81_FR_74671 81 FR 74464 - Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program

81 FR 74464 - Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Federal Emergency Management Agency

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 207 (October 26, 2016)

Page Range74464-74468
FR Document2016-25801

Pursuant to the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974, as amended (15 U.S.C. 2229), the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is publishing this notice describing the Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program application process, deadlines, and award selection criteria. This notice explains the differences, if any, between these guidelines and those recommended by representatives of the national fire service leadership during the annual meeting of the Criteria Development Panel, which was held November 9-10, 2015. The application period for the FY 2016 AFG Program will be held October 11, 2016 through November 18, 2016, and will be announced on the AFG Web site www.fema.gov/ firegrants, as well as www.grants.gov.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 207 (Wednesday, October 26, 2016) 
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 207 (Wednesday, October 26, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74464-74468]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-25801]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

[Docket ID FEMA-2016-0030]


Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of 
Homeland Security (DHS).

ACTION: Notice of availability of grant application and application 
deadline.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 
1974, as amended (15 U.S.C. 2229), the Administrator of the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is publishing this notice describing 
the Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) 
Program application process, deadlines, and award selection criteria. 
This notice explains the differences, if any, between these guidelines 
and those recommended by representatives of the national fire service 
leadership during the annual meeting of the Criteria Development Panel, 
which was held November 9-10, 2015. The application period for the FY 
2016 AFG Program will be held October 11, 2016 through November 18, 
2016, and will be announced on the AFG Web site www.fema.gov/firegrants, as well as www.grants.gov.

    Authority:  15 U.S.C. 2229.

DATES: Grant applications for the Assistance to Firefighters Grants 
will be accepted electronically at https://portal.fema.gov, from 
October 11, 2016 through November 18, 2016, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

ADDRESSES: Assistance to Firefighters Grants Branch, DHS/FEMA, 400 C 
Street SW., 3N, Washington, DC 20472-3635.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Catherine Patterson, Branch Chief, 
Assistance to Firefighters Grant Branch, 1-866-274-0960.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The AFG Program awards grants directly to 
fire departments, nonaffiliated emergency medical services (EMS) 
organizations, and state fire training academies (SFTAs) for the 
purpose of enhancing the abilities of first responders to protect the 
health and safety of the public, as well as first-responder personnel 
facing fire and fire-related hazards.
    Applications for the FY 2016 AFG Program will be submitted and 
processed online at https://portal.fema.gov. Before the application 
period starts, the FY 2016 AFG Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) 
will be published on the AFG Web site www.fema.gov/firegrants. The AFG 
Web site will also provide additional information and materials useful 
to applicants including: (1) Frequently Asked Questions; (2) Get Ready 
Guide; and (3) Quick Reference Guide. Based on past AFG application 
periods, it is expected that 10,000 to 15,000 applications will be 
submitted for FY 2016 AFG Program grant funds. FEMA anticipates that it 
will be able to award approximately 3,000 grants with the available 
grant funding.

Appropriations

    For the FY 2016 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, Congress 
appropriated $345,000,000 (see: the Department of Homeland Security 
Appropriations Act, 2016, Public Law 114-1130. From this amount, 
$310,500,000 will be made available for AFG awards. In addition, the 
Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974, as amended (15 U.S.C. 
2229), requires that a minimum of 10 percent of available funds be 
expended for Fire Prevention and Safety Grants (FP&S), to be made 
directly to local fire departments and to local, regional, state, or 
national entities recognized for their expertise in the fields of fire 
prevention and firefighter safety research and development. Funds 
appropriated for

[[Page 74465]]

FY 2016 will be available for obligation and award until September 30, 
2017.
    The Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 further directs 
FEMA to administer the appropriations according to the following 
requirements:
     Career (fire department): Not less than 25 percent of 
available grant funds.
     Volunteer (fire department): Not less than 25 percent of 
available grant funds.
     Combination (fire department) and departments using paid-
on-call firefighting personnel--not less than 25 percent of available 
grant funds.
     Open Competition: Career, volunteer, and combination fire 
departments and fire departments using paid-on-call firefighting 
personnel--not less than 10 percent of available grant funds awarded.
     Emergency Medical Services Providers: Fire departments and 
nonaffiliated EMS organizations; not less than 3.5 percent of available 
grants funds awarded, with nonaffiliated EMS providers receiving no 
more than 2 percent of the total available grant funds.
     State Fire Training Academies (SFTAs): No more than 3 
percent of available grant funds shall be collectively awarded to state 
fire training academy applicants, with a maximum of $500,000 to be 
awarded per applicant.
     Vehicles: Not more than 25 percent of available grant 
funds may be used for the purchase of vehicles; 10 percent of the total 
vehicle funds will be dedicated to funding ambulances. The allocation 
of funding will be distributed as equally as possible among urban, 
suburban, and rural community applicants. The remaining Vehicle 
Acquisition funds will be awarded competitively without regard to 
community classification.
     Micro Grants: This is a voluntary funding limitation 
choice made by the applicant for requests submitted for Operations and 
Safety Grant Component Program; it is not an additional funding 
opportunity. Micro Grants are awards that have a federal participation 
(share) that does not exceed $25,000. Only fire departments and 
nonaffiliated EMS organizations are eligible to choose Micro Grants, 
and the only eligible Micro Grants activities are Training, Equipment, 
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and Wellness and Fitness. 
Applicants that select Micro Grants as a funding opportunity may 
receive additional consideration for award. If an applicant selects 
Micro Grants in their application, they will be limited in the total 
amount of funding their organization can be awarded; if they are 
requesting funding in excess of $25,000 federal participation, they 
should not select Micro Grants.

Background of the AFG Program

    Since 2001, AFG has helped firefighters and other first responders 
to obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency 
vehicles, training, and other resources needed to protect the public 
and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards. FEMA awards the 
grants on a competitive basis to the applicants that best address the 
AFG Program's priorities and provide the most compelling justification. 
Applications that best address the Program's priorities will be 
reviewed by a panel composed of fire service personnel.

