[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 185 (Tuesday, September 24, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 77786-77787]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-21556]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

44 CFR Part 206

[Docket ID FEMA-2023-0005]
RIN 1660-AB09


Update of FEMA's Public Assistance Regulations; Reopening of 
Comment Period

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

ACTION: Proposed rulemaking; reopening and extending the public comment 
period.

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SUMMARY: This notice reopens the comment period for the proposed rule 
published on July 2, 2024, entitled ``Update of FEMA's Public 
Assistance Regulations.'' The comment period for the proposed rule 
closed September 3, 2024; it is now reopened and extended from 
September 4, 2024, to October 18, 2024.

DATES: The comment period for the proposed rule published on July 2, 
2024 (89 FR 54966) is reopened.
    Comments must be submitted by October 18, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to participate in this 
rulemaking by submitting comments and related materials. FEMA will 
consider all comments and material received during the comment period.
    If you submit a comment, include the Docket ID FEMA-2023-0005, 
indicate the specific section of this document to which each comment 
applies, and give the reason for each comment. All submissions may be 
posted, without change, to the Federal eRulemaking Portal at 
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 access to the docket 
to read background documents or comments received, go to the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tod Wells, Deputy Director, Public 
Assistance Division. Phone: (202) 646-3834. Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 2, 2024, FEMA published a notice of 
proposed rulemaking with request for comments in the Federal Register 
at 89 FR 54966. The proposed rule, entitled ``Update of FEMA's Public 
Assistance Regulations,'' would amend the Public Assistance program 
regulations at Title 44, part 206, of the Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR) to reflect current statutory authorities, clarify the 
requirements for program eligibility, and improve program 
administration.
    FEMA is responsible for administering and coordinating the Federal 
Government response to Presidentially declared disasters pursuant to 
the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, as 
amended (Stafford Act), Public Law 93-288, 42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq. When 
a catastrophe occurs in a State or affects the members of a Tribal 
community, the State's Governor or Tribal Chief Executive may request a 
Presidential declaration of a major disaster pursuant to Section 401 of 
the

[[Page 77787]]

Stafford Act. 42 U.S.C. 5170(a), (b); 44 CFR 206.36(a).
    The Public Assistance program is one of the programs that may be 
authorized by a declaration, which provides a broad range of assistance 
to State, Tribal, Territorial and local governments. It provides 
assistance for emergency protective measures, such as emergency 
evacuation, sheltering, and debris removal, as well as financial 
assistance for the permanent restoration of facilities. In addition, 
the Stafford Act authorizes Community Disaster Loans for any local or 
Tribal government that has suffered a substantial loss of tax and other 
revenues as a result of a major disaster, and that demonstrates a need 
for financial assistance to perform its governmental functions. 42 
U.S.C. 5184.
    In ``Update of FEMA's Public Assistance Regulations,'' FEMA 
proposes to amend its Public Assistance and Community Disaster Loan 
program regulations to both improve program administration and 
incorporate statutory changes relating to Public Assistance and 
Community Disaster Loans. These include the Post Katrina Emergency 
Management Reform Act of 2006 (PKEMRA), Public Law 109-295, 120 Stat. 
1394, the Security and Accountability for Every Port Act of 2006 (SAFE 
Port Act), Public Law 109- 347, 120 Stat. 1884, the Pets Evacuation and 
Transportation Standards Act of 2006 (PETS Act), Public Law 109-308, 
120 Stat. 1725, the Sandy Recovery Improvement Act of 2013 (SRIA), 
Public Law 113-2, 127 Stat. 39, the Emergency Information Improvement 
Act of 2015, Public Law 114-111, 129 Stat. 2240, the Bipartisan Budget 
Act of 2018, Public Law 115-123, 132 Stat. 64, and the FAA 
Reauthorization Act of 2018, Division D, Disaster Recovery Reform Act 
of 2018 (DRRA), Public Law 115-254, 132 Stat. 3438.
    On September 3, 2024, FEMA received a request to reopen and extend 
the public comment period in Docket ID FEMA-2023-0005. FEMA-2023-0005-
0119; FEMA-2023-0005-0138. To provide additional time for interested 
parties to consider and comment on any implications of the ``Update of 
FEMA's Public Assistance Regulations,'' FEMA reopens and extends the 
comment period from September 4, 2024, to October 18, 2024.
    FEMA will consider comments received from July 2, 2024 to October 
18, 2024. Please visit www.regulations.gov to view the proposed rule, 
comments received, and all supporting documents.

Deanne Criswell,
Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency.
[FR Doc. 2024-21556 Filed 9-23-24; 8:45 am]
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