81 FR 70432 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request; FEMA's Grants Reporting Tool (GRT)

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Federal Emergency Management Agency

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 197 (October 12, 2016)

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on an extension, without change, of a currently approved information collection. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice seeks comments concerning the collection of information necessary for the Grants Reporting Tool (GRT).

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 197 (Wednesday, October 12, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70432-70433]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-24622]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

[Docket ID: FEMA-2016-0028; OMB No. 1660-0117]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; FEMA's Grants Reporting Tool (GRT)

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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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 and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity 
to comment on an extension, without change, of a currently approved 
information collection. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995, this notice seeks comments concerning the collection of 
information necessary for the Grants Reporting Tool (GRT).

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before December 12, 2016.

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-2016-0028. 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: Everett Yuille, Branch Chief, FEMA, 
Grant Programs Directorate, 202-510-3901. You may contact the Records 
Management Division for copies of the proposed collection of 
information at email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title 2 CFR, Part 200 (Uniform 
Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements 
for Federal Awards), establishes uniform administrative rules for 
assistance awards and sub-awards to State, local and Indian tribal 
governments. FEMA has determined that in order to have consistent 
implementation of FEMA grant administration policies, to reduce 
duplicative and tedious data entry, to more effectively measure 
preparedness gains, and to streamline application submission and 
management for Recipients, Regions, State and local partners, it is 
necessary to automate the reporting processes.
    The Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD-5) related to 
the ``Management of Domestic Incidents'' gives the Secretary the 
authority to gather information related to domestic incidents and 
mandates the Secretary provide standardized, quantitative reports on 
the readiness and preparedness of the Nation--at all levels of 
government--to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from 
domestic incidents.
    The Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD-8) related to 
``National Preparedness'' authorizes the Federal Government to deliver 
Federal preparedness awards to the States. Applicants must apply the 
funds to the highest priority preparedness requirements at the 
appropriate level of government. Federal preparedness assistance is 
based upon the adoption of statewide comprehensive all-hazards 
preparedness strategies, consistent with the national preparedness 
goal. HSPD-8 authorizes the Secretary to review and approve strategies 
submitted by the States and establishes the requirement that applicants 
must have adopted approved statewide strategies in order to receive 
Federal grant funds. Further, HSPD-8 authorizes Federal departments and 
agencies to develop appropriate mechanisms to ensure rapid obligation 
and disbursement of funds from their programs to the States, such as 
the Grants Reporting Tool (GRT). HSPD-8 mandates Federal departments 
and agencies report annually on the obligation, expenditure status, and 
the use of funds associated with Federal preparedness assistance 
programs.
    Section 430 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended (6 
U.S.C. 238), authorized the Office for Domestic Preparedness (ODP, 
which was transferred to FEMA by the Post Katrina Emergency Management 
Reform Act of 2006, Public Law 109-295) to have primary responsibility 
for national preparedness, including directing and supervising 
terrorism preparedness grant programs for emergency response providers 
and incorporating the Strategy priorities into planning guidance on an 
agency level for the overall national preparedness efforts. ODP (now 
FEMA) was authorized to develop a process for receiving meaningful 
input from State and local government to assist the development of the 
national strategy for combating terrorism and other homeland security 
activities.

Collection of Information

    Title: FEMA's Grants Reporting Tool (GRT).
    Type of Information Collection: Extension, without change, of a 
currently approved information collection.
    OMB Number: 1660-0117.
    FEMA Forms: None.

[[Page 70433]]

    Abstract: The GRT is a web-based reporting system designed to help 
State Administrative Agencies (SAAs) meet all reporting requirements as 
identified in the grant guidance of FEMA's portfolio of preparedness 
grants sponsored by FEMA's Grant Programs Directorate (GPD). The 
information enables FEMA to evaluate applications and make award 
decisions, monitor ongoing performance and manage the flow of Federal 
funds, and to appropriately close out grants or cooperative agreements. 
GRT supports the information collection needs of each grant program 
processed in the system.
    Affected Public: State, Local, or Tribal Government.
    Number of Respondents: 56.
    Number of Responses: 168.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,156 hours.
    Estimated Cost: The estimated annual cost to respondents for the 
hour burden is $77,659.12. There are no annual costs to respondents' 
operations and maintenance costs for technical services. There are no 
annual start-up or capital costs. The cost to the Federal Government is 
$1,166,604.30.

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.

    Dated: October 5, 2016.
Richard W. Mattison,
Records Management Program Chief, Mission Support, Federal Emergency 
Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. 2016-24622 Filed 10-11-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9111-46-P