[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 128 (Tuesday, July 5, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43622-43623]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-15825]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

[Docket ID: FEMA-2016-0014; OMB No. 1660-0033]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Residential Basement Floodproofing Certification

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 revision of a currently approved information 
collection. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 
this notice seeks comments concerning the certification of floodproofed 
residential basements in Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs).

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before September 6, 2016.

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-2016-0014. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
    (2) Mail. Submit written comments to Docket Manager, Office of 
Chief Counsel, DHS/FEMA, 500 C Street SW., 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 
www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Chang, Insurance Examiner, FEMA, 
Mitigation Directorate, (202) 212-4712 for additional information. You 
may contact the Records Management Division for copies of the proposed 
collection of information at email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Emergency Management Agency

[[Page 43623]]

(FEMA) is authorized to establish and carry out a National Flood 
Insurance Program (NFIP) to enable interested persons to purchase 
insurance against flood loss. See, 42 U.S.C. 4001 et seq. Flood 
insurance under the NFIP can be sold or renewed only within a community 
that has adopted adequate floodplain management regulations consistent 
with the Federal criteria in the NFIP regulations. See, 44 CFR 60.3. 
FEMA's minimum floodplain management criteria require that all new 
construction and substantial improvements of residential structures 
within Zones A1-30, AE and AH have the lowest floor, including the 
basement, elevated at or above the base flood level. FEMA can grant an 
exception to this rule after a community submits a proposal to FEMA to 
adopt standards for floodproofing residential basements below the base 
flood level in zones A1-30, AH, AO, and AE in accordance with 44 CFR 
60.6(c). When FEMA grants an exception to a community under 44 CFR 
60.6(c), property owners in these communities submit a Residential 
Basement Floodproofing Certificate with their NFIP application for 
flood insurance for rating purposes. The certification also provides 
community officials with information to determine compliance with the 
community's floodplain management ordinance.

Collection of Information

    Title: Residential Basement Floodproofing Certification.
    Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    OMB Number: 1660-0033.
    FEMA Forms: FEMA Form 086-0-24, Residential Basement Floodproofing 
Certificate.
    Abstract: The Residential Basement Floodproofing Certification is 
completed by an engineer or architect and certifies that the basement 
floodproofing meets the minimum floodproofing specifications of FEMA. 
This certification is for residential structures located in non-coastal 
Special Flood Hazard Areas in communities that have received an 
exception to the requirement that structures be built at or above the 
Base Flood Elevation (BFE) under 44 CFR 60.6(c). Residential structures 
with certification showing the building is floodproofed to at least 1 
foot above the BFE are eligible for lower rates on flood insurance.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households, Business or other for-
profit.
    Number of Respondents: 100.
    Number of Responses: 100.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 325 hours.
    Estimated Cost: The estimated annual cost to respondents for the 
hour burden is $18,151. The annual costs to respondents' operations and 
maintenance costs for technical services is $35,000. There are no 
annual start-up or capital costs. The cost to the Federal Government is 
$2,885.71.

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: June 29, 2016.
Richard W. Mattison,
Records Management Program Chief, Mission Support, Federal Emergency 
Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. 2016-15825 Filed 7-1-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9111-52-P