[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 69 (Wednesday, April 11, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18266-18267]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-6788]


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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 continuing information collection. In 
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice seeks 
comments concerning the renewal of FEMA's National Flood Insurance 
Program's (NFIP) Biennial Report forms (FEMA Form 81-28, FEMA Form 81-
29, FEMA Form 81-29A).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under 44 CFR 59.22(b)(2), FEMA requires that 
communities participating in the NFIP submit an annual or biennial 
report describing the progress made during the year in the 
implementation and enforcement of floodplain management regulations. 
Currently, FEMA has determined that this data will be collected on a 
biennial reporting cycle and the data collection is now referred to as 
the Biennial Report. As a supplement to the Biennial Report, FEMA has 
been mandated under section 575 of the National Flood Insurance Reform 
Act (NFIRA) of 1994 to assess the need to revise and update all 
floodplain areas and flood risk zones identified, delineated, or 
established under section 1360 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 
1968. The NFIP Biennial Report enables FEMA to meet its regulatory 
requirement under 59.22(b)(2). It also enables FEMA to be more 
responsive to the on-going changes that occur in each participating 
community's flood hazard area. These changes include, but are not 
limited to, new corporate boundaries, changes in flood hazard areas, 
new floodplain management measures, and changes in rate of floodplain 
development. It is also used to evaluate the effectiveness of the 
community's floodplain management activities. The evaluation is 
accomplished by analyzing information provided by the community, such 
as the number of variances and floodplain permits granted by each 
community in relationship to other information contained in the 
Biennial Report, as well as other data available in FEMA's Community 
Information System (CIS). The Biennial Report also provides an 
opportunity for NFIP participating communities to request technical 
assistance in implementing a floodplain management program. FEMA 
regional offices use this information as a means to know which 
communities need support and guidance.
    In addition, the NFIP Biennial Report is one of the tools used to 
assist FEMA in meeting its regulatory requirement under section 575 of 
the NFIRA. A ``yes'' answer to Items A-D in section I of the report 
will provide the basis for FEMA to follow-up by contacting the 
community for clarification and/or elaboration regarding changes and 
activities occurring in a community's flood hazard area. This 
information will be used in ranking and prioritizing one community's 
mapping needs against all other communities in the NFIP and for 
determining how the limited flood hazard mapping funds are allocated 
for map updates.

Collection of Information

    Title: The National Flood Insurance Program Biennial Report.
    Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved 
collection.
    OMB Number: 1660-0003.
    Form Numbers: FEMA Form 81-28, FEMA Form 81-29, FEMA Form 81-29A.
    Abstract: The NFIP Biennial Report enables FEMA to meet its 
regulatory requirement under 44 CFR 59.22(b)(2). It also enables FEMA 
to be more responsive to the on-going changes that occur in each 
participating community's flood hazard area. These changes include, but 
are not limited to, new corporate boundaries, changes in flood hazard 
areas, new floodplain management measures, and changes in rate of 
floodplain development. It is also used to evaluate the effectiveness 
of the community's floodplain management activities. The evaluation is 
accomplished by analyzing information provided by the community, such 
as the number of variances and floodplain permits granted by each 
community in relationship to other information contained in the 
Biennial Report, as well as other data available in FEMA's CIS. The 
Biennial Report also provides an opportunity for NFIP participating 
communities to request technical assistance in implementing a 
floodplain management program. FEMA regional offices use this 
information as a means to know which communities need support and 
guidance. The NFIP Biennial Report is one of the tools used to assist 
FEMA in meeting its regulatory requirement under section 575 of the 
NFIRA.
    Affected Public: The respondents are State, local or tribal 
governments, farms, individuals or households, business or other for-
profit, not-for-profit institutions representing the estimated 20,500 
United States and United States territorial communities that are 
participating members of the NFIP. The NFIP requires that communities

[[Page 18267]]

participating in the NFIP submit an annual or biennial report 
describing the progress made during the year in the implementation and 
enforcement of floodplain management regulations.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: The estimated total annualized 
burden hours for the Biennial Report are 24,501 burden hours.

                                                                   Annual Burden Hours
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                                                                        Number of       Frequency of     Burden hours        Annual        Total annual
                                                                       respondents     responses \*\    per respondent     responses       burden hours
  Project/activity (survey, form(s), focus group, worksheet, etc.)  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                           (A)              (B)              (C)         (D) = (A x B)    (E) = (C x D)
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FF 81-28...........................................................            5,930              0.5              2.0            2,965            5,930
FF 81-29...........................................................           12,224              0.5              3.0            6,112           18,336
FF 81-29A..........................................................            2,346              0.5              0.2            1,173              235
                                                                    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total..........................................................           20,500  ...............  ...............  ...............          24,501
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\*\ The response frequency to the Biennial Report is used just once every two years. Therefore, 0.5 was used for the table above.

    Estimated Cost: The estimated annual cost of the collection of the 
Biennial Report forms is estimated to be $457,180.
    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 June 
11, 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 Rachel Sears, Program 
Specialist, Risk Reduction Branch, at telephone number (202) 646-2977 
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: April 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. E7-6788 Filed 4-10-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-12-P