[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 14 (Wednesday, January 22, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3606-3607]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-01198]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

[Docket ID: FEMA-2013-0056; OMB No. 1660-0072]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Mitigation Grant Program/e-Grants.

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 this collection that is used by: 
(1) Applicants and sub-applicants to apply for and report on e-Grant 
awards; and (2) the Federal Emergency Management Agency to evaluate, 
award, and monitor expenditures and program/project performance for 
Flood Mitigation Assistance and Pre-Disaster Mitigation program 
activities.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before March 24, 2014.

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-2013-0056. Follow the instructions for submitting 
comments.
    (2) Mail. Submit written comments to Regulatory Affairs Division, 
Office of Chief Counsel, DHS/FEMA, 500 C Street SW., Room 8NE, 
Washington, DC 20472-3100.
    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: Cecelia Rosenberg, Chief, Grants 
Policy Branch, Mitigation Division, Federal Insurance and Mitigation 
Administration, DHS/FEMA, (202) 646-3321 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 email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This collection of information is necessary 
to implement grants for the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program 
and the Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) program. The FMA program is 
authorized by section 1366 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, 
42 U.S.C. 4104c, as amended by the National Flood Insurance Reform Act 
of 2004 (NFIA), Public Law 108-264. The FMA program, under 44 CFR part 
79, is designed to award grants so that measures are taken to reduce or 
eliminate the long-term risk of flood damage to buildings, manufactured 
homes, and other structures insurable under the National Flood 
Insurance Program (NFIP). In addition, the FMA program now funds 
projects previously funded under the Repetitive Flood Claims (RFC) and 
Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL) programs. The Biggert-Waters Flood 
Insurance Reform Act of 2012, Public Law 112-141 (42 U.S.C. 4001, et 
seq.) eliminated the RFC and SRL programs, by combining those programs 
under the FMA program. Projects that were eligible for funding under 
the old RFC and SRL programs, and that meet criteria consistent with 
legislative changes made in the Biggert-Waters Act, are now eligible 
for increased Federal cost share under the FMA program. Under the FMA 
there will be grant awards for actions that reduce flood damages to 
individual properties for which one or more claim payments for losses 
have been made. Also, grant awards will be available for the goal of 
reducing flood damages to residential properties that have experienced 
severe repetitive losses under flood insurance coverage.
    The PDM program is authorized by Section 203 of the Robert T. 
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (the Act), 42 
U.S.C. 5133, as amended. The PDM program provides grants for cost-
effective mitigation actions prior to a disaster event to reduce 
overall risks to the population and structures, while also reducing 
reliance on funding from actual disaster declarations.
    In accordance with OMB Circular A-102, FEMA requires that all 
parties interested in receiving FEMA mitigation grants submit an 
application package for grant assistance. The e-Grants system was 
developed and revamped to meet the intent of the e-Government 
initiative, authorized by Public Law 106-107. This initiative requires 
that all government agencies both streamline grant application 
processes and provide for the means to electronically create, review, 
and submit a grant application via the Internet.

Collection of Information

    Title: Mitigation Grant Program/e-Grants.
    Type of Information Collection: Extension, without change, of a 
currently approved information collection.
    OMB Number: 1660-0072.
    FEMA Forms: No Forms.
    Abstract: The FEMA pre-disaster mitigation grant programs--Flood 
Mitigation Assistance, and Pre-Disaster Mitigation--both utilize an 
automated grant application and management system known as e-Grants to 
apply for these grants. These programs provide funding to allow for the 
reduction or elimination of the risks to life and property from 
hazards. The e-Grants system also provides the mechanism to provide 
quarterly reports of the financial status of the project and the final 
closeout report.
    Affected Public: State, local and Tribal Governments.
    Number of Respondents: 56
    Number of Responses: 5,264
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 43,848.
    Estimated Cost: There are no operation and maintenance, or capital 
and start-up costs associated with this collection of information.

Comments

    Comments may be submitted as indicated in the ADDRESSES caption 
above. Comments are solicited to (a) evaluate whether the proposed data

[[Page 3607]]

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.

    Dated: January 8, 2014.
Charlene D. Myrthil,
Director, Records Management Division, Mission Support Bureau, Federal 
Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. 2014-01198 Filed 1-21-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-13-P