[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 18 (Tuesday, January 28, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5005-5006]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-01397]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

[Docket ID: FEMA-2020-0006; OMB No. 1660-0022]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Community Rating System--Application Letter & Quick 
Check; Community Recertifications; Environmental & Historic 
Preservation Certifications

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

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 to take this opportunity to comment on an extension 
with changes to a currently approved information collection. In 
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice seeks 
comments concerning application for the National Flood Insurance 
Program's Community Rating System program. This program allows 
communities to become eligible for discounts on the cost of flood 
insurance when the communities undertake activities to mitigate 
anticipated damage due to flooding. The application materials verify 
and document the community mitigation activities performed and provides 
the Federal Emergency Management Agency with the information necessary 
to determine what flood insurance premium discounts are appropriate for 
participating communities.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before March 30, 2020.

ADDRESSES: To avoid duplicate submissions to the docket, please use 
only one of the following means to submit comments:
    (1) Online. Submit comments at www.regulations.gov under Docket ID 
FEMA-2020-0006. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
    (2) Mail. Submit written comments to Docket Manager, Office of 
Chief Counsel, DHS/FEMA, 500 C Street SW, 8NE, Washington, DC 20472-
3100.
    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 
www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill Lesser, Program Specialist, 
Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration, (202) 646-2807. You 
may contact the Information Management Division for copies of the 
proposed collection of information at email address: FEMA-Information-Collections-Management@fema.dhs.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Flood Insurance Reform Act 
(NFIRA) of 1994 (Pub. L. 103-325, section 541) requires that a 
community rating system be established. This ratings system is a 
voluntary program for communities and it would provide a method by 
which flood mitigation activities engaged in by these communities could 
be measured. The effect of this mitigation activity would reduce the 
exposure of the communities to damage resulting from flooding and in 
turn reduce the losses incurred as a result of this flooding. To 
encourage participation, discounts on flood insurance are offered 
within communities that successfully complete qualified mitigation 
actions, and the community ratings system provides the ability to 
measure these actions and to recertify the communities in successive 
years.

Collection of Information

    Title: Community Rating System--Application Letter & Quick Check; 
Community Annual Recertifications; Environmental & Historic 
Preservation Certifications.
    Type of Information Collection: Extension with changes to a 
currently approved information collection.
    OMB Number: 1660-0022.
    FEMA Forms: FEMA Form 086-0-35, Community Rating System Application 
Letter and Quick Check; FEMA Form 086-0-35A, Community Annual 
Recertifications, FEMA Form 086-0-35B, Environmental and Historic 
Preservation Certifications; and FEMA Form 086-0-35C, Repetitive Loss 
Update Form.
    Abstract: The Community Rating System (CRS) Application Letter & 
Quick Check, the CRS certification and update forms, and accompanying 
guidance are used by communities that participate in the National Flood 
Insurance Program's (NFIP) CRS program. The CRS is a voluntary program 
where flood insurance costs are reduced in communities that implement 
practices, such as building codes and public awareness activities, that 
are considered to reduce the risks of flooding and promote the purchase 
of flood insurance.
    Affected Public: Public: State, local, or Tribal government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,170.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 4,170.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 52,292.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Cost: $3,816,061.
    Estimated Respondents' Operation and Maintenance Costs: There are 
no estimated operation and maintenance costs associated with this 
collection.
    Estimated Respondents' Capital and Start-Up Costs: There are no 
estimated capital and start-up costs associated with this collection.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to the Federal Government: $6,612,799.

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;

[[Page 5006]]

(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.

Maile Arthur,
Acting Records Management Branch Chief, Office of the Chief 
Administrative Officer, Mission Support, Federal Emergency Management 
Agency, Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. 2020-01397 Filed 1-27-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-52-P


