[Federal Register: July 12, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 132)]
[Notices]
[Page 40049-40051]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12jy05-88]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request
AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, Emergency Preparedness and
Response Directorate, U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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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 proposed revised information collection. In accordance
with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)),
this notice seeks comments concerning the Public Assistance Progress
Report and related forms used to administer the Public Assistance
Program.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act, Public Law 93-288, as amended, authorizes the
President to provide assistance to State and local governments to help
them to respond to and recover from a disaster. In order to receive
Federal assistance (i.e., Federal grants) State and local officials and
officials of eligible private nonprofit organizations, who have
responsibility for response to a major disaster and for the restoration
of facilities in the aftermath of such events, must provide information
to FEMA. The information is required in accordance with FEMA
regulations 44 CFR, Section 206.204(f), Section 206.203(c), Section
206.203(d)(i) and guidance published in FEMA 322, Public Assistance
Guide, and FEMA 323, Public Assistance Applicant Handbook. Summary of
the Application Process/Forms: (1) The Request for Public Assistance is
FEMA's official application form. The Grantee has 30 days from the date
of the designation of the area where the damage occurred to submit a
completed Request to the Regional Director for each applicant who
requests public assistance. (2) Project Worksheet (PW)--The PW
identifies the eligible scope of work and includes a quantitative
estimate for the eligible work. FEMA or the applicant (sub-grantee),
assisted by the State, will prepare a PW for each project. The
applicant will have 60 days to identify and report damages to
[[Page 40050]]
FEMA. (3) Federal funds are obligated to the State based on the
approved PW. (4) The State will then approve sub-grantees based on the
PW approved for each applicant. (5) PW Damage Description and Scope of
Work Continuation Sheet--The Damage Description and Dimensions and
Scope of Work should be listed in the areas provided on the PW. The
optional PW--Damage Description and Scope of Work Continuation Sheet
provides additional space, if needed, to describe the work necessary to
restore the facility to its pre-disaster design. (6) PW Cost Estimate
Continuation Sheet--The cost estimate is the estimated cost of repair
for the damages described in the Project Description of the PW. The
optional PW Cost Estimate Continuation Sheet provides additional space,
if needed, to estimate the cost to restore the facility to its pre-
disaster condition. (7) PW Maps and Sketches Sheet--The optional PW
Maps and Sketches Sheet assist applicants in organizing project
documentation. The exact location of the facility is described and a
sketch of the facility will assist the applicant in describing the
damage in terms of facility features or items requiring repair. (8) PW
Photo Sheet--The optional PW Photo Sheet assist applicants in
organizing project documentation. The Photo Sheet provides field
personnel with specific information that enables facility damages to be
documented before work is accomplished. (9) Force Account Labor Summary
Record--The optional Force Account Labor Summary Record, is used to
record applicant personnel cost. (10) Force Account Equipment Summary
Record--The optional Force Account Equipment Summary Record, is used to
record applicant equipment costs. (11) Materials Summary Record--The
optional Materials Summary Record, is used to record the supplies and
materials an applicant may take out of stock or purchase. (12) Contract
Work Summary Record--The optional Contract Work Summary Record, is used
to record the costs of work that an applicant has done by contract.
(13) Rented Equipment Summary Record--The optional Rented Equipment
Summary Record, is used to record the cost of rented or leased
equipment. (14) Special Considerations Questions--The key to expedited
review and approval of emergency-or permanent-work projects is early
identification of factors that affect compliance with environmental
resources, disaster assistance, and historic preservation legislation
and Executive Orders on floodplain, wetlands, and environmental
justice. The optional Special Considerations Questions, assists
applicants in organizing project documentation. It is more important
that any considerations simply be noted on the PW thus alerting FEMA
early on in the process to any problems or circumstances expected to
result in noncompliance with the approved grant. A condition of all
FEMA funded projects is that they conform to State and local laws and
ordinances. (15) Applicant's Benefits Calculation Worksheet--The
optional Applicant's Benefits Calculation Worksheet is used to record
the costs of fringe benefits for force account labor. (16) PNP Facility
Questionnaire--The optional PNP Facility Questionnaire is used to help
determine the eligibility of specific Private Non-Profit facilities.