Application Evaluation Criteria

    Prior to making a grant award, FEMA is required by 31 U.S.C. 3321 
and 41 U.S.C. 2313 to review information available through any Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB)-designated repositories of government-
wide eligibility qualification or financial integrity information. 
Therefore, application evaluation criteria may include the following 
risk based considerations of the applicant: (1) Financial stability; 
(2) quality of management systems and ability to meet management 
standards; (3) history of performance in managing federal award; (4) 
reports and findings from audits; and (5) ability to effectively 
implement statutory, regulatory, or other requirements.
    FEMA will rank all complete and submitted applications based on how 
well they match program priorities for the type of jurisdiction(s) 
served. Answers to activity-specific questions provide information used 
to determine each application's ranking relative to the stated program 
priorities.
    Funding priorities and criteria for evaluating AFG applications are 
established by FEMA based on the recommendations from the Criteria 
Development Panel (CDP). The CDP is comprised of fire service 
professionals that make recommendations to FEMA regarding the creation 
of new or the modification of previously established funding 
priorities, as well as developing criteria for awarding grants. The 
content of the NOFO reflects implementation of the CDP's 
recommendations with respect to the priorities and evaluation criteria 
for awards.
    The nine major fire service organizations represented on the CDP 
are:

 International Association of Fire Chiefs
 International Association of Fire Fighters
 National Volunteer Fire Council
 National Fire Protection Association
 National Association of State Fire Marshals
 International Association of Arson Investigators
 International Society of Fire Service Instructors
 North American Fire Training Directors
 Congressional Fire Service Institute

Review and Selection Process

    AFG applications are reviewed through a multi-phase process. First, 
applications are electronically pre-scored and ranked; then scored 
competitively by (no less than three) members of the Peer Review Panel. 
Applications are also evaluated through a series of internal FEMA 
review processes for completeness, adherence to programmatic 
guidelines, technical feasibility, and anticipated effectiveness of the 
proposed project(s). The review process is outlined below:

1. Pre-Scoring Process

    The application undergoes an electronic pre-scoring process based 
on established program priorities listed within the NOFO. Application 
narratives are not reviewed during pre-scoring. Request details and 
budget information should comply with program guidance and statutory 
funding limitations. The pre-score is 50 percent of the total 
application score.

2. Peer Review Panel Process

    Applications with the highest pre-score will be evaluated by a peer 
review process. The peer review is comprised of fire service 
representatives recommended by CDP national organizations. The 
panelists assess the merits of each application with respect to the 
detail provided in the narrative section of the application, including 
the evaluation elements listed in the Narrative Evaluation Criteria 
below. The panel will independently score each project within the 
application, discuss the merits and/or shortcomings of the application, 
and document its findings. A consensus is not required. The panel score 
is 50 percent of the total application score.

3. Technical Evaluation Process

    The highest ranked applications are deemed within the fundable 
range. Applications that are in the fundable range undergo both a 
technical review by a subject matter expert (SME), as well as a FEMA 
AFG Branch review prior to being recommended for award. The

[[Page 74466]]

FEMA AFG Branch will assess the request with respect to costs, 
quantities, feasibility, eligibility, and recipient responsibility 
prior to recommending an application for award.
    Once the technical evaluation process is complete, the cumulative 
score for each application will be determined and a final ranking of 
applications will be generated. FEMA will award grants based on this 
final ranking and the required funding limitations in statute.

Narrative Evaluation Criteria

1. Financial Need (25%)

    Applicants should describe their financial need and how consistent 
it is with the intent of the AFG Program. This statement should include 
details describing the applicant's financial distress, summarizing 
budget constraints, unsuccessful attempts to secure other funding, and 
proving the financial distress is out of their control.

2. Project Description and Budget (25%)

    This statement should clearly explain the applicant's project 
objectives and the relationship between those objectives and the 
applicant's budget and risk analysis. The applicant should describe the 
various activities applied for with respect to any program priority or 
facility modifications, ensuring they are consistent with project 
objectives, the applicant's mission, and any national, state, and/or 
local requirements. Applicants should link the proposed expenses to 
operations and safety, as well as the completion of the project goals.

3. Operations and Safety/Cost Benefit (25%)

    Applicants should describe how they plan to address the operations 
and personal safety needs of their organization, including cost 
effectiveness and sharing assets. This statement should also include 
details about gaining the maximum benefits from grant funding by citing 
reasonable or required costs, such as specific overhead and 
administrative costs. The applicant's request should also be consistent 
with their mission and identify how funding will benefit their 
organization and personnel.

4. Statement of Effect/Impact on Daily Operations (25%)

    This statement should explain how this funding request will enhance 
the organization's overall effectiveness. It should address how this 
request will improve daily operations and reduce the organization's 
common risk(s). Applicants should include how frequently the requested 
item(s) will be used and in what capacity. Applicants should also 
indicate how the requested item(s) will help the community and increase 
the organization's ability to save additional lives and property.

Eligible Applicants

    Fire Departments: Fire departments operating in any of the 56 
states, which include any state of the United States, the District of 
Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. 
Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; 
or, any federally recognized Indian tribe or tribal organization, are 
eligible applicants. A fire department is an agency or organization 
having a formally recognized arrangement with a state, territory, 
local, or tribal authority (city, county, parish, fire district, 
township, town, or other governing body) to provide fire suppression to 
a population within a geographically fixed primary first due response 
area.
    Nonaffiliated EMS organizations: Nonaffiliated EMS organizations 
operating in any of the 56 states, which include any state of the 
United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American 
Samoa, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; or, any federally recognized 
Indian tribe or tribal organization, are eligible applicants. A 
nonaffiliated EMS organization is an agency or organization that is a 
public or private nonprofit emergency medical services entity providing 
medical transport that is not affiliated with a hospital and does not 
serve a geographic area in which emergency medical services are 
adequately provided by a fire department.
    FEMA considers the following as hospitals under the AFG Program:
     Clinics
     Medical centers
     Medical college or university
     Infirmary
     Surgery centers
     Any other institution, association, or foundation 
providing medical, surgical, or psychiatric care and/or treatment for 
the sick or injured.
    State Fire Training Academies: A State Fire Training Academy (SFTA) 
operating in any of the 56 states, which includes any state of the 
United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American 
Samoa, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is an eligible applicant. 
Applicants must be designated either by legislation or by a Governor's 
declaration as the sole state fire service training agency within a 
state. The designated SFTA shall be the only State agency/bureau/
division, or entity within that State, to be an eligible AFG SFTA 
applicant.

