[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 12 (Thursday, January 19, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3112-3113]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-527]


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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 revised information collection. In accordance 
with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice seeks comments 
concerning the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act 
of 1974 (Pub. L. 93-498) authorizes the National Fire Data Center in 
the United States Fire Administration (USFA) \1\ to gather and analyze 
information on the magnitude of the Nation's fire problem, as well as 
its detailed characteristics and trends. The Act further authorizes the 
USFA to develop uniform data reporting methods, and to encourage and 
assist state agencies in developing and reporting data. In order to 
carry out the intentions of the Act, the National Fire Data Center 
established the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) in 
1975.
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    \1\ The National Fire Incident Reporting System 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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    NFIRS serves as a cooperative effort of local, State, and Federal 
authorities to improve uniformity in fire incident reporting and to 
ensure that data is usable for fire protection planning and management. 
It also enables the USFA, and many others, to identify common trends in 
collected data, which may be applicable to fire problems on a national, 
regional, state, and local scale.

Collection of Information

    Title: National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) v5.0.
    Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved 
collection.
    OMB Number: 1660-0069.
    Form Numbers: Version 5.0 NFIRS-forms/modules No. 1-12.
    Abstract: NFIRS provides a mechanism using standardized reporting 
methods to collect and analyze fire incident data at the Federal, 
State, and local levels. Data analysis helps local fire departments and 
States to focus on current problems, predict future problems in their 
communities, and measure whether their programs are working.
    Affected Public: Federal, State, and local governments.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 7,583,585 hours.

[[Page 3113]]



                                                                   Annual Burden Hours
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                                                                          No. of        Frequency of     Burden hours        Annual        Total annual
                                                                       respondents    responses \(1)\   per respondent  Responses \(2)\    burden hours
  Project/Activity (survey, form(s), focus group, worksheet, etc.)  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                           (A)              (B)              (C)             (AxB)           (AxBxC)
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NFIRS v5.0:
    Manual.........................................................            1,700                1       12.00 hrs.        1,484,100        1,633,325
    Electronic.....................................................           15,300                1        4.75 hrs.       13,640,400        5,944,500
    Subtotal--Modules..............................................           17,000  ...............  ...............       15,124,500        7,577,825
Training v5.0......................................................              390                1  ...............              390            5,760
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        Total......................................................           17,390                1  ...............       15,124,890       7,583,585
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\1\ Each response may include several module submissions, though majority only NFIRS 1. Same respondent may respond more than once depending on the
  number of incidents being reported.
\2\ Based on an estimated total of 10,000,000 incidents reported annually.

    Estimated Cost: The wage burden for collection of information at 
the local level including training is estimated at $113,667.375 for 
both manual and electronic submissions (7,583,585 hrs @ $15/hr). The 
average cost to respondent per incident reported is $180.00 and $71.00 
for the manual and electronic submission, respectively.
    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 March 
20, 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 Mark A. Whitney, Fire Program 
Specialist, United States Fire Administration, National Fire Data 
Center, (301) 447-1836, or e-mail [email protected] 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 12, 2006.
Darcy Bingham,
Branch Chief, Information Resources Management Branch, Information 
Technology Services Division.
[FR Doc. E6-527 Filed 1-18-06; 8:45 am]
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