[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 28 (Monday, February 12, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6574-6575]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-2288]


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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 (FEMA), 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 reinstatement, with change, of a previously 
approved collection for which approval has expired. In accordance with 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice seeks comments 
concerning enrollment for students and score assessments for FEMA's 
Independent Study Program.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FEMA's Emergency Management Institute (EMI) 
provides a wide variety of training to emergency management personnel 
throughout the country. The EMI Independent Study (IS) Program is part 
of the FEMA training program authorized under the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Act, Public Law 93-288 as amended. These 
courses are offered online by the Emergency Management Institute (EMI). 
The IS Program provides valuable training to Federal, State, local and 
Tribal emergency management personnel and the general citizenry of the 
United States without having to attend a resident course at EMI, or at 
a State-sponsored course. The National Incident Management System 
(NIMS) is our nation's incident management system. Homeland Security 
Presidential Directive 5, ``Management of Domestic Incidents'' requires 
the adoption of NIMS by all Federal departments and agencies. This 
directive also requires that Federal preparedness assistance funding 
for States, Territories, local jurisdictions and Tribal entities be 
dependent on NIMS compliance.

Collection of Information

    Title: EMI Independent Study Course Enrollment and Test Answer 
Sheet.
    Type of Information Collection: Reinstatement, with change, of a 
previously approved collection for which approval has expired.
    OMB Number: 1660-0046.
    Form Numbers: FEMA Form 95-23.
    Abstract: The IS program office collect data from FEMA Form 95-23 
to create and update student records and provide students with credit 
for training completion. The system also allows FEMA to track 
completions and failures of course exams. The data on the electronic 
form will be encrypted and sent to the server to be parsed into the 
Independent Study database. The paper version of the form will be 
scanned and parsed into the database or key entered into the database.
    Affected Public: Individuals or Households, Federal Government, and 
State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours:

[[Page 6575]]



                                               Annual Burden Hours
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                                                   Frequency
Project/activity  (survey, form(s),   Number of        of        Burden hours per       Annual     Total annual
         focus group, etc.)          respondents   responses        respondent        responses    burden hours
                                             (A)          (B)  (C).................      (A x B)      (A x Bx C)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FEMA Form 95-23 Paper..............       88,312            4  45 mins.............      353,248         264,936
FEMA Form 95-23 Electronic.........      794,805            4  30 mins.............    3,179,220       1,589,610
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    Total..........................      883,117  ...........  ....................    3,532,468       1,854,546
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    Estimated Cost: FEMA has estimated a total annual cost burden of 
$137,767 will be used by students who will mail FEMA Form 95-23 
(353,248 x .39 cents stamp = $137,767). The hour burden cost to 
respondents using wage rates has estimated to be 28% ($9,668,863) of 
Individuals and Households and 72% ($31,125,213) of State, Local, 
Tribal and Federal Officials will enroll in Independent Study courses.
    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 April 
13, 2007.

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 609, Washington, DC 20472.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Jennifer A. Ogle, Independent 
Study Project Officer, Distant Learning Section, Emergency Management 
Institute, at (301) 447-1585 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: February 2, 2007.
John A. Sharetts-Sullivan,
Chief, Records Management and Privacy Information Resources Management 
Branch, Information Technology Services Division, Federal Emergency 
Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. E7-2288 Filed 2-9-07; 8:45 am]
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