[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 14 (Tuesday, January 23, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2894-2895]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-890]


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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, DHS.

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

[[Page 2895]]

and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal 
agencies to take this opportunity to comment on a proposed continuing 
information collection. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995, this notice seeks comments concerning the certification of 
flood proof residential basements in Special Flood Hazard Areas.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), 
administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), 
regulation 44 CFR 60.3, Floodplain Management Criteria for Flood-Prone 
Areas, ensures that buildings in communities participating in the NFIP, 
in Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs), have their lowest floor 
elevations including basement at or above the Base Flood Elevation (the 
100-year flood elevation). This requirement reduces the risks of flood 
hazards to new buildings in SFHAs and reduces insurance rates. However, 
FEMA regulation 44 CFR 60.6(c) allows communities to apply for an 
exception to permit and certify the construction of floodproofed 
residential basements in SFHAs. The certification must ensure that the 
community has demonstrated that that areas of special flood hazard, in 
which residential basements will be permitted, are subject to shallow 
and low velocity flooding and that there is adequate flood warning time 
to notify residents of impending flood. This certification allows the 
community to ensure that local floodplain management ordinances are met 
and allows property owners to receive a ``discounted'' flood insurance 
rate applicable to residential buildings with floodproofed basements.

Collection of Information

    Title: Residential Basement Floodproofing Certificate.
    Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved 
collection.
    OMB Number: 1660-0033.
    Form Numbers: FEMA Form 81-78.
    Abstract: FEMA Form 81-78 is only used in communities that have 
been granted an exception by FEMA to allow the construction of flood 
proof residential basements in Special Flood Hazard Areas, (SFHAs). 
Homeowners must have a registered professional engineer or architect 
complete FEMA Form 81-78 for development or inspection of a properly 
designed and constructed basement and certify that the basement design 
and methods of constructions are in accordance with floodplain 
management ordinances. In any case homeowners are responsible for the 
fees involved with these services. Homeowners also provide FEMA Form 
81-8 to the insurance agent to receive discounted flood insurance under 
the NFIP.
    Affected Public: Individuals of Households and Business or other 
for-profit.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 487.5 hours.

                                                                   Annual Burden Hours
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  Project/activity (survey, form(s), focus group, worksheet,        Number of       Frequency of      Burden hours         Annual         Total annual
                             etc.)                                 respondents        responses      per respondent       responses       burden hours
                                                                             (A)               (B)               (C)           (A x B)       (A x B x C)
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FEMA Form 81-78...............................................               150                 1              3.25               150             487.5
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.....................................................               150                 1              3.25               150             487.5
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    Estimated Cost: The average cost paid to the architect or engineer 
employed by a homeowner to complete this form is $325 per homeowner. 
The total annual cost to homeowners is estimated to be $48,750. The 
estimated wage rate for an architect or engineer to complete FEMA Form 
81-78 is $13,023.
    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 
26, 2007.
    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 Mary Chang, Insurance 
Examiner, Mitigation Division at 202-646-2790 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, 2007.
John A. Sharetts-Sullivan,
Chief, Records Management and Privacy Information Resources Management 
Branch, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland 
Security.
 [FR Doc. E7-890 Filed 1-22-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 0110-11-P