[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 220 (Tuesday, November 17, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59216-59217]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-27552]


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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, 1660-NEW; FEMA's Grants Reporting Tool (GRT)

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION: Notice; 60-day notice and request for comments; new information 
collection; OMB No. 1660-NEW; FEMA Form--None.

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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 new information collection. In accordance with 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this Notice seeks comments 
concerning the collection of information necessary for the Grants 
Reporting Tool (GRT).

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before January 19, 2010.

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 Paul Belkin, Program Analyst, 
Grant Programs Directorate, 202-786-9771 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: Title 44 CFR, part 13, Uniform 
Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to 
State and Local Government establishes uniform administrative rules for 
Federal grants and cooperative agreements and sub-awards to State, 
local and Indian tribal governments. FEMA has determined that in order 
to have consistent implementation of FEMA grant administration 
policies, to reduce duplicative and tedious data entry, to more 
effectively measure preparedness gains, and to streamline application 
submission and management for Grantees, Regions, State and local 
partners, it is necessary to automate the reporting processes.
    The Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD-5) related to 
the ``Management of Domestic Incidents'' gives the Secretary the 
authority to gather information related to domestic incidents and 
mandates the Secretary provide standardized, quantitative reports on 
the readiness and preparedness of the Nation--at all levels of 
government--to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from 
domestic incidents.
    The Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD-8) related to 
``National Preparedness'' authorizes the Federal government to deliver 
Federal preparedness awards to the States. Applicants must apply the 
funds to the highest priority preparedness requirements at the 
appropriate level of government. Federal preparedness assistance is 
based upon the adoption of statewide comprehensive all-hazards 
preparedness strategies, consistent with the national preparedness 
goal. HSPD-8 authorizes the Secretary to review and approve strategies 
submitted by the States and establishes the requirement that applicants 
must have adopted approved statewide strategies in order to receive 
Federal grant funds. Further, HSPD-8 authorizes Federal departments and 
agencies to develop appropriate mechanisms to ensure rapid obligation 
and disbursement of funds from their programs to the States, such as 
the GRT. HSPD-8 mandates Federal departments and agencies report 
annually on the obligation, expenditure status, and the use of funds 
associated with Federal preparedness assistance programs.
    Section 430 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended (6 
U.S.C. 238), authorized the Office for Domestic Preparedness (ODP, 
which was transferred to FEMA by the Post Katrina Emergency Management 
Reform Act of 2006, Pub. L. 109-295) to have primary responsibility for 
national preparedness, including directing and supervising terrorism 
preparedness grant programs for emergency response providers and 
incorporating the Strategy priorities into planning guidance on an 
agency level for the overall national preparedness efforts. ODP (now 
FEMA) was authorized to develop a process for receiving meaningful 
input from State and local government to assist the development of the 
national strategy for combating terrorism and other homeland security 
activities.

Collection of Information

    Title: FEMA's Grants Reporting Tool (GRT).
    Type of Information Collection: New information collection.
    OMB Number: 1660-NEW.
    Form Titles and Numbers: FEMA Form--None.
    Abstract: GRT is the collection of financial and programmatic 
information from States and local governments pertaining to grant and 
cooperative agreement awards. The information enables FEMA to evaluate 
applications and make award decisions, monitor ongoing performance and 
manage the flow of Federal funds, and to appropriately close out grants 
or cooperative agreements. GRT supports the information collection 
needs of each grant program processed in the system.
    Affected Public: State, Local, or Tribal Government.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,492 hours.

[[Page 59217]]



                                                 Table A.12--Estimated Annualized Burden Hours and Costs
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                                                                         Number of                                 Total
                                                            Number of    responses    Total No.    Avg. burden     annual    Avg. hourly   Total annual
        Type of respondent            Form name/form No.   respondents      per           of      per response  burden  (in  wage rate *    respondent
                                                                         respondent   responses     (in hours)     hours)                      cost
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 State, Local or Tribal Government  Initial Strategy                56            1           56          8             448       $32.20      $14,425.60
                                     Implementation Plan
                                     (ISIP).
 State, Local or Tribal Government  Biannual Strategy               56            2          112         15.25        1,708        32.20       54,997.60
                                     Implementation
                                     Report (BSIR).
 State, Local or Tribal Government  Investment                      56            1           56          6             336        32.20       10,819.20
                                     Justification (IJ).
                                                          ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.........................                                  56  ...........  ...........  ............        2,492  ...........       80,242.40
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    Estimated Cost: There is no annual reporting 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. E9-27552 Filed 11-16-09; 8:45 am]
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