[Federal Register: April 16, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 73)]
[Notices]               
[Page 18621-18622]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16ap02-73]                         

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FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY

 
First Responder Initiative Grant Process

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The President's Fiscal Year 2003 Budget proposes $3.5 billion 
in funding to prepare State and local first responders for terrorist 
attacks. Specifically, the initiative would include grants for 
planning, training, exercises, and equipment. While Congress has not 
acted on the President's proposal, the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency (FEMA) is preparing to implement the program if enacted by 
Congress. As part of a preliminary exploration of the issues, FEMA is 
soliciting ideas from all interested parties on the design of the grant 
program and processes. During the comment period, FEMA also will hold 
meetings on this subject with invited representatives from the State 
and local responder community and overall emergency management 
profession for the purpose of obtaining a variety of individual 
opinions.

DATES: Comments must be received by May 16, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Please send written comments to the Rules Docket Clerk,

[[Page 18622]]

Office of the General Counsel, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 500 
C Street, SW., room 840,Washington DC 20472, (facsimile) 202-646-4536, 
or (e-mail) rules@fema.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gil Jamieson, Federal Emergency 
Management Agency, Office of National Preparedness, 500 C Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20472, (202) 646-4090 or e-mail gil.jamieson@dhs.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In preliminary exploration of the issues 
surrounding design of the President's proposed First Responder 
Initiative grant program, FEMA is soliciting responses to the following 
questions:
    1. Does your jurisdiction have a plan in place that outlines the 
planning, training, equipment, and exercise needs of first responders? 
If not, would your jurisdiction be willing to develop such a plan? Do 
you have a recommendation as to how State and local governments and 
first response organizations may develop such plans jointly?
    2. Does your jurisdiction have legislative, regulatory or budgetary 
restrictions that would prevent it from applying for, matching, or 
expending first responder grants?
    3. Does your jurisdiction participate in mutual aid agreements? If 
local, what kinds of assistance are covered by the agreements and what 
is the extent of coverage: statewide, metropolitan area, or other? If a 
State, to which interstate mutual aid arrangements is your State a 
party? Does your State have a statewide mutual aid system? Should the 
Federal Government require States to participate in an interstate 
agreement and maintain an internal statewide mutual aid system as a 
condition of receiving these first responder grants?
    4. Should meeting certain standards be a requirement for grantees? 
In what areas should standards be developed (e.g., training, 
interoperable communications and equipment, etc.) as part of this 
program? Do you have recommendations on the content of such standards? 
Should meeting any of these standards be a precondition of assistance 
rather than an outcome of the assistance?
    5. What factors should be considered in deciding how much each 
State grantee and local subgrantee should receive (e.g., population, 
critical infrastructure)?
    6. Does your jurisdiction have organizations in place to prepare 
grant applications, distribute funds, and report on progress? Please 
briefly describe this process.
    7. Has your jurisdiction established a Citizen Corps Council to 
organize local volunteer efforts to assist first responders, or does it 
already have another organization performing that function? 8. What 
other factors should be considered in developing the First Responder 
grant program (e.g., participation in Citizen Corps or Citizen Corps 
related activities)?

    Dated: April 9, 2002.
Bruce P. Baughman,
Director, Office of National Preparedness.
[FR Doc. 02-9153 Filed 4-15-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6718-32-P