81 FR 23503 - Public Assistance Program Minimum Standards

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Federal Emergency Management Agency

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 77 (April 21, 2016)

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is accepting comments on a proposed policy regarding minimum standards for Public Assistance restoration of damaged facility projects.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 77 (Thursday, April 21, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 23503]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-09258]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

[Docket ID FEMA-2016-0007]


Public Assistance Program Minimum Standards

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 a proposed policy regarding minimum standards for Public 
Assistance restoration of damaged facility projects.

DATES: Comments must be received by May 23, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Comments must be identified by docket ID FEMA-2016-0007 and 
may be submitted by one of the following methods:
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments. Please note that this proposed 
policy is not a rulemaking and the Federal Rulemaking Portal is being 
utilized only as a mechanism for receiving comments.
    Mail: Regulatory Affairs Division, Office of Chief Counsel, Federal 
Emergency Management Agency, 8NE, 500 C Street SW., Washington, DC 
20472-3100.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Roche, Director, Public 
Assistance Division, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 500 C Street 
SW., Washington, DC 20472, 202-646-3834.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Public Participation

    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, which can be viewed by clicking on the ``Privacy Notice'' link 
in the footer of www.regulations.gov.
    You may submit your comments and material by the methods specified 
in the ADDRESSES section above. Please submit your comments and any 
supporting material by only one means to avoid the receipt and review 
of duplicate submissions.
    Docket: The proposed policy is available in docket ID FEMA-2016-
0007. 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 the docket ID. Submitted comments 
may also be inspected at FEMA, Office of Chief Counsel, 8NE, 500 C 
Street SW., Washington, DC 20472.

II. Background

    The purpose of the proposed policy is to establish minimum 
standards for Public Assistance projects to promote resiliency and 
increase achieved risk reduction under the authority of Stafford Act 
Sec.  323, 42 U.S.C. 5165a and Sec.  406(e), 42 U.S.C. 5172. When using 
Public Assistance funds to repair, replace or construct buildings 
located in hazard-prone areas, applicants would use, at a minimum, the 
hazard-resistant standards reflected or referenced in the International 
Building Code (IBC). Costs associated with meeting these standards 
would be eligible. The proposed policy language would replace Chapter 
2:VII.C.2 of the Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide (PAPPG), 
available at http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/111781.
    The proposed policy does not have the force or effect of law.
    FEMA seeks comment on the proposed policy, which is available 
online at http://www.regulations.gov in docket ID FEMA-2016-0007. Based 
on the comments received, FEMA may make appropriate revisions to the 
proposed policy. Although FEMA will consider any comments received in 
the drafting of the final policy, FEMA will not provide a response to 
comments document. When or if FEMA issues a final policy, FEMA will 
publish a notice of availability in the Federal Register and make the 
final policy available at http://www.regulations.gov. The final policy 
will not have the force or effect of law.

    Authority:  42 U.S.C. 5165a, 5172; 44 CFR 206.226, 206.400.

David Bibo,
Acting Associate Administrator, Office of Policy and Program Analysis, 
Federal Emergency Management Agency.
[FR Doc. 2016-09258 Filed 4-20-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9111-23-P