[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 163 (Wednesday, August 24, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52016-52018]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-17889]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

[Docket ID FEMA-2022-0023]
RIN 1660-ZA26


Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program and Policy Guide

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION: Notice, request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is accepting 
comments on its 2022 update to the Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) 
Program and Policy Guide (formerly 2015 HMA Guidance and Addendum). The 
HMA Program and Policy Guide was last published in 2015. The primary 
purpose of this update is to incorporate existing policies and guidance 
materials issued since 2015, simplify guidance materials, and revise 
the document to increase overall accessibility and organization.

DATES: Comments must be received by September 23, 2022.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by Docket ID FEMA-2022-
0023, via the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennie Orenstein, Branch Chief, Hazard 
Mitigation Division, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 400 C Street 
SW, Washington, DC 20472, (202) 212-4071, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Public Participation

    Interested persons are invited to participate in this update to the 
Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Program and Policy Guide (formerly 
2015 HMA Guidance and 2015 HMA Guidance Addendum) by submitting 
comments and related materials. We will consider all comments and 
material received during the comment period.

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    If you submit a comment, include the Docket ID FEMA-2022-0023, 
indicate the specific section of this document to which each comment 
applies, and give the reason for each comment. All submissions may be 
posted, without change, to the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov, and will include any personal information you 
provide. Therefore, submitting this information makes it public. For 
more about privacy and the docket, visit https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=DHS-2018-0029-0001.
    Viewing comments and documents: For access to the docket to read 
background documents or comments received, go to the Federal e-
Rulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov.

