[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 191 (Monday, October 3, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 61070-61071]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-25102]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

44 CFR Part 206

[Docket ID FEMA-2011-0004]
RIN 1660-AA02;Formerly 3067-AC69


Disaster Assistance; Hazard Mitigation Grant Program

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION: Proposed rule; withdrawal.

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SUMMARY: On May 1, 1998, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) 
published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to revise the 
categories of projects eligible for funding under the Hazard Mitigation 
Grant Program (HMGP). The NPRM proposed to define eligible mitigation 
activities under the HMGP to include minor flood control projects that 
do not duplicate the efforts and authorities of other Federal agencies. 
It proposed to include vegetation management programs for wildfire 
hazard mitigation and erosion hazard mitigation in the list of eligible 
activities; it proposed to remove development or improvement of warning 
systems from the list of eligible project types; and modified language 
relating to general, allowable open space, recreational, and wetlands 
management uses. FEMA is withdrawing the NPRM so that relevant issues 
involved in the NPRM may be further considered and because portions of 
it are redundant or outdated.

DATES: The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking published on May 1, 1998 (63 
FR 24143), is withdrawn as of October 3, 2011.

ADDRESSES: The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and this withdrawal notice 
may be found under Docket ID: FEMA-2011-0004 and are available online 
by going to http://www.regulations.gov, inserting FEMA-2011-0004 in the 
``Keyword'' box, and then clicking ``Search.'' The Docket is also 
available for inspection or copying at FEMA, 500 C Street, SW., Room 
840, Washington, DC 20472.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cecelia Rosenberg, Federal Insurance 
and Mitigation, DHS/FEMA, 1800 South Bell Street, Arlington, VA 20598-
3015. Phone: (202) 646-3321. Facsimile: (202) 646-2880. E-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Authorized by section 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief 
and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act), 42 U.S.C. 5170c, the 
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) provides States, Tribes, and 
local governments financial assistance to implement measures that 
permanently reduce or eliminate future damages and losses from natural 
hazards.
    The HMGP regulations at 44 CFR part 206, subpart N, address the 
eligibility of multi-hazard mitigation projects through a list of 
general eligibility criteria: a project must be cost-effective, be 
environmentally sound, must address a repetitive problem, and must 
contribute to a long-term solution. Further, HMGP funds cannot be used 
to fund projects that are available under other Federal authorities. 
The regulations also provide a list of eligible types of projects. The 
project-type listing is not all-inclusive. FEMA published a Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) (63 FR 24143, May 1, 1998) proposing the 
following revisions to the HMGP regulations.

Minor Flood Control Projects

    Under the NPRM, minor flood control projects that do not duplicate 
the flood prevention activities of other Federal agencies would be 
eligible for HMGP

[[Page 61071]]

funding. Major flood control projects, such as dikes, levees, dams, 
channelization, channel widening, stream realignment, seawalls, groins, 
and jetties, would be distinguished from minor flood control 
activities. Typically, funding for major flood control projects would 
fall under the water resources design and construction authorities of 
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Natural Resources Conservation 
Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Wildfire and Erosion

    Under the NPRM, vegetation management related to wildfire and 
erosion hazard mitigation measures would be eligible for HMGP funding. 
This would reflect FEMA's multi-hazard HMGP objectives and priorities 
authorized by section 404 of the Stafford Act.

Warning Systems

    The NPRM sought to minimize an emphasis on warning systems by 
removing them from the list of eligible projects. This was due to 
benefit/cost considerations. The benefits of some hazard mitigation 
project types can be difficult to show using FEMA's conventional 
benefit/cost calculation methodology. Because of this in certain 
circumstances FEMA will allow applicants to demonstrate project cost-
effectiveness using means other than the conventional benefit/cost 
methodology. The NPRM proposed to remove warning systems from the 
example list of eligible project types because the project type does 
not lend itself to use of the conventional benefit/cost methodology.

Allowable Open Space Uses

    The NPRM proposed a revision to the list of allowable open space 
uses for previously funded and acquired open space land by replacing 
the word ``previous'' (which was actually a typo in the regulation that 
should have been ``pervious'') with the more widely familiar term of 
permeable.

II. Summary of Comments

    FEMA received 12 comments on the NPRM from State and local 
governments. Several commenters had reservations about the NPRM's 
possible effects on the eligibility of certain flood control projects 
because these projects were viewed as good hazard mitigation activities 
that should be funded by FEMA. Some commenters expressed concern 
regarding the term ``minor flood control'' and the criteria used to 
define it. Two commenters were concerned that major flood control 
projects may become ineligible due to concerns of duplicating other 
Federal assistance, and were concerned about the applicability of this 
rationale to the practice of partnering with other Federal agencies. 
One commenter urged FEMA to recognize the importance of allowing HMGP 
funding to be used for mitigation activities related to facilities that 
would be regarded as major structural flood control facilities.
    One commenter expressed support for the wildfire and erosion 
vegetation management provisions in the NPRM, and was concerned that 
vegetation management activities were not extended to other project 
types. Another commenter expressed concern that wildfire and erosion 
vegetation provisions may conflict with other pre-existing regulatory 
requirements.
    Two commenters expressed dissatisfaction with the NPRM's removal of 
warning systems from the list of ``traditionally'' eligible HMGP 
activities.
    One commenter requested consideration of allowable open space 
activities beyond the scope of the NPRM.

III. Reason for Withdrawal

    FEMA is withdrawing the NPRM so that relevant issues involved in 
the NPRM may be further considered and because portions of it are 
redundant. The definition of minor flood control projects is being 
examined in greater detail relative to the HMGP eligibility criteria of 
the regulations at 44 CFR 206.434(c). Further, the distinction that 
minor flood control projects not duplicate the activities of other 
Federal agencies is redundant because the existing program regulations, 
at 44 CFR 206.434(f), clearly state that HMGP funds cannot be used as a 
substitute or replacement to fund projects or programs that are 
available under other Federal authorities. Therefore, to state the 
requirement again is redundant, and to highlight it for minor flood 
control projects over other project types may lead to some confusion 
regarding its applicability to all project types.
    FEMA considers the other provisions of the NPRM to be outdated. 
Eligibility considerations of vegetation management are addressed 
through FEMA's existing HMGP regulations identifying general 
eligibility considerations, and there is no significant benefit derived 
from listing them specifically. Removing warning systems from the list 
of eligible projects could create the impression that they are not 
eligible for funding.
    The remaining proposed revision, to replace the word ``previous'' 
(a typo for ``pervious'') with ``permeable'' is not sufficient reason 
for continuing the NPRM as the original word and the word proposed to 
replace it mean essentially the same thing.

IV. Conclusion

    FEMA is withdrawing the May 1, 1998 NPRM for the reasons stated in 
this notice.

W. Craig Fugate,
Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency.
[FR Doc. 2011-25102 Filed 9-30-11; 8:45 am]
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