Ineligibility

     FEMA considers two or more separate fire departments or 
nonaffiliated EMS organizations sharing facilities as being one 
organization. If two or more organizations share facilities, and each 
organization submits an application in the same program area, FEMA may 
deem all of those program area applications to be ineligible to avoid 
any duplication of benefits.
     Fire-based EMS organizations are not eligible to apply as 
nonaffiliated EMS organizations. Fire-based EMS training and equipment 
must be requested by a fire department under the AFG component program 
Operations and Safety.

Statutory Limits to Funding

    Congress has enacted statutory limits to the amount of funding that 
a grant recipient may receive from the AFG Program in any single fiscal 
year (15 U.S.C. 2229(c)(2)) based on the population served. Awards will 
be limited based on the size of the population protected by the 
applicant, as indicated below. Notwithstanding the annual limits stated 
below, the FEMA Administrator may not award a grant in an amount that 
exceeds one percent of the available grants funds in such fiscal year, 
except where it is determined that such recipient has an extraordinary 
need for a grant in an amount that exceeds the one percent aggregate 
limit.
     In the case of a recipient that serves a jurisdiction with 
100,000 people or fewer, the amount of available grant funds awarded to 
such recipient shall not exceed $1 million in any fiscal year.
     In the case of a recipient that serves a jurisdiction with 
more than 100,000 people but not more than 500,000 people, the amount 
of available grant funds awarded to such recipient shall not exceed $2 
million in any fiscal year.
     In the case of a recipient that serves a jurisdiction with 
more than 500,000 but not more than 1 million people, the amount of 
available grant funds awarded to such recipient shall not exceed $3 
million in any fiscal year.
     In the case of a recipient that serves a jurisdiction with 
more than 1 million people but not more than 2,500,000 people, the 
amount of available grant funds awarded to such recipient shall not 
exceed $6 million for any fiscal year, but is subject to the one 
percent aggregate cap of $3,450,000 for FY 2016.

[[Page 74467]]

     In the case of a recipient that serves a jurisdiction with 
more than 2,500,000 people, the amount of available grant funds awarded 
to such recipient shall not exceed $9 million in any fiscal year, but 
is subject to the one percent aggregate cap of $3,450,000 for FY 2016.
     FEMA may not waive the caps on the maximum amount of 
available grant funds awarded based upon population.
    The cumulative total of the federal share of awards in Operations 
and Safety, Regional and Vehicle Acquisition activities will be 
considered when assessing award amounts and any limitations thereto. 
Applicants may request funding up to the statutory limit on each of 
their applications.
    For example, an applicant that serves a jurisdiction with more than 
100,000 people but not more than 500,000 people may request up to $2 
million on their Operations and Safety Application and up to $2 million 
on their Vehicle Acquisition Request. However, should both grants be 
awarded, the applicant would have to choose which award to accept if 
the cumulative value of both applications exceeds the statutory limits.

Cost Sharing and Maintenance of Effort

    Grant recipients must share in the costs of the projects funded 
under this grant program as required by 15 U.S.C. 2229(k)(1) and in 
accordance with applicable federal regulations governing grants in 
effect at the time a grant is awarded to a grant recipient, but they 
are not required to have the cost-share at the time of application nor 
at the time of award. However, before a grant is awarded, FEMA will 
contact potential awardees to determine whether the grant recipient has 
the funding in hand or if the grant recipient has a viable plan to 
obtain the funding necessary to fulfill the cost-sharing requirement.
    In general, an eligible applicant seeking a grant shall agree to 
make available non-federal funds equal to not less than 15 percent of 
the grant awarded. However, the cost share will vary as follows based 
on the size of the population served by the organization:
     Applicants serving areas with populations above 20,000 but 
not more than 1 million shall agree to make available non-federal funds 
equal to not less than 10 percent of the total project cost.
     Applicants that serve populations of 20,000 or less must 
match the federal grant funds with an amount of non-federal funds equal 
to 5 percent of the total project cost.
    The cost share of state fire training academies and joint/regional 
projects will be based on the entire state or region, not the 
population of the host organization.
    On a case by case basis, FEMA may allow grant recipient that 
already own assets (equipment or vehicles) to use the trade-in 
allowance/credit value of those assets as ``cash'' for the purpose of 
meeting the cost-share obligation of their AFG award. In-kind cost-
share matches are not allowed.
    Grant recipients under this grant program must also agree to a 
maintenance of effort requirement as required by 15 U.S.C. 2229(k)(3) 
(referred to as a ``maintenance of expenditure'' requirement in that 
statute). A grant recipient shall agree to maintain during the term of 
the grant the applicant's aggregate expenditures relating to the 
activities allowable under the NOFO at not less than 80 percent of the 
average amount of such expenditures in the two fiscal years preceding 
the fiscal year in which the grant amounts are received.
    In cases of demonstrated economic hardship, and on the application 
of the grant recipient, the Administrator of FEMA may waive or reduce a 
grant recipient's cost share requirement or maintenance of expenditure 
requirement. As required by statute, the Administrator of FEMA has 
established guidelines for determining what constitutes economic 
hardship and published these guidelines at FEMA's Web site 
www.fema.gov/grants.
    Prior to the start of the FY 2016 AFG application period, FEMA will 
conduct applicant workshops and/or Internet webinars to inform 
potential applicants about the AFG Program. In addition, FEMA will 
provide applicants with information at the AFG Web site www.fema.gov/firegrants to help them prepare quality grant applications. The AFG 
Help Desk will be staffed throughout the application period to assist 
applicants with the automated application process as well as assistance 
with any questions they have. Applicants can reach the AFG Help Desk 
through a toll-free telephone number (1-866-274-0960) or electronic 
mail [email protected].

Application Process

    Organizations may submit one application per application period in 
each of the three AFG Program areas, e.g., one application for 
Operations and Safety, one for Vehicle Acquisition, and/or a separate 
application to be a Joint/Regional Project host. If an organization 
submits more than one application for any single AFG Program area, 
e.g., two applications for Operations and Safety, two for Vehicles, 
etc.; either intentionally or unintentionally, FEMA will deem all 
applications submitted by that organization for the particular program 
to be ineligible for funding.
    Applicants will be advised to access the application electronically 
at https://portal.fema.gov. The application will also be accessible 
from the U.S. Fire Administration's Web site http://www.usfa.fema.gov 
and http://www.grants.gov. New applicants will be required to register 
and establish a username and password for secure access to their 
application. Applicants that applied for any previous AFG funding 
opportunities will be required to use their previously established 
usernames and passwords.
    In completing the application, applicants will be asked to provide 
relevant information on their organization's characteristics, call 
volume, and existing capabilities. Applicants will be asked to answer 
questions about their grant request that reflect the AFG funding 
priorities, which are described below. In addition, each applicant must 
complete four separate narratives for each project or grant activity 
requested.

