Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request, FEMA Preparedness Grants: Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Grant Program

Federal Register, Volume 76 Issue 239 (Tuesday, December 13, 2011)

Federal Register Volume 76, Number 239 (Tuesday, December 13, 2011)

Notices

Pages 77547-77548

From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office www.gpo.gov

FR Doc No: 2011-31945

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

Docket ID: FEMA-2011-0039; OMB No. 1660-0124

Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request, FEMA Preparedness Grants: Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Grant Program

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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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 revision of a currently approved information collection. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice seeks comments concerning the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Grant Program.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before February 13, 2012.

ADDRESSES: To avoid duplicate submissions to the docket, please use only one of the following means to submit comments:

(1) Online. Submit comments at http://www.regulations.gov under Docket ID FEMA-2011-0039. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

(2) Mail. Submit written comments to Regulatory Affairs Division, Office of Chief Counsel, DHS/FEMA, 500 C Street SW., Room 835, Washington, DC 20472-3100.

(3) Facsimile. Submit comments to (703) 483-2999.

(4) Email. Submit comments to FEMA-POLICY@dhs.gov. Include Docket ID FEMA-2011-0039 in the subject line.

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 Act notice that is available via the link in the footer of http://www.regulations.gov .

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sebastian Heath, Branch Chief, Grant Programs Directorate, Program Development Branch, (202) 786-9482 for additional information. You may contact the Records Management Division for copies of the proposed collection of information at facsimile number (202) 646-3347 or email address: FEMA-Information-Collections-Management@dhs.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Grant Program is intended to improve emergency management and preparedness capabilities by supporting flexible, sustainable, secure, and interoperable EOCs with a focus on addressing identified deficiencies and needs. Fully capable emergency operations facilities at the State, territory, local and/or Tribal levels are an essential element of a comprehensive national emergency management system and are necessary to ensure continuity of operations and continuity of government in major disasters caused by any hazard. Section 614 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5196c), as amended by Section 202, Title II of the

Page 77548

Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (Pub. L. 110-053), states, ``The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency may make grants to States under this title for equipping, upgrading, and constructing State and local emergency operations centers.''

Collection of Information

Title: FEMA Preparedness Grants: Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Grant Program.

Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved information collection.

OMB Number: 1660-0124.

Form Titles and Numbers: FEMA Form 089-0-0-3, EOC Grant Program Investment Justification; FEMA Form 089-0-0-18, EOC Prioritization of Investment Justifications Template; FEMA Form 089-0-0-3A, EOC Investment Justification Scoring Worksheet.

Abstract: The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Grant Program is intended to improve emergency management and preparedness capabilities by supporting flexible, sustainable, secure, and interoperable EOCs with a focus on addressing identified deficiencies and needs. Fully capable emergency operations facilities at the State, Territory, Local and/or Tribal levels are an essential element of a comprehensive national emergency management system and are necessary to ensure continuity of operations and continuity of government in major disasters caused by any hazard.

Affected Public: State, Local or Tribal Government.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 6,258 hours.

Estimated Annualized Burden Hours and Costs

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Number of Total Total

Number of responses Total Avg. burden per annual Avg. hourly annual

Type of respondent Form name/form No. respondents per number of response (in burden (in wage rate respondent

respondent responses hours) hours) cost

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State, Local or Tribal EOC Grant Program 700 1 700 8 hrs.............. 5,600 $30.96 $173,376.00

Government. Investment

Justification FEMA

Form 089-0-0-3.

State, Local or Tribal EOC Prioritization 56 1 56 5.5 hrs. (5 hours 308 33.45 10,302.60

Government. of Investment 30 minutes).

Justifications

Template/FEMA Form

089-0-0-18.

State, Local or Tribal EOC Investment 700 1 700 .5 hr. (30 minutes) 350 33.45 11,707.50

Government. Justification

Scoring Worksheet/

FEMA Form 089-0-0-

3A.

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Total....................... ................... 1,456 ........... 1,456 ................... 6,258 ........... 195,386.10

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Note: The ``Avg. Hourly Wage Rate'' for each respondent includes a 1.4 multiplier to reflect a fully-loaded wage rate.

Estimated Cost: The estimated annual cost to respondents for the hour burden is $195,386.10. There are no annual costs to respondents operations and maintenance costs for technical services. There is no annual start-up or capital costs. The cost to the Federal Government is $380,762.85.

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.

John G. Jenkins, Jr.,

Acting Director, Records Management Division, Mission Support Bureau, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security.

FR Doc. 2011-31945 Filed 12-12-11; 8:45 am

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