[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 231 (Monday, December 4, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 84161-84162]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-26563]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

[Docket ID: FEMA- 2023-0014; OMB No. 1660-NW164]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; an Investigation of the Effect of Disaster Response 
and Recovery on Perceived Stress and Emotional Trauma

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 an 
Investigation of the Effect of Disaster Response and Recovery on 
Perceived Stress and Emotional Trauma. In accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995, this notice seeks comments concerning the effect 
of disasters on the mental health of emergency managers at local, 
State, and Federal levels.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before February 2, 2024.

ADDRESSES: To avoid duplicate submissions to the docket, please submit 
comments at www.regulations.gov under Docket ID FEMA-2023-0014. 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: Megan Corley, Supervisory 
Psychologist, FEMA Mental Health, at [email protected] or 
(202) 880-7506. You may contact the Information Management Division for 
copies of the proposed collection of information at email address: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A study to investigate the effect of 
disaster response and recovery on emergency managers was requested by 
Congress in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Pub. L. 116-
260). 29 CFR part 1960, entitled ``Basic Program Elements for Federal 
Employee Occupational Safety and Health Programs and Related Matters'', 
contains special provisions to assure safe and healthful working 
conditions for Federal employees; requiring the head of each Federal 
Agency to maintain an effective and comprehensive occupational safety 
and health program consistent with section 6 of the Occupational Safety 
and Health Administration Act of 1970 (Pub. L. 91-596) (OSHA Act). 
Furthermore, 5 U.S.C. 7902 requires the head of each agency to develop 
and support organized safety promotion to reduce accidents and injuries 
to its employees, encourage safe practices, and eliminate hazards and 
risks. Under 5 U.S.C. 7902(e), Agencies must also keep a record of 
injuries and accidents.
    This program was established to improve the mental health of 
FEMA's, as well as State and local, emergency managers in response to 
the effects of stress caused by disasters. This data collection is 
needed to comply with the OSHA Act, 5 U.S.C. 7902 requiring the 
monitoring, reporting, and mitigation of workplace injuries, and with 
the request from Congress to undertake this survey.

Collection of Information

    Title: An Investigation of the Effect of Disaster Response and 
Recovery on Perceived Stress and Emotional Trauma.
    Type of Information Collection: New information collection.
    OMB Number: 1660-NW164.
    FEMA Forms: FEMA Form FF-119-FY-23-100, FEMA Congressional Mental 
Health Emergency Manager Wellness Study Survey.
    Abstract: This information collection supports a study to 
investigate the effect of disaster response and recovery on emergency 
managers that was requested by Congress in 2022. This is a voluntary 
survey that will be collected electronically with approximately 38 
questions pertaining to the individuals' experience and demographics, 
as well as their perceptions of emotional trauma and stress symptoms 
while supporting a disaster response or recovery. Prior to seeing these 
questions, participants will see an informed consent screen that 
outlines the nature of the study, risks, benefits, and Institutional 
Review Board (IRB) information. Participants may choose to end the 
survey at any time without questions being asked. Participants are 
given mental health resources to support them in the event of emotional 
triggering.
    Affected Public: State, local, and Tribal governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 378.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 378.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 189.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Cost: $11,712.
    Estimated Respondents' Operation and Maintenance Costs: $0.
    Estimated Respondents' Capital and Start-Up Costs: $0.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to the Federal Government: $306,752.

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

[[Page 84162]]

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. 2023-26563 Filed 12-1-23; 8:45 am]
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