System for Award Management (SAM)

    In 2012, the SAM replaced the Central Contractor Registry (CCR). 
Per 2 CFR 25.200, all grant applicants and recipients are now required 
to register in https://SAM.gov, which is available free of charge. They 
must maintain validated information in SAM that is consistent with the 
data provided in their AFG grant application and in the Dun & 
Bradstreet (DUNS) database. FEMA will not accept any application, 
process any awards, consider any payment or amendment requests, or 
consider any amendment until the applicant or grant recipient has 
complied with the requirements to provide a valid DUNS number and an 
active SAM registration with current information. The banking 
information, employer identification number (EIN), organization/entity 
name, address, and DUNS number provided in the application must match 
the information that provided in SAM.

Criteria Development Panel (CDP) Recommendations

    FEMA must explain any differences between the published guidelines 
and the recommendations made by the CDP and publish this information in 
the Federal Register prior to making any grants under the AFG Program. 
For FY 2016, FEMA accepted and is implementing all of the CDP's 
recommendations for the prioritization of eligible activities. The CDP 
discussed

[[Page 74468]]

the current funding available for the Fire Prevention and Safety grants 
and recommended to increase the available funding from 10% to 15% of 
the overall appropriated amount. FEMA was unable to accept that 
recommendation due to existing statutory language that outlines the 
eligible use of funds for AFG awards.

Adopted Recommendations for FY 2016

Wellness and Fitness Micro Grants

    Priority 1 Wellness and Fitness activities are now eligible when 
applying for a Micro Grant.

Change to Complete Set of PPE Definition

    AFG will now consider a complete set of PPE to include two sets of 
gloves and two hoods.

Equipment Product Lifecycles

    Equipment will now be scored using an additional variable of ``Age 
Category.'' Equipment is assigned an age category of Short (5-7 years), 
Medium (8-14 years), or Long (15-20 years). These age categories are 
used to compare like types of equipment. Under this system, an item 
that should have a useful life of 10 years is only competing against 
other items that have a similar lifecycle. An application does not 
score higher or lower based on the product lifecycle of an item. It 
only serves to ensure a more even scoring of equipment based on type.

Tow Vehicles

    Tow vehicles are now listed under a separate chart in the equipment 
section to clarify the priority levels between application types.

    Dated: October 6, 2016.
W. Craig Fugate,
Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency.
[FR Doc. 2016-25801 Filed 10-25-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-64-P

74464 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 207 / Wednesday, October 26, 2016 / Notices FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: above. Comments are solicited to (a) www.fema.gov/firegrants, as well as Jennie Orenstein, Chief, HMA Grants evaluate whether the proposed data www.grants.gov. Policy Branch, 202–212–4071. You may collection is necessary for the proper Authority: 15 U.S.C. 2229. contact Records Management Division performance of the agency, including DATES: Grant applications for the for copies of the proposed collection of whether the information shall have Assistance to Firefighters Grants will be information at email address: FEMA- practical utility; (b) evaluate the accepted electronically at https:// Information-Collections-Management@ accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the portal.fema.gov, from October 11, 2016 fema.dhs.gov. burden of the proposed collection of through November 18, 2016, at 5:00 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section information, including the validity of p.m. Eastern Time. 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster the methodology and assumptions used; (c) enhance the quality, utility, and ADDRESSES: Assistance to Firefighters Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, clarity of the information to be Grants Branch, DHS/FEMA, 400 C Street 42 U.S.C. 5170c, established the Hazard collected; and (d) minimize the burden SW., 3N, Washington, DC 20472–3635. Mitigation Grant Program. Grant requirements and grants management of the collection of information on those FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: procedures of the program are outlined who are to respond, including through Catherine Patterson, Branch Chief, in 44 CFR part 206 Subpart N and 2 CFR the use of appropriate automated, Assistance to Firefighters Grant Branch, part 200. FEMA administers the HMGP, electronic, mechanical, or other 1–866–274–0960. and Grantees implement the grants technological collection techniques or SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The AFG under the HMPG per grant agreement other forms of information technology, Program awards grants directly to fire and rules and regulations. The HMGP is e.g., permitting electronic submission of departments, nonaffiliated emergency a post-disaster program that contributes responses. medical services (EMS) organizations, funds toward the cost of hazard Dated: October 20, 2016. and state fire training academies mitigation activities in order to reduce Richard W. Mattison, (SFTAs) for the purpose of enhancing the risk of future damage, hardship, loss Records Management Program Chief, Mission the abilities of first responders to protect or suffering in any area affected by a Support, Federal Emergency Management the health and safety of the public, as major disaster. Grantees are defined as Agency, Department of Homeland Security. well as first-responder personnel facing any State of the United States, the [FR Doc. 2016–25896 Filed 10–25–16; 8:45 am] fire and fire-related hazards. District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the BILLING CODE 9111–47–P Applications for the FY 2016 AFG Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Program will be submitted and and the Commonwealth of the Northern processed online at https:// Mariana Islands, or an Indian tribal DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND portal.fema.gov. Before the application government that chooses to act as a SECURITY period starts, the FY 2016 AFG Notice grantee. of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) will be Federal Emergency Management published on the AFG Web site Collection of Information Agency www.fema.gov/firegrants. The AFG Web Title: Hazard Mitigation Grant site will also provide additional Program (HMGP) Application and [Docket ID FEMA–2016–0030] information and materials useful to Reporting. applicants including: (1) Frequently Type of Information Collection: Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program Asked Questions; (2) Get Ready Guide; Extension, without change, of a and (3) Quick Reference Guide. Based currently approved information AGENCY: Federal Emergency on past AFG application periods, it is collection. Management Agency (FEMA), expected that 10,000 to 15,000 OMB Number: 1660–0076. Department of Homeland Security applications will be submitted for FY FEMA Forms: FEMA Form 009–0– (DHS). 2016 AFG Program grant funds. FEMA 111A, Quarterly Progress Reports. anticipates that it will be able to award Abstract: FEMA administers the ACTION: Notice of availability of grant application and application deadline. approximately 3,000 grants with the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, available grant funding. which is a post-disaster program that SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Federal Fire contributes funds toward the cost of Prevention and Control Act of 1974, as Appropriations hazard mitigation activities in order to amended (15 U.S.C. 2229), the For the FY 2016 Assistance to reduce the risk of future damage Administrator of the Federal Emergency Firefighters Grant Program, Congress hardship, loss or suffering in any area Management Agency (FEMA) is appropriated $345,000,000 (see: the affected by a major disaster. FEMA uses publishing this notice describing the Department of Homeland Security applications to provide financial Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Assistance to Appropriations Act, 2016, Public Law assistance in the form of grant awards Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program 114–1130. From this amount, and, through grantee quarterly application process, deadlines, and $310,500,000 will be made available for reporting, monitor grantee project award selection criteria. This notice AFG awards. In addition, the Federal activities and expenditure of funds. explains the differences, if any, between Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974, Affected Public: State, local or Tribal these guidelines and those as amended (15 U.S.C. 2229), requires Government. recommended by representatives of the that a minimum of 10 percent of asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Number of Respondents: 56. Number of Responses: 4,626. national fire service leadership during available funds be expended for Fire Estimated Total Annual Burden the annual meeting of the Criteria Prevention and Safety Grants (FP&S), to Hours: 48,572. Development Panel, which was held be made directly to local fire Estimated Cost: None. November 9–10, 2015. The application departments and to local, regional, state, period for the FY 2016 AFG Program or national entities recognized for their Comments will be held October 11, 2016 through expertise in the fields of fire prevention Comments may be submitted as November 18, 2016, and will be and firefighter safety research and indicated in the ADDRESSES caption announced on the AFG Web site development. Funds appropriated for VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:25 Oct 25, 2016 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00074 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\26OCN1.SGM 26OCN1

