[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 210 (Thursday, October 30, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64610-64611]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-25813]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

[Docket ID: FEMA-2014-0031; OMB No. 1660-0069]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) v5.0

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 the National Fire Incident 
Reporting System (NFIRS) v5.0. The program provides a well established 
mechanism, using standardized reporting methods, to collect and analyze 
fire incident data at the Federal, State, and local levels with a 
myriad of life and property saving uses and benefits.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before December 29, 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 www.regulations.gov under Docket ID 
FEMA-2014-0031. 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 8NE, Washington, DC 
20472-3100.
    (3) Facsimile. Submit comments to (202) 212-4701.
    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 64611]]

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 www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Whitney, Fire Program Specialist, 
United States Fire Administration, National Fire Data Center, (301) 
447-1836 for additional information. You may contact the Records 
Management Division for copies of the proposed collection of 
information at facsimile number (202) 212-4701 or email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Commission on Fire Prevention 
and Control conducted a comprehensive study of the Nation's fire 
problem and recommended to Congress actions to mitigate the fire 
problem, reduce loss of life and property, and educate the public on 
fire protection and prevention. As a result of the study, Congress 
enacted Public Law 93-498, Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 
1974, which establishes the U.S. Fire Administration to administer fire 
prevention and control programs, supplement existing programs of 
research, training, and education, and encourage new and improved 
programs and activities by State and local governments. Section 9(a) of 
the Act authorizes the Administrator, U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), 
to operate directly or through contracts or grants, an integrated, 
comprehensive method to select, analyze, publish, and disseminate 
information related to prevention, occurrence, control, and results of 
fires of all types.

Collection of Information

    Title: National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) v5.0.
    Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    OMB Number: OMB No. 1660-0069.
    FEMA Forms: The National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) 
v5.0.
    Abstract: NFIRS was established in 1975 by the USFA as a 
cooperative effort of local, State, and Federal authorities to improve 
uniformity in fire incident reporting and to ensure that data are 
useable for fire protection planning and management. The program 
provides a well-established mechanism, using standardized reporting 
methods, to collect and analyze fire incident data at the Federal, 
State, and local levels with a myriad of life and property saving uses 
and benefits.
    Affected Public: State, Local or Tribal, and Federal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 23,000.
    Number of Responses: 29,970,120.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 13,500,230. The annual burden 
hours has decreased by 204,670 hours from the previous inventory due to 
discontinuation of use of NFIRS paper forms and a small decrease in the 
number of students receiving the NFIRS Program Management Training and 
Orientation.

                                                                           Estimated Annualized Burden Hours and Costs
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                                                                                                     Number of                    Average burden   Total annual                    Total annual
              Type of respondent                       Form name/form No.            Number of     responses per   Total number    per response     burden  (in   Average hourly    respondent
                                                                                    respondents     respondent     of responses     (in hours)        hours)         wage rate       cost  ($)
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State, Local, or Tribal Government............  NFIRS Version 5.0 Modules 1-12            23,000           1,303      29,969,000    27 min (0.45      13,486,050          $32.49     438,161,765
                                                 (Electronic).                                                                               hr)
State, Local, or Tribal Government............  NFIRS Program Management                      26               1              26        50 hours           1,300           32.49          42,237
                                                 Training (Training).
State, Local, or Tribal Government............  NFIRS Program Management                      30               1              30        16 hours             480           32.49          15,595
                                                 Orientation (Training).
State, Local, or Tribal Government............  NFIC Training Workshop                       100               1             100        16 hours           1,600           32.49          51,984
                                                 (Training).
State, Local, or Tribal Government............  NFIRS CD/on-site Orientation                 200               1             200         4 hours             800           32.49          25,992
                                                 (Training).
State, Local, or Tribal Government............  Introduction to NFIRS Distance               500               1             500        20 hours          10,000           32.49         324,900
                                                 Learning (Training).
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    Total.....................................  ................................          23,856  ..............      29,969,856  ..............      13,500,230  ..............     438,622,473
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    Estimated Cost: The estimated annual operations and maintenance 
costs to respondents or record keepers resulting from the collection of 
information is $13,915,000. The estimated annual cost to the Federal 
Government is $2,416,255.

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.

    Dated: October 16, 2014.
Charlene D. Myrthil,
Director, Records Management Division, Mission Support, Federal 
Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. 2014-25813 Filed 10-29-14; 8:45 am]
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