[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 234 (Thursday, December 4, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73949-73950]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-28689]


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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; 60-day notice and request for comments; Revision of a 
currently approved collection, OMB Number: 1660-0070, FEMA Form 75-100.

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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 revised information collection. In accordance with the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice seeks comments concerning 
the use of a form to collect data for the development and continuation 
of the National Fire Department Census database.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public Law 93-498 provides for the gathering 
and analyzing of data as deemed useful and applicable for fire 
departments. The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) receives many requests 
from fire service organizations and the general public for information 
related to fire departments, including total number of departments, 
number of stations per department, population protected, and number of 
firefighters. The USFA also has a need for this information to guide 
programmatic decisions, and produce mailing lists for USFA 
publications. Recommendations for the creation of the fire department 
database came out of a Blue Ribbon Panel's review of the USFA. The 
report included a review of the structure, mission and funding of the 
USFA, future policies, programmatic needs, course development and 
delivery, and the role of the USFA to reflect changes in the fire 
service. As a result of those recommendations, the USFA is working to 
identify all fire departments in the United States to develop a 
database that will include information related to demographics, 
capabilities, and activities of fire departments Nationwide. In the 
first year of this effort, information was collected from 16,000 fire 
departments. Since the first year of the collection, an additional 
10,000 departments have registered.

Collection of Information

    Title: National Fire Department Census.
    Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved 
collection.
    OMB Number: 1660-0070.
    Form Numbers: FEMA Form 75-100, National Fire Department Census.
    Abstract: This collection seeks to identify fire departments in the 
U.S. to compile a database related to demographics, capabilities, and 
activities. The database will be used to guide programmatic decisions 
and provide information to the public.
    Affected Public: Federal Government, State, Local or Tribal 
Government.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,667 burden hours.

[[Page 73950]]

Annual Hour Burden

                                                 Table A.12--Estimated Annualized Burden Hours and Costs
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                                                                             Number of                                Total                     Total
                                                                Number of    responses   Avg. burden per response     annual    Avg. hourly     annual
          Type of respondent            Form name/form number  respondents      per             (in hours)          burden (in   wage rate    respondent
                                                                             respondent                               hours)                     cost
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State, Local, or Tribal..............  FF 75-100.............          528            1  25 minutes (.4167 hours)       220.02       $21.22    $4,668.82
State, Local, or Tribal (volunteers).  FF 75-100.............         3472            1  25 minutes (.4167 hours)     1,446.78            0            0
                                                              ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total............................  ......................        4,000  ...........  ........................        1,667  ...........    $4,668.82
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    Estimated Cost: The estimated annualized cost to respondents based 
on wage rate categories is $4,668.82. The estimated annual cost to the 
Federal Government is $65,550.00.
    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 
February 2, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons should submit written comments to Office 
of Management, Records Management Division, Federal Emergency 
Management Agency, 500 C Street, SW., Washington, DC 20472.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Gayle Kelch, Statistician, 
United States Fire Administration, National Fire Data Center, (301) 
447-1154 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].

Lawann B. Johnson,
Acting Director, Records Management Division, Office of Management, 
Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. E8-28689 Filed 12-3-08; 8:45 am]
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