II. Background

    FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grant programs provide 
funding for eligible mitigation activities that reduce disaster losses 
and protect life and property from future disaster damages.
    The proposed 2022 HMA Program and Policy Guide consolidates the 
2015 HMA Guidance and the 2015 HMA Guidance Addendum into one HMA 
guidance document, and renames the document as ``Hazard Mitigation 
Assistance Program and Policy Guide.'' The HMA Program and Policy Guide 
covers the following hazard mitigation assistance programs: (1) the 
Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program; (2) the Hazard Mitigation 
Grant Program (HMGP); (3) the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Post Fire 
(HMGP Post Fire); and (4) the Building Resilient Infrastructure and 
Communities (BRIC) program. FEMA implemented the BRIC program following 
the passage of the Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018, which amended 
Section 203 of the Stafford Act.\1\
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    \1\ The Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) program is no longer 
covered in the HMA Program and Policy Guide. Congress may 
appropriate additional funds under Section 203 outside of the 
established HMA programs, and such funds may be administered through 
the PDM program. FEMA intends to announce these funding 
opportunities through Notices of Funding Opportunity, which will 
specify the applicable program requirements.
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    The updated HMA Program and Policy Guide includes the following 
content updates:
     Highlights FEMA priorities such as resilience and climate 
adaptation, community lifelines, whole community, equity, capability 
and capacity building, comprehensive planning, and building codes.
     Incorporates changes resulting from the Disaster Recovery 
Reform Act.\2\ For instance, the proposed 2022 HMA Program and Policy 
Guide incorporates the BRIC Policy,\3\ the HMGP--Post Fire Policy,\4\ 
the HMGP Management Costs Interim Policy,\5\ the earthquake early 
warning systems factsheet,\6\ and expanded wildfire mitigation 
activities.\7\
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    \2\ Div. D of Public Law 115-254, 132 Stat. 3438.
    \3\ FEMA Policy 104-008-05, Mitigation Assistance: Building 
Resilient Infrastructure and Communities, available at https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation/building-resilient-infrastructure-communities (last accessed July 17, 2022).
    \4\ FEMA Policy 207-088-2, Hazard Mitigation Grant Program--Post 
Fire, available at https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-07/fema_DRRA-1204-policy.pdf (last accessed Apr. 1, 2021).
    \5\ FEMA Policy 104-11-1, Hazard Mitigation Grant Program 
Management Costs (Interim), available at https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-07/fema_DRRA-1215-hazard-mitigation-grant-program-management-costs-interim-policy.pdf (last accessed Apr. 1, 
2021).
    \6\ FEMA Fact Sheet, Disaster Recovery Reform Act and Earthquake 
Early Warning Systems, available at https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-09/fema_drra-earthquake-early-warning-systems_fact-sheet_September-2020.pdf (last accessed Apr. 1, 2021).
    \7\ FEMA Job Aid, Job Aid for Disaster Recovery Reform Act, 
Section 1205, Additional Activities for Wildfire & Wind 
Implementation under Hazard Mitigation Assistance Programs, Dec. 3, 
2019, available at https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-07/fema_DRRA-1205-implementation-job-aid.pdf (last accessed May 19, 
2021).
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     Incorporates additional policy changes that were published 
after 2015, such as the Ecosystem Service Benefits in Benefit-Cost 
Analysis for FEMA's Mitigation Program Policy.\8\
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    \8\ FEMA Policy 108-024-02, Ecosystem Service Benefits in 
Benefit-Cost Analysis for FEMA's Mitigation Program Policy, 
available at https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-09/fema_ecosystem-service-benefits_policy_september-2020.pdf (last 
accessed Apr. 1, 2021).
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     Expands information on project types in Part 12 based on 
existing job aids and factsheets, such as aquifer storage and 
recovery,\9\ floodplain and stream restoration,\10\ flood diversion and 
storage,\11\ wind retrofit,\12\ acquisition projects,\13\ and 
generators.\14\
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    \9\ FEMA, Climate Resilient Mitigation Activities Aquifer 
Storage and Recovery Fact Sheet (undated); FEMA, Job Aid: Aquifer 
Storage and Recovery (Aug. 2016); FEMA, Acquifer Storage and 
Recovery Supplemental (Dec. 2016).
    \10\ FEMA, Floodplain and Stream Restoration Fact Sheet 
(undated); FEMA, Job Aid: Floodplain and Stream Restoration (Aug. 
2016); FEMA, Floodplain and Stream Restoration Supplemental (Dec. 
2016).
    \11\ FEMA, Flood Diversion and Storage Fact Sheet (undated); 
FEMA Job Aid: Flood Diversion and Storage (Aug. 2016); FEMA, Flood 
Diversion and Storage Supplemental (Dec. 2016).
    \12\ FEMA, Memorandum, Cost Effectiveness Determination for Non-
Residential Hurricane Wind Retrofit Measures Funded by FEMA (Mar. 1, 
2018), available at https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-05/fema_bca_pre-calculated_non-residential-wind-retrofit.pdf (last 
accessed May 19, 2021).
    \13\ FEMA, Acquisition and Relocation Job Aid (Aug. 2017), 
available at https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-09/fema_acquisition_relocation_job_aid_08-21-17.pdf (last accessed May 
19, 2021).
    \14\ FEMA, Job Aid, Eligibility of Generators as a Fundable 
Project by the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program and Pre-Disaster 
Mitigation Program, available at https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-09/fema_eligibility_generators_fundable_project_under_hmgp_pdm_02-19-15.pdf (last accessed May 19, 2021).
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     Incorporates 2021 updates to Hazard Mitigation Assistance 
and Mitigation Planning regulations.\15\
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    \15\ FEMA, FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Assistance and Planning 
Regulations, 86 FR 50653 (Sept. 10, 2021).
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     Clarifies issues specific to HMGP, including application 
period, the HMGP 12-month lock-in and de-obligation, extensions, and 
the total award amount for the purpose of management costs.
     Extends the period of performance for HMGP from 36 to 48 
months.
     Expands the eligibility of codes and standards assistance 
in Part 11.
     Incorporates the 2020 regulatory changes made to 2 CFR 
part 200 \16\ and expands information on grants management requirements 
and procedures.
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    \16\ See 85 FR 49506 (Aug. 13, 2020).
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     Expands guidance content and resources on mitigation 
planning, recognizing its importance to effective hazard mitigation.
     Includes new guiding principles, such as nature-based 
solutions and the National Mitigation Investment Strategy.\17\
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    \17\ https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-10/fema_national-mitigation-investment-strategy.pdf (last accessed Apr. 
1, 2021).
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     Makes nonsubstantive revisions to increase overall 
accessibility and organization of the document.
    FEMA seeks comment on the proposed 2022 HMA Program and Policy 
Guide, which is available online at http://www.regulations.gov in 
docket ID FEMA-2022-0023. Based on the comments received, FEMA may make 
appropriate revisions to the proposed 2022 HMA Program and Policy 
Guide. When or if FEMA issues a final policy, FEMA will publish it on 
its website at https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation/hazard-mitigation-assistance.

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    Most helpful to the agency will be comments that provide concrete 
suggestions and the reasoning for a proposed approach or change.
    Authority: 6 U.S.C. 101 et seq.; 42 U.S.C. 4001 et seq.; 42 U.S.C. 
5121 et seq.

Deanne Criswell,
Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency.
[FR Doc. 2022-17889 Filed 8-23-22; 8:45 am]
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