[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 173 (Thursday, September 7, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52811-52812]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-14820]


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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 new information collection. In accordance with 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice seeks comments 
concerning acquisition and relocation of properties for open space.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FEMA submitted an interim final rule for the 
Property Acquisition and Relocation for Open Space (proposed 44 CFR 
Part 80) that will govern property acquisitions

[[Page 52812]]

for the creation of open space under all of FEMA mitigation grant 
programs authorized under both the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
and Emergency Assistance Act as amended, and the National Flood 
Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4001, et seq.), as amended. 
Acquisition and relocation of property for open space use is one of the 
most common mitigation activities, and is an eligible activity type 
authorized for Federal grant funds under all of FEMA mitigation grant 
programs. This collection of information is necessary to establish 
uniform requirements for State and local implementation of acquisition 
activities, and to enforce open space maintenance and monitoring 
requirements for properties acquired with FEMA mitigation grant funds.
    This new collection of information is being submitted with an 
interim final rule for the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) and Severe 
Repetitive Loss (SRL) programs (proposed 44 CFR Part 79), and 
conforming amendment to the Mitigation Planning requirements (44 CFR 
Part 201) to include program requirements under the Bunning-Bereuter-
Blumenauer Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004, Public Law 108-264. This 
Act includes specific requirements for the SRL program on how property 
values, and consequently the amount offered to a property owner for 
acquisition, are to be determined. Since all of FEMA mitigation grant 
programs allow property acquisition activities, FEMA has determined 
that it is in the best interest of property owners, State and local 
grant recipients, and FEMA grant managers to establish a uniform set of 
regulations for acquisition activities that can apply to all FEMA 
mitigation grant programs. This collection serves as an extension of 
information specifically for acquisition and relocation activities 
conducted under FEMA Mitigation grant programs.

Collection of Information

    Title: Property Acquisition and Relocation for Open Space.
    Type of Information Collection: New Collection.
    OMB Number: 1660-New23.
    Form Numbers: None.
    Abstract: FEMA and State and local recipients of FEMA mitigation 
grant programs will use the information collected under the Property 
Acquisition requirements to implement acquisition activities under the 
terms of grant agreements for acquisition and relocation activities. 
FEMA and State/local grant recipients will also use the information to 
monitor and enforce the open space requirements for all properties 
acquired with FEMA mitigation grants.
    Affected Public: State, local, or tribal government and individuals 
or households.
    Estimated Time per Respondent:

                                               Annual Burden Hours
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    Project/activity (survey,        Number of     Frequency of    Burden hours       Annual       Total annual
   form(s), focus group, etc.)      respondents      responses    per respondent     responses     burden hours
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                                             (A)          (B)             (C)              (AxB)           (CxB)
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Property Owners Voluntary                   2200            1               1               2200            2200
 Participation Statements.......
Local Officials Review and                   500            4.4             1               2200            2200
 Submit Voluntary Participation
 Statements.....................
Local Officials Record Deed                  500            4.4             3               2200            6600
 Restrictions...................
States Review and Submit Deed                 56           39.28            4.0             2200            8800
 Restrictions...................
Local Officials Monitoring and               500            4.4             0.25            2200             550
 Reporting Requirements.........
State Officials Reporting                     56            1               4.0               56             224
 Requirements...................
Transfer Certification..........              **           **              **                 **              **
Enforcement Notices.............             ***           **              **                 **              **
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    Total.......................              56  ..............           13.25           2,200          20,574
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    Estimated Cost: The total annual estimated costs to States 
Officials, Local Officials and individuals/households (Property Owners) 
using wage rate categories, for information collection associated with 
the Property Acquisition requirements is $1,018,437.52. Response to 
this information collection will require no additional investment on 
the part of participants other than the normal and routine business/
operational expenses.
    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 
November 6, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons should submit written comments to Chief, 
Records Management and Privacy, 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 Kathleen Wissmann, Program 
Specialist, Mitigation Division, (202) 646-4372 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: September 1, 2006.
John A. Sharetts-Sullivan,
Chief, Records Management and Privacy Information Resources Management 
Branch, Information Technology Services Division.
 [FR Doc. E6-14820 Filed 9-6-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-41-P