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 207 / Wednesday, October 26, 2016 / Notices 74465 FY 2016 will be available for obligation $25,000 federal participation, they • International Association of Fire and award until September 30, 2017. should not select Micro Grants. Fighters The Federal Fire Prevention and • National Volunteer Fire Council Control Act of 1974 further directs Background of the AFG Program • National Fire Protection Association FEMA to administer the appropriations Since 2001, AFG has helped • National Association of State Fire according to the following requirements: firefighters and other first responders to Marshals • Career (fire department): Not less obtain critically needed equipment, • International Association of Arson than 25 percent of available grant funds. protective gear, emergency vehicles, Investigators • Volunteer (fire department): Not training, and other resources needed to • International Society of Fire Service less than 25 percent of available grant protect the public and emergency Instructors funds. personnel from fire and related hazards. • North American Fire Training • Combination (fire department) and FEMA awards the grants on a Directors departments using paid-on-call competitive basis to the applicants that • Congressional Fire Service Institute firefighting personnel—not less than 25 best address the AFG Program’s percent of available grant funds. Review and Selection Process priorities and provide the most • Open Competition: Career, compelling justification. Applications AFG applications are reviewed volunteer, and combination fire that best address the Program’s through a multi-phase process. First, departments and fire departments using priorities will be reviewed by a panel applications are electronically pre- paid-on-call firefighting personnel—not composed of fire service personnel. scored and ranked; then scored less than 10 percent of available grant competitively by (no less than three) funds awarded. Application Evaluation Criteria members of the Peer Review Panel. • Emergency Medical Services Prior to making a grant award, FEMA Applications are also evaluated through Providers: Fire departments and is required by 31 U.S.C. 3321 and 41 a series of internal FEMA review nonaffiliated EMS organizations; not U.S.C. 2313 to review information processes for completeness, adherence less than 3.5 percent of available grants available through any Office of to programmatic guidelines, technical funds awarded, with nonaffiliated EMS Management and Budget (OMB)- feasibility, and anticipated effectiveness providers receiving no more than 2 designated repositories of government- of the proposed project(s). The review percent of the total available grant wide eligibility qualification or financial process is outlined below: funds. integrity information. Therefore, • State Fire Training Academies 1. Pre-Scoring Process application evaluation criteria may (SFTAs): No more than 3 percent of The application undergoes an include the following risk based available grant funds shall be electronic pre-scoring process based on considerations of the applicant: (1) collectively awarded to state fire established program priorities listed Financial stability; (2) quality of training academy applicants, with a within the NOFO. Application management systems and ability to meet maximum of $500,000 to be awarded narratives are not reviewed during pre- management standards; (3) history of per applicant. scoring. Request details and budget • Vehicles: Not more than 25 percent performance in managing federal award; (4) reports and findings from audits; and information should comply with of available grant funds may be used for program guidance and statutory funding the purchase of vehicles; 10 percent of (5) ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory, or other limitations. The pre-score is 50 percent the total vehicle funds will be dedicated of the total application score. to funding ambulances. The allocation requirements. of funding will be distributed as equally FEMA will rank all complete and 2. Peer Review Panel Process as possible among urban, suburban, and submitted applications based on how Applications with the highest pre- rural community applicants. The well they match program priorities for score will be evaluated by a peer review remaining Vehicle Acquisition funds the type of jurisdiction(s) served. process. The peer review is comprised will be awarded competitively without Answers to activity-specific questions of fire service representatives regard to community classification. provide information used to determine recommended by CDP national • Micro Grants: This is a voluntary each application’s ranking relative to organizations. The panelists assess the funding limitation choice made by the the stated program priorities. merits of each application with respect applicant for requests submitted for Funding priorities and criteria for to the detail provided in the narrative Operations and Safety Grant Component evaluating AFG applications are section of the application, including the Program; it is not an additional funding established by FEMA based on the evaluation elements listed in the opportunity. Micro Grants are awards recommendations from the Criteria Narrative Evaluation Criteria below. The that have a federal participation (share) Development Panel (CDP). The CDP is panel will independently score each that does not exceed $25,000. Only fire comprised of fire service professionals project within the application, discuss departments and nonaffiliated EMS that make recommendations to FEMA the merits and/or shortcomings of the organizations are eligible to choose regarding the creation of new or the application, and document its findings. Micro Grants, and the only eligible modification of previously established A consensus is not required. The panel Micro Grants activities are Training, funding priorities, as well as developing score is 50 percent of the total Equipment, Personal Protective criteria for awarding grants. The content application score. Equipment (PPE), and Wellness and of the NOFO reflects implementation of asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Fitness. Applicants that select Micro the CDP’s recommendations with 3. Technical Evaluation Process Grants as a funding opportunity may respect to the priorities and evaluation The highest ranked applications are receive additional consideration for criteria for awards. deemed within the fundable range. award. If an applicant selects Micro The nine major fire service Applications that are in the fundable Grants in their application, they will be organizations represented on the CDP range undergo both a technical review limited in the total amount of funding are: by a subject matter expert (SME), as well their organization can be awarded; if • International Association of Fire as a FEMA AFG Branch review prior to they are requesting funding in excess of Chiefs being recommended for award. The VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:25 Oct 25, 2016 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00075 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\26OCN1.SGM 26OCN1

