting Fire on Federal Property.
    Type of Information Collection: Extension of a currently approved 
collection.
    OMB Number: 1660-0014.
    Abstract: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Director; 
the Administrator of the United States Fire Administration (USFA); and 
the United States Treasury will use the information to ensure proper 
expenditure of Federal funds. Once a claim is received, a copy of FEMA 
determination and the claim is forwarded to the Treasury Department. 
The Treasury Department will pay for fire services or its parent 
jurisdiction for any moneys in the treasury subject to reimbursement, 
to the Federal department or agency under whose jurisdiction the fire 
occurred.
    Affected Public: Business or Other For-Profit, Not For-Profit 
Institutions, and State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours:

[[Page 2060]]



                                               Annual Burden Hours
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                                  Number of                        Burden hours       Annual       Total annual
    Information collection       respondents      Frequency of    per respondent     responses     burden hours
          activities                 (A)         responses  (B)         (C)            (AxB)          (AxBxC)
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Claims Information...........               4  On Occasion......             1.5              16              24
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    Total....................               4  .................             1.5              16              24
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    Estimated Cost: The annualized cost burden for Fire Chiefs to 
complete and process a claim is estimated to be $15,288 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 
submission of responses. Comments must be submitted on or before 
February 13, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons should submit written comments to Chief, 
Records Management Section, Information Resources Management Branch, 
Information Technology Services Division, Federal Emergency Management 
Agency, 500 C Street, SW., Room 316, Washington, DC 20472.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Tim Ganley, Fire Program 
Specialist, U.S. Fire Administration, (301) 447-1358 for additional 
information. You may contact the Records Management Branch for copies 
of the proposed collection of information at facsimile number (202) 
646-3347 or e-mail address: [email protected].

    Dated: January 4, 2006.
Darcy Bingham,
Branch Chief, Information Resources Management Branch, Information 
Technology Services Division.
[FR Doc. E6-212 Filed 1-11-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-17-P