82 FR 58631 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Application for Participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Federal Emergency Management Agency

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 238 (December 13, 2017)

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 a reinstatement, without change, of a previously approved information collection for which approval has expired. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice seeks comments concerning the collection of information under which communities submit information to FEMA for application and continued participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 238 (Wednesday, December 13, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58631-58632]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-26815]


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

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

[Docket ID: FEMA-2017-0022; OMB No. 1660-0004]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Application for Participation in the National Flood 
Insurance Program (NFIP)

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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

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 a 
reinstatement, without change, of a previously approved information 
collection for which approval has expired. In accordance with the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice seeks comments concerning 
the collection of information under which communities submit 
information to FEMA for application and continued participation in the 
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before February 12, 2018.

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-2017-0022. 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: Adrienne L. Sheldon, Supervisory 
Emergency Management Specialist, Floodplain Management Division (202) 
212-3966. You may contact the Records Management Division for copies of 
the proposed collection of information at email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), 
codified at 42 U.S.C. 4001, et seq., requires all flood prone 
communities throughout the country to apply for participation in the 
NFIP one year after their flood prone status is identified or submit to 
the prohibition of certain types of federal and federally-related 
financial assistance for use in their floodplains. Title 44 Code of 
Federal Regulations (CFR) section 59.2 authorizes previously 
unavailable flood insurance protection to property owners in flood-
prone areas, and 44 CFR 59.22 identifies the information that 
communities are required to submit to FEMA for application into the 
NFIP. 44 CFR 59.22 and 59.24 identify the information a community is 
required to submit to FEMA for continued participation in the program.
    This information collection expired on September 30, 2017. FEMA is 
requesting a reinstatement, without change, of a previously approved 
information collection for which approval has expired.

Collection of Information

    Title: Application for Participation in the National Flood 
Insurance Program (NFIP).
    Type of Information Collection: Reinstatement, without change, of a 
previously approved collection for which approval has expired.
    OMB Number: 1660-0004.
    Form Titles and Numbers: FEMA Form 086-0-30, Application for 
Participation in the National Flood Insurance Program.

[[Page 58632]]

    Abstract: The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) provides 
flood insurance to the communities that apply for participation and 
make a commitment to protect against future flood damages. The 
application form and supporting documentation will enable FEMA to 
continue to rapidly process new community applications and to thereby 
more quickly provide flood insurance protection to the residents in 
communities.
    To qualify for the NFIP, a participating community must adopt 
certain minimum standards in accordance with FEMA's regulations at 44 
CFR 60.3, 60.4, and 60.5. In order to verify whether communities 
maintain such standards, the NFIP requires participating communities to 
retain documentation on development taking place in the flood hazard 
areas within the community. 44 CFR 59.22. Such information will be made 
available to FEMA upon request. This information assists FEMA in 
evaluating the effectiveness of a community's floodplain management 
program and participating property owners' eligibility for flood 
insurance.
    This reinstatement does not propose any change in the information 
solicited from respondents through this information collection; 
however, the number of burden hours has been updated to reflect 
changing number of respondents and responses received through this 
collection over time. These changes have occurred naturally, and do not 
result from specific action taken by FEMA.
    The ``Application for Participation in the NFIP'' and the ``NFIP 
and the Community Development Permit Process'' are separate actions 
documented under the same collection.
    Affected Public: State, local or Tribal government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 22,367.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 97,724.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 244,418.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Cost: $20,946,623.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to the Federal Government: $ 83,041.

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: December 5, 2017.
William Holzerland,
Director, Information Management Division Mission Support, Federal 
Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. 2017-26815 Filed 12-12-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9111-52-P