[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 117 (Friday, June 19, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29222-29223]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-14480]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

[Docket ID: FEMA-2009-0001]


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 information collection; OMB No. 1660-0087; No Forms.

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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 revision of a currently approved information 
collection. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 
this Notice seeks comments concerning the revision of the Preparedness 
Comprehensive Assessment Support Tool (PrepCAST) (formerly known as the 
National Incident Management System Compliance Assistance Support Tool 
(NIMSCAST)). PrepCAST is a self-assessment tool for State, territorial, 
Tribal, and local governments to evaluate and report on their 
jurisdiction's achievement with regard to the National Incident 
Management System (NIMS) implementation activities relating to the 
preparedness of the respondent to react to emergency incidents. 
PrepCAST will also collect preparedness data using the Targeted 
Capabilities List (TCL) framework.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before August 18, 2009.

ADDRESSES: To avoid duplicate submissions to the docket, please use 
only one of the following means to submit comments:
    (1) Online. Submit comments at http://www.regulations.gov under 
docket ID FEMA-2009-0001. Follow the instructions for submitting 
comments.
    (2) Mail. Submit written comments to Office of Chief Counsel, 
Regulation and Policy Team, DHS/FEMA, 500 C Street, SW., Room 835, 
Washington, DC 20472-3100.
    (3) Facsimile. Submit comments to (703) 483-2999.
    (4) E-mail. Submit comments to [email protected]. Include docket 
ID FEMA-2009-0001 in the subject line.
    All submissions received must include the agency name and docket 
ID. Regardless of the method used for submitting comments or material, 
all submissions will be posted, without change, to the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov, and will include any 
personal information you provide. Therefore, submitting this 
information makes it public. You may wish to read the Privacy Act 
notice that is available on the Privacy and Use Notice link on the 
Administration Navigation Bar of http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Bill Schwinn, Assessments 
Section Chief, Preparedness Policy, Planning, and Analysis, National 
Preparedness Directorate, Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. 
Department of Homeland Security, (202) 786-9595 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].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 2003, Homeland Security Presidential 
Directive-8: National Preparedness (HSPD-8) called for establishing a 
system that would assess the Nation's overall preparedness and provide 
an annual status report of national preparedness. Three years later, 
the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act (PKEMRA) included 
requirements to establish a ``comprehensive system to assess, on an 
ongoing basis, the Nation's prevention capabilities and overall 
preparedness.''
    The National Preparedness Directorate (NPD) within FEMA is charged 
with developing the Comprehensive Assessment System (CAS). The CAS 
will, as mandated by PKEMRA 649(c)(1-4), assess compliance with the 
national preparedness system, the National Incident Management System 
(NIMS), and other related plans; assess capability levels against 
target levels; assess resource needs to meet target levels; and assess 
the performance of training, exercises, and operations.

Collection of Information

    Title: PrepCAST (formerly NIMSCAST).
    Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    OMB Number: 1660-0087.
    Form Titles and Numbers: No Forms.
    Abstract: The PrepCAST is a standardized data collection and 
assessment process that effectively assesses prevention, protection,

[[Page 29223]]

response, and recovery capabilities at the regional, State, local, and 
Tribal levels In the National Incident Management System collection 
tool, data will be collected on the respondent's ability to meet the 
established NIMS Implementation Objectives. The State Preparedness 
Report collection tool will address questions about current 
capabilities that have not already been answered through other 
assessments and reports, focusing on level of performance of individual 
activities for the 37 capabilities set forth in the Target Capabilities 
List (TCL) 2.0. FEMA collects this data to guide policy and resource 
allocation decisions.
    Affected Public: State, Local and Tribal Government.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 24,278 hours.

                                                 Table A.12--Estimated Annualized Burden Hours and Costs
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                                                                             Number of      Avg. burden    Total annual                    Total annual
        Type of respondent           Form name/Form No.      Number of     responses per   per response     burden  (in     Avg. hourly     respondent
                                                            respondents     respondent      (in hours)        hours)         wage rate         cost
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State, local or Tribal government.  National Incident               3926               1               5          19,630           28.60        $785,985
                                     Management System/
                                     No Form Number.
State, local or Tribal government.  State Preparedness                56               1              83           4,648           28.60         186,106
                                     Report/No Form
                                     Number.
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.........................  ....................  ..............  ..............  ..............          24,278  ..............         972,091
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    Estimated Cost: There is no annual reporting and recordkeeping cost 
associated with this collection.

Comments

    Comments may be submitted as indicated in the ADDRESSES caption 
above. 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.

Larry Gray,
Director, Records Management Division, Office of Management, Federal 
Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. E9-14480 Filed 6-18-09; 8:45 am]
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