[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 24 (Monday, February 6, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6082-6083]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-1565]


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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 revision of a currently approved information 
collection. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 
this notice seeks comments concerning the National Urban Search and 
Rescue (US&R) grant program.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 303 of the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act), 42 U.S.C. 
5144, authorizes the President of the United States to form emergency 
Support teams of Federal personnel to be deployed in an area affected 
by a major disaster or emergency. Under Section 403(a)(3)(B) of the 
Stafford Act provides that the President may authorize Federal agencies 
to perform work on public or private lands essential to save lives and 
protect property, including search and rescue and emergency medical 
care, and other essential needs. FEMA established the National Urban 
Search and Rescue Response System (US&R) under these authorities. The 
President amended E.O. 121448 to transfer the FEMA Director's delegated 
authority to the Secretary of Homeland Security.

Collection of Information

    Title: National Urban Search and Rescue Program Agreement, 
Application, Reporting, and Audit Requirement.
    Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved 
collection.
    OMB Number: 1660-0073.
    Form Numbers: None.
    Abstract: The information collection activity is the collection of 
financial, program and administrative information for US&R Sponsoring 
Organizations relating to preparedness and response grant awards. This 
information includes a narrative statement that FEMA uses to evaluate a 
grantee's proposed use of funds, progress reports to monitor overall 
progress on managing FEMA grant program, extension or change requests 
used to consider changing or extending the time or the performance 
period of the preparedness or response cooperative agreement and a 
memorandum of agreement between DHS/FEMA and the Sponsoring 
Organizations of US&R task forces as described below.
    Narrative Statement: FEMA uses narrative statements to evaluate a 
grantee's proposed use of funds. Examples of information a grantee 
needs to provide FEMA for preparedness and response cooperative 
agreements are a description of the types of eligible activities the 
grantee will undertake, a plan for expending and monitoring funds, and 
an estimate of the percentage or amount of funds the grantee will pass 
through to sub-grantees. Sponsoring

[[Page 6083]]

Organizations make this information available to FEMA only when we 
request it. If a Sponsoring Organization has remaining preparedness or 
response cooperation agreement funds after completing specific disaster 
or preparedness work, we will require a second narrative statement 
describing the grantee's proposed use of the remaining funds.
    Progress Reports: FEMA program officers use progress reports to 
monitor overall progress on managing FEMA grant programs. We do not 
prescribe a particular format; however, we ensure that the OMB standard 
elements outlined in the common rule, 44 CFR part 13, are in any report 
or suggested format.
    Extension or Change Requests: Grantees that want FEMA to consider 
changing or extending the time or the performance period of the 
preparedness or response cooperative agreement will need to request 
such changes or extensions in writing. FEMA will use the information to 
ensure that the Sponsoring Organization spends funds consistent with 
the intent of the appropriations an in accordance with applicable laws 
and guidance. This type of information is available to FEMA only when 
we request it.
    Affected Public: State, local, or tribal government.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours:

                                                                   Annual Burden Hours
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                                                                                                         Burden hours        Annual        Total annual
       Project/activity (survey, form(s), focus group, etc.)              No. of        Frequency of    per respondent  responses  (A x  burden hours (A
                                                                     respondents (A)   responses (B)         (C)               B)            x B x C)
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Narrative Statement................................................              28                2                4               56              224
Progress Reports...................................................              28                2                2               56              112
Extension or Change Requests.......................................               5                1                1                5                5
Memorandum of Agreements...........................................              28                1                4               28              112
ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½                 ------------------
    Total..........................................................              28   ...............              11              229              453
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    Estimated Cost: The average cost for each respondent would be 
approximately $660. This would include the burden hour costs for 
extensions or change requests, revisions to existing memorandum of 
agreements and progress reports.
    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 beforeApril 
7, 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 Wanda Casey, Program 
Specialist, National Urban Search and Rescue Program, (202) 646-4013 
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 31, 2006.
George S. Trotter,
Acting Branch Chief, Information Resources Management Branch, 
Information Technology Services Division.
[FR Doc. E6-1565 Filed 2-3-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-69-P