74466 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 207 / Wednesday, October 26, 2016 / Notices FEMA AFG Branch will assess the used and in what capacity. Applicants state. The designated SFTA shall be the request with respect to costs, quantities, should also indicate how the requested only State agency/bureau/division, or feasibility, eligibility, and recipient item(s) will help the community and entity within that State, to be an eligible responsibility prior to recommending an increase the organization’s ability to AFG SFTA applicant. application for award. save additional lives and property. Once the technical evaluation process Ineligibility Eligible Applicants is complete, the cumulative score for • FEMA considers two or more each application will be determined and Fire Departments: Fire departments separate fire departments or a final ranking of applications will be operating in any of the 56 states, which nonaffiliated EMS organizations sharing generated. FEMA will award grants include any state of the United States, facilities as being one organization. If based on this final ranking and the the District of Columbia, the two or more organizations share required funding limitations in statute. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana facilities, and each organization submits Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, an application in the same program Narrative Evaluation Criteria American Samoa, the Commonwealth of area, FEMA may deem all of those 1. Financial Need (25%) Puerto Rico; or, any federally recognized program area applications to be Applicants should describe their Indian tribe or tribal organization, are ineligible to avoid any duplication of financial need and how consistent it is eligible applicants. A fire department is benefits. with the intent of the AFG Program. an agency or organization having a • Fire-based EMS organizations are This statement should include details formally recognized arrangement with a not eligible to apply as nonaffiliated describing the applicant’s financial state, territory, local, or tribal authority EMS organizations. Fire-based EMS distress, summarizing budget (city, county, parish, fire district, training and equipment must be constraints, unsuccessful attempts to township, town, or other governing requested by a fire department under secure other funding, and proving the body) to provide fire suppression to a the AFG component program financial distress is out of their control. population within a geographically Operations and Safety. fixed primary first due response area. 2. Project Description and Budget (25%) Nonaffiliated EMS organizations: Statutory Limits to Funding This statement should clearly explain Nonaffiliated EMS organizations Congress has enacted statutory limits the applicant’s project objectives and operating in any of the 56 states, which to the amount of funding that a grant the relationship between those include any state of the United States, recipient may receive from the AFG objectives and the applicant’s budget the District of Columbia, the Program in any single fiscal year (15 and risk analysis. The applicant should Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana U.S.C. 2229(c)(2)) based on the describe the various activities applied Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, population served. Awards will be for with respect to any program priority American Samoa, the Commonwealth of limited based on the size of the or facility modifications, ensuring they Puerto Rico; or, any federally recognized population protected by the applicant, are consistent with project objectives, Indian tribe or tribal organization, are as indicated below. Notwithstanding the the applicant’s mission, and any eligible applicants. A nonaffiliated EMS annual limits stated below, the FEMA national, state, and/or local organization is an agency or Administrator may not award a grant in requirements. Applicants should link organization that is a public or private an amount that exceeds one percent of the proposed expenses to operations nonprofit emergency medical services the available grants funds in such fiscal and safety, as well as the completion of entity providing medical transport that year, except where it is determined that the project goals. is not affiliated with a hospital and does such recipient has an extraordinary 3. Operations and Safety/Cost Benefit not serve a geographic area in which need for a grant in an amount that (25%) emergency medical services are exceeds the one percent aggregate limit. adequately provided by a fire • In the case of a recipient that serves Applicants should describe how they department. plan to address the operations and a jurisdiction with 100,000 people or FEMA considers the following as fewer, the amount of available grant personal safety needs of their hospitals under the AFG Program: funds awarded to such recipient shall organization, including cost • Clinics not exceed $1 million in any fiscal year. effectiveness and sharing assets. This • Medical centers statement should also include details • Medical college or university • In the case of a recipient that serves about gaining the maximum benefits • Infirmary a jurisdiction with more than 100,000 from grant funding by citing reasonable • Surgery centers people but not more than 500,000 or required costs, such as specific • Any other institution, association, people, the amount of available grant overhead and administrative costs. The or foundation providing medical, funds awarded to such recipient shall applicant’s request should also be surgical, or psychiatric care and/or not exceed $2 million in any fiscal year. consistent with their mission and treatment for the sick or injured. • In the case of a recipient that serves identify how funding will benefit their State Fire Training Academies: A a jurisdiction with more than 500,000 organization and personnel. State Fire Training Academy (SFTA) but not more than 1 million people, the operating in any of the 56 states, which amount of available grant funds 4. Statement of Effect/Impact on Daily includes any state of the United States, awarded to such recipient shall not Operations (25%) the District of Columbia, the exceed $3 million in any fiscal year. asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES This statement should explain how Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana • In the case of a recipient that serves this funding request will enhance the Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, a jurisdiction with more than 1 million organization’s overall effectiveness. It American Samoa, and the people but not more than 2,500,000 should address how this request will Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is an people, the amount of available grant improve daily operations and reduce the eligible applicant. Applicants must be funds awarded to such recipient shall organization’s common risk(s). designated either by legislation or by a not exceed $6 million for any fiscal Applicants should include how Governor’s declaration as the sole state year, but is subject to the one percent frequently the requested item(s) will be fire service training agency within a aggregate cap of $3,450,000 for FY 2016. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:25 Oct 25, 2016 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00076 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\26OCN1.SGM 26OCN1