Collection of Information
Title: Public Assistance Progress Report and Program Forms.
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved
collection.
OMB Number: 1660-0017.
Form Numbers: FEMA Form 90-49, Request for Public Assistance; FEMA
Form 90-91, Project Worksheet (PW); FEMA Form 90-91A, Damage
Description and Scope of Work Continuation Sheet; FEMA Form 90-91B,
Cost Estimate Continuation Sheet; FEMA Form 90-91C, Maps and Sketches
Sheet; FEMA Form 90-91D, Photo Sheet; FEMA Form 90-120, Special
Considerations Questions; FEMA Form 90-121, PNP Facility Questionnaire;
FEMA Form 90-123, Force Account Labor Summary Record; FEMA Form 90-124,
Materials Summary Record; FEMA Form 90-125, Rented Equipment Summary
Record; FEMA Form 90-126, Contract Work Summary Record; FEMA Form 90-
127, Force Account Equipment Summary Record; and FEMA Form 90-128,
Applicant's Benefits Calculation Worksheet.
Abstract: This collection serves as the mechanism to administer the
Public Assistance (PA) Program. The application process contains
recordkeeping and reporting requirements via mandatory and optional
completion of several forms and timeframes. The Progress Report and
related forms ensure that FEMA and the State have up-to-date
information on PA program grants. The report describes the status of
project completion dates, and circumstances that could delay a project.
States are responsible for determining reporting requirements for
applicants and must submit reports quarterly to FEMA Regional
Directors. The date of the report is determined jointly by the State
and the Disaster Recovery Manager.
Affected Public: State, Local or Tribal government, and Not-For-
Profit Organizations.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 132,882 hours.
Annual Burden Hours
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No. of Frequency of Burden hours per Annual Total annual
Forms respondents responses respondent responses burden hours
(A) (B) (C).............. (AxB) (AxBxC)
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Mandatory Forms:
FF 90-49................. 148 53 10 min........... 7,844 1,333
FF 90-91, FF 90-91A, FF 694 53 90 min........... 36,782 55,173
90-91B, FF 90-91C, FF 90-
91D.
FF 90-120................ 658 53 10 min........... 34,874 5,929
FF 90-128................ 148 53 30 min........... 7,844 3,922
FF 91-121................ 20 53 30 min........... 1,060 530
Progress Report.......... 56 4 100 hrs.......... 224 22,400
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Total--Mandatory..... 1724 269 103 hrs.......... 88,628 89,287
Optional Forms:
FF 90-123................ 658 53 15 min........... 34,874 8,719
FF 90-124................ 658 53 15 min........... 34,874 8,719
FF 90-125................ 658 53 15 min........... 34,874 8,719
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FF 90-126................ 658 53 15 min........... 34,874 8,719
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FF 90-127................ 658 53 15 min........... 34,874 8,719
Total Annual Burden.. 5,014 534 104 hrs.......... 262,998 132,882
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Estimated Cost: Annualized cost to all respondents combined is
estimated at $3,800,000.00 with an average cost per respondent
estimated at $2,906.00.
Comments: Written 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. Comments should be received within 60 days of
the date of this notice.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons should submit written comments to the
Section Chief, Records Management Section, Information Resources
Management Branch, Information Technology Services Division, Federal
Emergency Management Agency, Emergency Preparedness and Response
Directorate, Department of Homeland Security, 500 C Street, SW., Room
316, Washington, DC 20472.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Clifford Brown, Program
Specialist, Public Assistance Grant Program at 202-646-4136 for
additional information. You may contact the Records Management Section
for copies of the proposed collection of information at facsimile
number (202) 646-3347 or E-mail address:
FEMA-Information-Collections@dhs.gov.
Dated: June 29, 2005.
Deborah Moradi,
Acting Branch Chief, Information Resources Management Branch,
Information Technology Services Division.
[FR Doc. 05-13610 Filed 7-11-05; 8:45 am]
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