[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 201 (Tuesday, October 18, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64361-64362]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-26942]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

[Docket ID: FEMA-2011-0029; OMB No. 1660-0095]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; National Flood Insurance Program Claims Appeals 
Process

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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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 revision of the National Flood 
Insurance Claims Appeals Process. 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.
    Under this process, FEMA sends the NFIP Flood Insurance Claims 
Handbook to the policyholder (upon completion of signed policy), which 
explains to them the appeals process. If the policyholder wishes to 
appeal a claims decision, that policyholder may appeal it to FEMA. FEMA 
will acknowledge receipt of a policyholder's appeal in writing and 
advise such policyholder if additional information is required in order 
to fully consider the appeal. FEMA will review the documentation 
submitted by the policyholder, conduct any necessary additional 
investigation, and advise, both the policyholder and the appropriate 
flood insurance carrier, of its decision regarding the appeal.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before December 19, 2011.

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-2011-0029. Follow the instructions for submitting 
comments.
    (2) Mail. Submit written comments to Docket Manager, Office of 
Chief Counsel, 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-2011-0029 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 via the link in the footer of http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dennis Kuhns, Division Director, Risk 
Insurance Division, 202-212-0429 for additional information. You may 
contact the Records Management Division 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 of 2004, Public Law 108-264 
Section 205, 42 U.S.C. 4011 note, requires the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency to establish by regulation an additional process for 
the appeal of decisions of flood insurance claims issued through the 
National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA's regulation at 44 CFR 62.20 
details the appeals process.
    The process requires policyholders to submit a written appeal to 
the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Mitigation Directorate/Risk 
Insurance Division), in the form of a signed letter explaining the 
nature of their claim appeal, names and titles of persons contacted, 
dates of contact, contact information, and details of the contact 
relevant to their claim appeal. These requirements are spelled out to 
policyholders in the aforementioned NFIP Flood Insurance Claims 
Handbook. The policyholders are also required to state the basis for 
their appeal and submit supporting documentation including a copy of 
the insurer's written denial, in whole or in part, of the claim.

Collection of Information

    Title: National Flood Insurance Program Claims Appeals Process.
    Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    OMB Number: 1660-0095.
    Form Titles and Numbers: None.
    Abstract: The NFIP claims appeals process requires policyholders to 
submit a written appeal to the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
(Mitigation Directorate/Risk Insurance Division), in the form of a 
signed letter explaining the nature of their claim appeal, names and 
titles of persons contacted, dates of contact, contact information, and 
details of the contact relevant to their claim appeal. The 
policyholders are also required to state the basis for their appeal and 
submit supporting documentation including a copy of the insurer's 
written denial, in whole or in part, of the claim.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households and Business or other-
for-profits.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2110 hours.
    Estimated Cost: The cost to policyholders would be an annual cost 
of $464.20 for postage.

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,

[[Page 64362]]

e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses.

Gary L. Anderson,
Acting Chief Administrative Officer, Mission Support Bureau, Federal 
Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. 2011-26942 Filed 10-17-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-11-P