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 207 / Wednesday, October 26, 2016 / Notices 74467 • In the case of a recipient that serves region, not the population of the host unintentionally, FEMA will deem all a jurisdiction with more than 2,500,000 organization. applications submitted by that people, the amount of available grant On a case by case basis, FEMA may organization for the particular program funds awarded to such recipient shall allow grant recipient that already own to be ineligible for funding. not exceed $9 million in any fiscal year, assets (equipment or vehicles) to use the Applicants will be advised to access but is subject to the one percent trade-in allowance/credit value of those the application electronically at https:// aggregate cap of $3,450,000 for FY 2016. assets as ‘‘cash’’ for the purpose of portal.fema.gov. The application will • FEMA may not waive the caps on meeting the cost-share obligation of also be accessible from the U.S. Fire the maximum amount of available grant their AFG award. In-kind cost-share Administration’s Web site http:// funds awarded based upon population. matches are not allowed. www.usfa.fema.gov and http:// The cumulative total of the federal Grant recipients under this grant www.grants.gov. New applicants will be share of awards in Operations and program must also agree to a required to register and establish a Safety, Regional and Vehicle maintenance of effort requirement as username and password for secure Acquisition activities will be considered required by 15 U.S.C. 2229(k)(3) access to their application. Applicants when assessing award amounts and any (referred to as a ‘‘maintenance of that applied for any previous AFG limitations thereto. Applicants may expenditure’’ requirement in that funding opportunities will be required request funding up to the statutory limit statute). A grant recipient shall agree to to use their previously established on each of their applications. maintain during the term of the grant usernames and passwords. For example, an applicant that serves the applicant’s aggregate expenditures In completing the application, a jurisdiction with more than 100,000 relating to the activities allowable under applicants will be asked to provide people but not more than 500,000 the NOFO at not less than 80 percent of relevant information on their people may request up to $2 million on the average amount of such organization’s characteristics, call their Operations and Safety Application expenditures in the two fiscal years volume, and existing capabilities. and up to $2 million on their Vehicle preceding the fiscal year in which the Applicants will be asked to answer Acquisition Request. However, should grant amounts are received. questions about their grant request that both grants be awarded, the applicant In cases of demonstrated economic reflect the AFG funding priorities, would have to choose which award to hardship, and on the application of the which are described below. In addition, accept if the cumulative value of both grant recipient, the Administrator of each applicant must complete four applications exceeds the statutory FEMA may waive or reduce a grant separate narratives for each project or limits. recipient’s cost share requirement or grant activity requested. maintenance of expenditure Cost Sharing and Maintenance of Effort requirement. As required by statute, the System for Award Management (SAM) Grant recipients must share in the Administrator of FEMA has established In 2012, the SAM replaced the Central costs of the projects funded under this guidelines for determining what Contractor Registry (CCR). Per 2 CFR grant program as required by 15 U.S.C. constitutes economic hardship and 25.200, all grant applicants and 2229(k)(1) and in accordance with published these guidelines at FEMA’s recipients are now required to register applicable federal regulations governing Web site www.fema.gov/grants. in https://SAM.gov, which is available grants in effect at the time a grant is Prior to the start of the FY 2016 AFG free of charge. They must maintain awarded to a grant recipient, but they application period, FEMA will conduct validated information in SAM that is are not required to have the cost-share applicant workshops and/or Internet consistent with the data provided in at the time of application nor at the time webinars to inform potential applicants their AFG grant application and in the of award. However, before a grant is about the AFG Program. In addition, Dun & Bradstreet (DUNS) database. awarded, FEMA will contact potential FEMA will provide applicants with FEMA will not accept any application, awardees to determine whether the information at the AFG Web site process any awards, consider any grant recipient has the funding in hand www.fema.gov/firegrants to help them payment or amendment requests, or or if the grant recipient has a viable plan prepare quality grant applications. The consider any amendment until the to obtain the funding necessary to fulfill AFG Help Desk will be staffed applicant or grant recipient has the cost-sharing requirement. throughout the application period to complied with the requirements to In general, an eligible applicant assist applicants with the automated provide a valid DUNS number and an seeking a grant shall agree to make application process as well as assistance active SAM registration with current available non-federal funds equal to not with any questions they have. information. The banking information, less than 15 percent of the grant Applicants can reach the AFG Help employer identification number (EIN), awarded. However, the cost share will Desk through a toll-free telephone organization/entity name, address, and vary as follows based on the size of the number (1–866–274–0960) or electronic DUNS number provided in the population served by the organization: mail firegrants@dhs.gov. application must match the information • Applicants serving areas with that provided in SAM. Application Process populations above 20,000 but not more Organizations may submit one Criteria Development Panel (CDP) than 1 million shall agree to make application per application period in Recommendations available non-federal funds equal to not less than 10 percent of the total project each of the three AFG Program areas, FEMA must explain any differences e.g., one application for Operations and between the published guidelines and asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES cost. • Applicants that serve populations Safety, one for Vehicle Acquisition, the recommendations made by the CDP of 20,000 or less must match the federal and/or a separate application to be a and publish this information in the grant funds with an amount of non- Joint/Regional Project host. If an Federal Register prior to making any federal funds equal to 5 percent of the organization submits more than one grants under the AFG Program. For FY total project cost. application for any single AFG Program 2016, FEMA accepted and is The cost share of state fire training area, e.g., two applications for implementing all of the CDP’s academies and joint/regional projects Operations and Safety, two for Vehicles, recommendations for the prioritization will be based on the entire state or etc.; either intentionally or of eligible activities. The CDP discussed VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:25 Oct 25, 2016 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00077 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\26OCN1.SGM 26OCN1

