[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 137 (Tuesday, July 17, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33237-33238]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-15219]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

[Docket ID FEMA-2018-0018; OMB No. 1660-0131]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk 
Assessment (THIRA)--Stakeholder Preparedness Review (SPR) Reporting 
Tool

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will submit the 
information collection abstracted below to the Office of Management and 
Budget for review and clearance in accordance with the requirements of 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The submission will describe the 
nature of the information collection, the categories of respondents, 
the estimated burden (i.e., the time, effort and resources used by 
respondents to respond) and cost, and the actual data collection 
instruments FEMA will use.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before August 16, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the proposed information 
collection to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office 
of Management and Budget. Comments should be addressed to the Desk 
Officer for the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency 
Management Agency, and sent via electronic mail to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection should be made to Director, 
Information Management Division, 500 C Street SW, Washington, DC 20472, 
email address [email protected] or 
Dante Randazzo, Supervisory Emergency Management Specialist, FEMA, 
National Preparedness Assessment Division, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This proposed information collection 
previously published in the Federal Register on March 13, 2018 at 83 FR 
10864 with a 60 day public comment period. FEMA received a total of 17 
public comments, 11 were anonymous public comments that were not 
relevant to the information collection.
    Three commenters suggested that FEMA use the Tribal Consultation 
process for information collection 1660-0131. Two commenters stated 
that FEMA should not be placing additional unfunded requirements for 
Tribes to participate in the Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program 
(THSGP). One commenter stated that a Tribe should not be charged for 
FEMA's help and should be able to obtain help without any penalties. 
Two commenters stated that the Federal Government has a trust 
responsibility to meet its treaty obligations to all Tribes by 
providing for base level capability and capacities.
    FEMA's Response: The information collection was not revised because 
of the comments as in 2017, FEMA involved Tribal partners in our 
discussions about the Threat and Hazard Identification Risk Assessment 
(THIRA)-Stakeholder Preparedness Review (SPR) methodology (ultimately 
FEMA received feedback from over 150 State, local, Tribal, and 
territorial representatives), and used their input to update the 
process. On April 10, 2018 and April 12, 2018, FEMA provided an 
overview of the updated THIRA/SPR methodology that included a detailed 
walkthrough of the specific requirements for THSGP recipients. Tribal 
participants had an opportunity to ask questions and share concerns 
about the updated methodology. On June 4, 2018, FEMA released a fact 
sheet outlining the requirements for THSGP recipients.
    While THSGP recipients, generally 24 Tribes each year, will now 
have to complete the SPR in addition to the THIRA, FEMA has determined 
that the new Tribal requirements will not only likely decrease their 
reporting burden, but produce more useful information Tribes can use to 
support other emergency management activities. FEMA will also be able 
to use this information to improve the support it offers to Tribes. 
Previously, when

[[Page 33238]]

THSGP recipients were required to complete only the THIRA, they had to 
address all 32 core capabilities. This year, as they complete the THIRA 
and SPR, THSGP recipients will only be required to address 8 of the 32 
core capabilities. Therefore, Tribal Governments' estimated average 
burden per response (in hours) has decreased from 408 to 290 hours. 
Only THSGP recipients are required to complete the THIRA/SPR, but FEMA 
encourages other Tribes to do so as well.
    FEMA is hosting three in-person technical assistance sessions this 
year to help communities understand and complete the THIRA/SPR, and 
offered invitational travel for grantees required to complete the 
THIRA/SPR. The technical assistance sessions themselves are free for 
communities to attend, with no admission fee, nor are there any 
penalties for obtaining FEMA's help.
    FEMA is also developing tools, materials, and guidance to help 
communities learn and complete the new methodology. Communities 
requiring assistance with their THIRA/SPR can also reach out to their 
Regional Preparedness Analysts and Planning Officers or the THIRA/SPR 
helpdesk at [email protected]. These materials and services are 
provided at no cost to Tribes or other communities. It is also 
important to note that completing the THIRA and SPR are allowable 
expenses under the grant award. FEMA acknowledges the inherent 
sovereignty of Tribal governments, the trust responsibility of the 
Federal Government, and the nation-to-nation relationship between the 
U.S. government and Tribal governments as established by the U.S. 
Constitution, statutes, treaties, court decisions, executive orders, 
regulations, and policies as a foundation of the Tribal Homeland 
Security Grant Program.
    The purpose of this notice is to notify the public that FEMA will 
submit the information collection abstracted below to the Office of 
Management and Budget for review and clearance.

Collection of Information

    Title: Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment 
(THIRA)--Stakeholder Preparedness Review (SPR) Reporting Tool.
    Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    OMB Number: 1660-0131.
    Form Titles and Numbers: FEMA Form 008-0-19 (THIRA), Threat and 
Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) Reporting Tool; FEMA 
Form 008-0-20 (SPR), Stakeholder Preparedness Review (SPR) Reporting 
Tool; FEMA Form 008-0-23, THIRA/SPR After-Action Call Questions.
    Abstract: The assessment is structured by the 32 core capabilities 
from the 2015 National Preparedness Goal. States, Territories, urban 
areas, and Tribes provide information on capability targets, their 
current capability levels and capability gaps for each core capability. 
Respondent States, Territories, Tribes and urban areas gather the 
information and complete the THIRA and SPR following the 
``Comprehensive Preparedness Guide (CPG) 201, Third Edition.''
    Affected Public: State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 113.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 113.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 84,414.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Cost: $4,328,749.92.
    Estimated Respondents' Operation and Maintenance Costs: 
$12,404,962.
    Estimated Respondents' Capital and Start-Up Costs: $0.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to the Federal Government: 
$2,648,063.63.

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.

Tammi Hines,
Privacy Branch Chief, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, 
Mission Support, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of 
Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. 2018-15219 Filed 7-16-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9111-46-P


