[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 94 (Thursday, May 14, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28968-28969]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-10374]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

[Docket ID: FEMA-2020-0023; OMB No. 1660-0005]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; FEMA Inspection and Claims Forms

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: The Federal Emergency Management Agency, as part of its 
continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites 
the general public 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 related to the flood insurance claims 
process and the housing inspection damage assessment process.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before July 13, 2020.

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-2020-0023. 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 and 
Security Notice that is available via a link on the homepage of 
www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information related to Claims 
Forms, contact: Daniel Claire, Program Analyst, Federal Insurance & 
Mitigation Administration, 202-552-9891, [email protected]. 
For information related to Housing Inspection Instruments, contact: 
Brian Thompson, Supervisory Program Specialist, FEMA Recovery 
Directorate, [email protected]. You may contact the 
Information Management Division for copies of the proposed collection 
of information at email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Congress created the National Flood 
Insurance Program (NFIP) through enactment of the National Flood 
Insurance Act of 1968 (NFIA) (Title XIII of Pub. L. 90-448, 82 Stat. 
476), codified at 42 U.S.C. 4001 et seq. The NFIP is a Federal program 
enabling property owners in participating communities to purchase 
insurance as a protection against flood losses in exchange for state 
and community floodplain management requirements that reduce the risk 
of future flood damages. Communities participate in the NFIP based on 
an agreement between the community and FEMA. If a community adopts and 
enforces a floodplain management ordinance to reduce future flood risk 
to new construction in floodplains, FEMA will make flood insurance 
available within the community as a financial protection against flood 
losses. Accordingly, the NFIP is comprised of three key activities: 
flood insurance, floodplain management and flood hazard mapping.
    A prospective policyholder may purchase an NFIP flood insurance 
policy either: (1) Directly from the Federal Government through a 
direct servicing agent (referred to as ``NFIP Direct''), or (2) from a 
participating private insurance company through the Write Your Own 
(WYO) Program. The Standard Flood Insurance Policy (SFIP) sets out the 
terms and conditions of insurance. See 44 CFR part 61, Appendix A. FEMA 
establishes terms, rate structures, and premium costs of SFIPs. The 
terms, coverage limits, and flood insurance premiums are the same 
whether purchased from the NFIP Direct or the WYO Program. See 44 CFR 
62.23(a).
    All flood loss claims presented under the NFIP are paid directly 
with U.S. Treasury funds, regardless of whether the policy is issued by 
the government (FEMA) directly or by a WYO company. The information in 
this collection includes all the data necessary to adjudicate claims 
for damages and benefits resulting from flood losses.
    In addition to the requirements of the NFIA, section 205 of the 
Bunning-Bereuter-Blumenauer Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 (42 
U.S.C. 4011 note) required FEMA to establish a claims appeals process. 
FEMA implemented the claim appeal process at 44 CFR 62.20.
    Pertaining to housing inspections, the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act), Pub. L. 93-288, as 
amended, is the legal basis for FEMA to provide financial assistance 
and services to individuals applying for disaster assistance benefits 
in the event of a Federally-declared disaster. Regulations in 44 CFR 
206.110--Federal Assistance

[[Page 28969]]

to Individuals and Households implement the policy and procedures set 
forth in section 408 of the Stafford Act, 42 U.S.C. 5174, as amended. 
This program provides financial assistance and, if necessary, direct 
assistance to eligible individuals and households who, as a direct 
result of a major disaster or emergency, have uninsured or under-
insured, necessary expenses and serious needs, and are unable to meet 
such expenses or needs through other means. Individuals and households 
applying for assistance must provide information detailing their losses 
and needs through the disaster assistance registration process covered 
under collection 1660-0002, Disaster Assistance Registration. If FEMA 
determines the applicant had home or personal property damage, has no 
insurance, or that the applicant's insurance coverage may not meet 
their needs, an inspection is issued to verify disaster caused damage. 
All pertinent information for a specific applicant is stored under a 
unique registration identification (ID) within the National Emergency 
Management Information System (NEMIS). An inspection request occurs due 
to NEMIS-driven business rules (automatically), applicant request, or 
FEMA caseworker request. The scope of an inspection for owners includes 
noting real and personal property (furnishing and appliances) damages 
to the interior and exterior of the dwelling, addressing special needs, 
transportation, unmet needs, and miscellaneous purchases. Inspectors do 
not note real property specifications for renters.
    Once the inspector validates the information provided by the 
applicant during registration intake, the inspector begins a physical 
assessment of real and/or personal property damages utilizing Automated 
Construction Estimator (ACE) software. The inspector then uploads this 
information back to FEMA via the NEMIS through use of a secure 
connection. The inspector only records observed disaster caused damages 
and does not determine eligibility or damage award levels. FEMA's 
policies and business rules determine eligibility and award levels 
based upon the damage assessment, and other available information.

Collection of Information

    Title: FEMA Inspection and Claims Forms, formerly National Flood 
Insurance Program Claim Forms.
    Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    OMB Number: 1660-0005.
    FEMA Forms: FEMA Form 086-0-6; Personal Property (Contents) 
Worksheet, FEMA Form 086-0-7; Building Property Worksheet, FEMA Form 
086-0-9; Proof of Loss--Building & Contents (Policyholder-Prepared), 
FEMA Form 086-0-10; Proof of Loss--Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC), 
FEMA Form 086-0-11; First Notice of Loss, FEMA Form 086-0-17; 
Manufactured (Mobile) Home/Travel Trailer Worksheet, FEMA Form 086-0-
22; Proof of Loss--Building & Contents (Adjuster-Prepared), FEMA Form 
086-0-23; Advance Payment Request--Building & Contents, FEMA Form 086-
0-24; Advance Payment Request--Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC), FEMA 
Form 086-0-25; Claim Appeal, FEMA Form 009-0-143; Onsite Housing 
Inspections, FEMA Form 009-0-144; Remote Voice Telephony Housing 
Inspections, FEMA Form 009-0-145; Remote Video Telephony Housing 
Inspections.
    Abstract: The claims forms used for the National Flood Insurance 
Program are used by policyholders to collect the information needed to 
investigate, document, evaluate, and settle claims against National 
Flood Insurance Program policies for flood damage to their insured 
property or qualification for benefits under Increased Cost of 
Compliance coverage. The housing inspection instruments are used to 
collect and store damage assessment information in ACE to assist in the 
determination of Individuals and Households Program assistance for 
applicants with disaster caused damage to their primary residence.
    Affected Public: Individuals, households, businesses, or other for-
profit.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 312,026.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 312,026.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 314,149.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Cost: $11,796,263.
    Estimated Respondents' Operation and Maintenance Costs: $0.00.
    Estimated Respondents' Capital and Start-Up Costs: $0.00.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to the Federal Government: 
$103,715,613.

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.

Maile Arthur,
Acting Records Management Branch Chief, Office of the Chief 
Administrative Officer, Mission Support, Federal Emergency Management 
Agency, Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. 2020-10374 Filed 5-13-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-52-P