
[Federal Register: May 9, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 91)]
[Notices]               
[Page 26403-26404]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09my08-83]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

[Docket ID: FEMA-2008-0008]

 
National Incident Management System--FEMA 501

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is accepting 
comments on the draft National Incident Management System (NIMS) 
document. NIMS provides a consistent nationwide template to enable 
Federal, State, tribal, and local governments, the private sector, and 
nongovernmental organizations to work together to prevent, protect 
against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the effects of 
incidents, regardless of cause, size, location, or complexity.

DATES: Comments must be received by June 2, 2008.

ADDRESSES: The draft NIMS document is available online at 
www.regulations.gov, in Docket ID FEMA-2008-0008. You may also view 
hard copies at the Office of Chief Counsel, Federal Emergency 
Management Agency, Room 835, 500 C Street, SW., Washington, DC 20472. 
You may submit comments on the draft NIMS document, identified by 
Docket ID FEMA-2008-0008, by one of the following methods:
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments.
    E-mail: FEMA-POLICY@dhs.gov. Include Docket ID FEMA-2008-0008 in 
the subject line of the message.
    Fax: 866-466-5370.
    Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier: Regulation & Policy Team, Office of 
Chief Counsel, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Room 835, 500 C 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20472.
    Instructions: 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 on the Privacy and Use Notice link on the 
Administration Navigation Bar of www.regulations.gov.
    FEMA has also provided a form, available in the docket at 
www.regulations.gov. Due to the large number of comments that are 
expected, FEMA asks that comments be submitted using this form.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://
www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID FEMA-2008-0008. Submitted 
comments may also be inspected at FEMA, Office of Chief Counsel, Room 
835, 500 C Street, SW., Washington, DC 20472.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sean Murphy, Policy Advisor to the 
Deputy Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 500 C

[[Page 26404]]

Street, NW., Washington, DC 20472, 202-646-3100.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 28, 2003, the President issued 
Homeland Security Presidential Directive-5 (HSPD-5), Management of 
Domestic Incidents, which directed the Secretary of Homeland Security 
to develop and administer a National Incident Management System (NIMS). 
This system provides a consistent nationwide template to enable 
Federal, State, tribal, and local governments, the private sector, and 
nongovernmental organizations to work together to prevent, protect 
against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the effects of 
incidents, regardless of cause, size, location, or complexity in order 
to reduce the loss of life and property, and the harm to the 
environment. This consistency provides the foundation for utilization 
of NIMS for all incidents, ranging from daily occurrences to incidents 
requiring a coordinated Federal response. NIMS represents a core set of 
doctrines, concepts, principles, terminology, and organizational 
processes that enables effective, efficient, and collaborative incident 
management.
    Building on the foundation provided by existing emergency 
management and incident response systems used by jurisdictions, 
organizations, and functional disciplines at all levels, the NIMS 
document integrates best practices into a comprehensive framework for 
use by emergency management/response personnel in an all-hazards 
context nationwide. These best practices lay the groundwork for the 
components of NIMS and provide the mechanisms for the further 
development and refinement of supporting national standards, 
guidelines, protocols, systems, and technologies. NIMS fosters the 
development of specialized technologies that facilitate emergency 
management and incident response activities and allows for the adoption 
of new approaches that will enable continuous refinement of NIMS over 
time.
    The changes reflected in the revised document are not substantively 
dramatic, and do not alter the basic NIMS doctrine published in the 
2004 version. The Department is providing the current draft of the NIMS 
for public comment; this draft document does not necessarily reflect 
the final policy of the Administration.

    Authority: Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended, 6 U.S.C. 
101 et seq., Homeland Security Presidential Directive-5, Management 
of Domestic Incidents.

    Dated: May 5, 2008.
R. David Paulison,
Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency.
 [FR Doc. E8-10449 Filed 5-8-08; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 9110-21-P
