[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 3, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 86-87]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-28513]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

[Docket ID: FEMA-2022-0033; OMB No. 1660-NW160]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Floodplain Administrator (FPA) National Training 
Assessment

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland 
Security.

ACTION: 60-Day notice of new collection and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as part of its 
continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites 
the general public to take this opportunity to comment on a new 
information collection. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995, this notice seeks comments concerning the training needs of 
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Floodplain Administrators 
(FPAs) throughout the United States.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before March 6, 2023.

ADDRESSES: To avoid duplicate submissions to the docket, please submit 
comments at www.regulations.gov under Docket ID FEMA-2022-0033. Follow 
the instructions for submitting comments.
    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: Michael Gumpert, National Floodplain 
Management Training Coordinator, FIMA, Floodplain Management Division, 
[email protected], 202-646-2607. You may contact the 
Information Management Division for copies of the proposed collection 
of information at email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) 
is authorized by the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (title XIII 
of Pub. L. 90-448, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 4001 et seq.). The general 
purpose of the NFIP is to create a voluntary program of flood insurance 
that can promote the public interest by providing appropriate 
protection against the perils of flood losses and encouraging sound 
land use by minimizing exposure of property to flood losses; and 
integrate the objectives of a flood insurance program. Nationally, as 
of December 2021, over 22,000 communities in 56 states and 
jurisdictions participate in the NFIP. Each ``eligible or participating 
community,'' shall legislatively (1) Appoint or designate the agency or 
official with the responsibility, authority, and means to implement the 
commitments of application to the National Flood Insurance Program and 
(2) Designate the official responsible to submit a report to the 
Federal Insurance Administrator concerning the community participation 
in the Program, including, but not limited to the development and 
implementation of flood plain management regulations. It is common for 
eligible and participating communities to assign the FPA role to 
employees who are also simultaneously responsible for other roles such 
as Police Chief, Town Clerk, Grants Manager, Finance Manager. FPAs are 
a diverse group with varied socio-economic backgrounds, needs, 
challenges, abilities, schedules, learning styles, geographies, and 
resources. A Training Strategy is needed to direct FEMA's limited FPA 
Training budget into training solutions that address the unique needs 
of FPAs as well as their varied socio-economic backgrounds, challenges, 
abilities, schedules, learning styles, geographies, and resources to 
advance equity, professional development, and retention of FPAs. To be 
effective, the FPA Training Strategy must be grounded in an accurate 
understanding FPAs' varied socio-economic backgrounds, needs, 
challenges, abilities, schedules, learning styles, geographies, and 
resources. To achieve this understanding, a Training Needs Assessment 
must be performed. This data has not been collected previously.
    FEMA is requesting a three-year clearance to collect information 
from FPAs regarding their training needs, floodplain management 
experiences, and demographics to produce improved outcomes for the 
NFIP. The data will be used to help FEMA, State, Tribal, and 
Territorial NFIP Offices, and Floodplain Associations to develop 
equitable

[[Page 87]]

training strategies and solutions that effectively and efficiently 
address the diverse abilities, schedules, learning styles, geographies 
and resources of FPAs who implement this Federal Government program on 
behalf of their local communities. The information collection, to be 
administered by an independent, third-party research organization, will 
allow for a data-informed approach to understanding the needs and 
expectations of an important and specific group of FEMA partners and 
customers for their development and program administration. By using 
this approach, FEMA will be able to gain important insights about FPAs 
and how to improve its offerings and support as well as to allocate 
resources more effectively. The ultimate objective is to reduce the 
socio-economic impact of floods through better preparation of FPAs to 
assist communities adopt and enforce floodplain management regulations 
that help mitigate flooding effects and thus support property owners, 
renters, and businesses to recover faster after a flooding event.
    The primary law that supports the information collection efforts is 
the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993, 31 U.S.C. 1116, 
which has as one of its purposes ``improve Federal programs 
effectiveness and public accountability by promoting a new focus on 
results, service quality, and customer satisfaction.''

Collection of Information

    Title: Floodplain Administrator (FPA) National Training Needs 
Assessment.
    Type of Information Collection: New information collection.
    OMB Number: 1660-NW160.
    FEMA Forms: FEMA Form FF-206-FY-22-159, Floodplain Administrator 
Training Needs Assessment.
    Abstract: The online survey will collect information from 
Floodplain Administrators regarding their training needs, floodplain 
management experiences, and demographics. The data will be used to help 
FEMA, State, Tribal, and Territorial NFIP Offices, and Floodplain 
Associations to develop training strategies and solutions that 
effectively and efficiently address those needs to produce improved 
outcomes for the National Flood Insurance Program.
    Affected Public: State, local, or Tribal government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 6,323.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 6,323.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 3,161.5.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Cost: $124,310.
    Estimated Respondents' Operation and Maintenance Costs: $0.
    Estimated Respondents' Capital and Start-Up Costs: $0.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to the Federal Government: $420,329.

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.

Millicent Brown Wilson,
Records Management Branch Chief, Office of the Chief Administrative 
Officer, Mission Support, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 
Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. 2022-28513 Filed 12-30-22; 8:45 am]
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