[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 139 (Wednesday, July 22, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36241-36242]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-17316]


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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. 1660-0095; No Form.

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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 process for the appeal of 
decisions of flood insurance claims issued through the National Flood 
Insurance Program (NFIP). The appeal process establishes a formal 
mechanism to allow policyholders to appeal the decisions of any 
insurance agent, adjuster, insurance company, or any FEMA employee or 
contractor, in cases or unsatisfactory decisions on claims, proof of 
loss, and loss estimates.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before September 21, 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

[[Page 36242]]

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 Donald Waters, Insurance 
Examiner, FEMA Mitigation, Risk Insurance Division, Claims and Appeals, 
202-212-4725 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: Section 205 of The Bunning-Bereuter-
Blumenauer Flood Insurance Reform Act (FIRA) of 2004, Public Law 108-
264, [insert title number] U.S.C. 4102A, requires the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency (FEMA) to establish by regulation an additional 
process for the appeal of decisions of flood insurance claims issued 
through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Consequently, FEMA 
issued an interim final rule codifying into regulation what was 
previously an existing informal process to handle appeals regarding 
decisions related to coverage or claims under the NFIP.

Collection of Information

    Title: National Flood Insurance Program Claims Appeal Process.
    Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    OMB Number: 1660-0095.
    Form Titles and Numbers: No Form.
    Abstract: The Bunning-Blumenauer Flood Insurance Act of 2004 
requires that FEMA establish an appeals process to allow respondents to 
request a review of an unsatisfactory decision on flood claims.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; Business or other for 
profit.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,800 Hours.

                                                 Table A.12--Estimated Annualized Burden Hours and Costs
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                                                                             Number of    Average burden   Total annual                    Total annual
        Type of respondent             Form name/form        Number of     responses per   per response     burden (in    Average hourly    respondent
                                           number           respondents     respondent      (in hours)        hours)        wage rate *        cost
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Individuals and Households........  Appeals Letters/No               900               1               2           1,800          $28.45         $51,210
                                     Forms.
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    Total.........................  ....................             900  ..............  ..............           1,800  ..............          51,210
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    Estimated Cost: There are no operation or maintenance costs 
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.

Tammi Hines,
Acting Director, Records Management Division, Office of Management, 
Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. E9-17316 Filed 7-21-09; 8:45 am]
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