74468 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 207 / Wednesday, October 26, 2016 / Notices the current funding available for the Services (USCIS) may generally only residents of that country who are subject Fire Prevention and Safety grants and approve petitions for H–2A and H–2B to a final order of removal; (2) the recommended to increase the available nonimmigrant status on behalf of number of final and unexecuted orders funding from 10% to 15% of the overall nationals of countries that the Secretary of removal against citizens, subjects, appropriated amount. FEMA was unable of Homeland Security, with the nationals, and residents of that country; to accept that recommendation due to concurrence of the Secretary of State, (3) the number of orders of removal existing statutory language that outlines has designated by notice published in executed against citizens, subjects, the eligible use of funds for AFG the Federal Register. That notice must nationals, and residents of that country; awards. be renewed each year. This notice and (4) such other factors as may serve announces that the Secretary of the U.S. interest. See 8 CFR Adopted Recommendations for FY 2016 214.2(h)(5)(i)(F)(1)(i) and 8 CFR Homeland Security, in consultation Wellness and Fitness Micro Grants with the Secretary of State, is 214.2(h)(6)(i)(E)(1). Examples of factors Priority 1 Wellness and Fitness identifying 85 countries whose serving the U.S. interest that could nationals are eligible to participate in result in the non-inclusion of a country activities are now eligible when the H–2A program and 84 countries or the removal of a country from the list applying for a Micro Grant. whose nationals are eligible to include, but are not limited to, fraud, Change to Complete Set of PPE participate in the H–2B program for the abuse, and non-compliance with the Definition coming year. terms and conditions of the H–2 AFG will now consider a complete set DATES: Effective Date: The designation programs by nationals of that country. of PPE to include two sets of gloves and of these countries is effective January In December 2008, DHS published in two hoods. 18, 2017, and shall be without effect at the Federal Register two notices, the end of one year after January 18, ‘‘Identification of Foreign Countries Equipment Product Lifecycles 2017. Whose Nationals Are Eligible to Equipment will now be scored using Participate in the H–2A Visa Program,’’ FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: and ‘‘Identification of Foreign Countries an additional variable of ‘‘Age Timothy Simmons, Office of Policy, Category.’’ Equipment is assigned an age Whose Nationals Are Eligible to Department of Homeland Security, Participate in the H–2B Visa Program,’’ category of Short (5–7 years), Medium Washington, DC 20528, (202) 447–4216. (8–14 years), or Long (15–20 years). which designated 28 countries whose SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: nationals are eligible to participate in These age categories are used to compare like types of equipment. Under Background: Generally, USCIS may the H–2A and H–2B programs. See 73 this system, an item that should have a approve H–2A and H–2B petitions filed FR 77043 (Dec. 18, 2008); 73 FR 77729 useful life of 10 years is only competing on behalf of nationals of only those (Dec. 19, 2008). The notices ceased to against other items that have a similar countries 1 that the Secretary of have effect on January 17, 2010 and lifecycle. An application does not score Homeland Security, with the January 18, 2010, respectively. See 8 higher or lower based on the product concurrence of the Secretary of State, CFR 214.2(h)(5)(i)(F)(2) and 8 CFR lifecycle of an item. It only serves to has designated as participating 214.2(h)(6)(i)(E)(3). In implementing ensure a more even scoring of countries. Such designation must be these regulatory provisions, the equipment based on type. published as a notice in the Federal Secretary of Homeland Security, with Register and expires after one year. the concurrence of the Secretary of Tow Vehicles USCIS, however, may allow a national State, has published a series of notices Tow vehicles are now listed under a from a country not on the list to be on a regular basis. See 75 FR 2879 (Jan. separate chart in the equipment section named as a beneficiary of an H–2A or 19, 2010) (adding 11 countries); 76 FR to clarify the priority levels between H–2B petition based on a determination 2915 (Jan. 18, 2011) (removing application types. that such participation is in the U.S. Indonesia and adding 15 countries); 77 interest. See 8 CFR 214.2(h)(5)(i)(F) and FR 2558 (Jan. 18, 2012) (adding 5 Dated: October 6, 2016. countries); 78 FR 4154 (Jan. 18, 2013) 8 CFR 214.2(h)(6)(i)(E). W. Craig Fugate, In designating countries to include on (adding 1 country); 79 FR 3214 (Jan.17, Administrator, Federal Emergency the list, the Secretary of Homeland 2014) (adding 4 countries); 79 FR 74735 Management Agency. Security, with the concurrence of the (Dec. 16, 2014) (adding 5 countries); 80 [FR Doc. 2016–25801 Filed 10–25–16; 8:45 am] Secretary of State, will take into account FR 72079 (Nov. 18, 2015) (removing BILLING CODE 9111–64–P factors including, but not limited to: (1) Moldova from the H–2B program and The country’s cooperation with respect adding 16 countries). to issuance of travel documents for The Secretary of Homeland Security DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND citizens, subjects, nationals, and has determined, with the concurrence of SECURITY the Secretary of State, that 84 countries [Docket No. DHS–2011–0108] 1 With respect to all references to ‘‘country’’ or previously designated in the November ‘‘countries’’ in this document, it should be noted 18, 2015 notice continue to meet the RIN 1601–ZA11 that the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, Public Law standards identified in that notice for 96–8, Section 4(b)(1), provides that ‘‘[w]henever the laws of the United States refer or relate to foreign eligible countries and therefore should Identification of Foreign Countries remain designated as countries whose countries, nations, states, governments, or similar Whose Nationals Are Eligible To nationals are eligible to participate in asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES entities, such terms shall include and such laws Participate in the H–2A and H–2B shall apply with respect to Taiwan.’’ 22 U.S.C. the H–2A program. Additionally, the Nonimmigrant Worker Programs 3303(b)(1). Accordingly, all references to ‘‘country’’ Secretary of Homeland Security has or ‘‘countries’’ in the regulations governing whether AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DHS. nationals of a country are eligible for H–2 program determined, with the concurrence of the ACTION: Notice. participation, 8 CFR 214.2(h)(5)(i)(F)(1)(i) and 8 Secretary of State, that 83 countries CFR 214.2(h)(6)(i)(E)(1), are read to include Taiwan. previously designated in the November This is consistent with the United States’ one-China SUMMARY: Under Department of policy, under which the United States has 18, 2015 notice continue to meet the Homeland Security (DHS) regulations, maintained unofficial relations with Taiwan since standards identified in that notice for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration 1979. eligible countries and therefore should VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:25 Oct 25, 2016 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00078 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\26OCN1.SGM 26OCN1


Document Created: 2016-10-26 02:17:37
Document Modified: 2016-10-26 02:17:37
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice of availability of grant application and application deadline.
DatesGrant applications for the Assistance to Firefighters Grants will be accepted electronically at https://portal.fema.gov, from October 11, 2016 through November 18, 2016, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
ContactCatherine Patterson, Branch Chief, Assistance to Firefighters Grant Branch, 1-866-274-0960.
FR Citation81 FR 74464 
2025 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR