[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 88 (Tuesday, May 9, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21548-21549]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-09359]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

[Docket ID: FEMA-2017-0013; OMB No. 1660-0072]


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

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 collection of information 
necessary to implement grants for the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) 
program and the Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) program.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before July 10, 2017.

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-2017-0013. 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: Jennie Orenstein, Branch Chief, HMA 
Division--Grants Policy, (202) 212-4071. You may contact the Records 
Management Division for copies of the proposed collection of 
information at email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FMA program is authorized by Section 
1366 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 
4104c. The FMA program, under 44 CFR part 79, provides funding for 
measures taken to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk of flood 
damage to buildings, manufactured homes, and other structures insured 
under the National Flood Insurance Program. The Biggert-Waters Flood 
Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (Pub. L. 112-141) eliminated the 
Repetitive Flood Claims (RFC) and Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL) 
programs, and made significant changes to the FMA program by 
consolidating the former RFC and SRL programs into FMA. Cost-share 
requirements were changed to allow more Federal funds for properties 
with repetitive flood claims.
    The PDM program is authorized by Section 203 of the Robert T. 
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5133, 
as amended by Section 102 of the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, 
Public Law 106-390, 114 Stat. 1553. It 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. Applications and 
subapplications for the PDM and FMA programs are submitted via the e-
Grants system. The e-Grants system was developed and updated to meet 
the intent of the e-Government initiative, authorized by Public Law 
106-107. This initiative required 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. Title 2 CFR 200.335, promulgated in 2013, encourages Federal 
awarding agencies and non-Federal entities to, whenever practicable, 
collect, transmit, and store Federal award-related information in open 
and machine readable formats rather than in closed formats or on paper.
    FEMA is proposing to add a new form to this collection to better 
provide customer-centric clarity and uniformity in the way FEMA 
collects information on the progress of FMA/PDM-funded hazard 
mitigation projects. The new ``Non-Disaster Quarterly Progress Report'' 
form will replace the obsolete SF-425. Title 2 CFR 200.328 authorizes 
the collection of information on the progress of activities conducted 
under Federal awards.

Collection of Information

    Title: Mitigation Grant Programs/e-Grants.
    Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    OMB Number: 1660-0072.
    FEMA Forms: A FEMA Form number for the new Non-Disaster Quarterly 
Progress Report form is currently pending.
    Abstract: FEMA's Flood Mitigation Assistance and Pre-Disaster 
Mitigation programs utilize an automated grant application and 
management system called e-Grants. These grant programs provide funding 
for the purpose of reducing or eliminating the risks to life and 
property from hazards. The e-Grants system includes all of the 
application information needed to apply for funding under these grant 
programs.
    Affected Public: State, local or Tribal government.
    Number of Respondents: 56.
    Number of Responses: 4,200.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 18,088.
    Estimated Cost: The estimated annual cost to respondents is 
$893,366. The estimated annual cost to the Federal government is 
$6,598,456.16. There are no annual recordkeeping, capital, start-up, or 
operation and maintenance costs to respondents associated with this 
collection of information.

[[Page 21549]]

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.

William H. Holzerland,
Senior Director for Information Management, Office of the Chief 
Administrative Officer Mission Support, Federal Emergency Management 
Agency, Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. 2017-09359 Filed 5-8-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-52-P