SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Under Sections 401 and 501 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act) (42 U.S.C 5170 and 5191), if a state or Tribe is impacted by an event of the severity and magnitude that is beyond its response capabilities, the state Governor or Chief Executive may seek a declaration by the President that a major disaster or emergency exists. Any major disaster or emergency request must be submitted through FEMA, which evaluates the request and makes a recommendation to the President about what response action to take. If the major disaster or emergency declaration request is granted, the state or Tribe may be eligible to receive assistance under 42 U.S.C. 5170a-5170c; 5172-5186; 5189c- 5189d; and 5192. A state or Tribe may appeal denials of a major disaster or emergency declaration request for determinations under section 44 CFR 206.46 and seek an adjustment to the cost share percentage under section 44 CFR 206.47. FEMA is extending the currently approved information collection.

This proposed information collection previously published in the Federal Register on June 1, 2026, at 91 FR 32409 with a 60-day public comment period. One comment was received, but the comments were not germane to this information collection as they detailed several programmatic issues with the damage assessment process and program evaluation factors. Those comments will be reviewed and considered outside the renewal process. The purpose of this notice is to notify the public that FEMA will submit the information collection abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget for review and clearance.

Collection of Information

Title: The Declaration Process: Requests for Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA), Requests for Supplemental Federal Disaster Assistance, Appeals, and Requests for Cost Share Adjustments.

Type of Information Collection: Extension of a currently approved information collection.

OMB Number: 1660-0009.

FEMA Forms: FEMA Form FF-104-FY-22-232 (formerly 010-0-13), Request for Presidential Disaster Declaration Major Disaster or Emergency.

Abstract: When a disaster occurs, the Governor of the state or the Chief Executive of an affected Indian tribal government may request a major disaster declaration or an emergency declaration. The Governor or Chief Executive should submit the request to the President through the appropriate Regional Administrator to ensure prompt acknowledgement and processing. The information obtained by joint Federal, state, and local preliminary damage assessments will be analyzed by FEMA regional senior level staff. The regional summary and the regional analysis and recommendation will include a discussion of state and local resources and capabilities, and other assistance available to meet the disaster related needs. The Administrator of FEMA provides a recommendation to the President and also provides a copy of the Governor's or Chief Executive's request. In the event the information required by law is not contained in the request, the Governor's or Chief Executive's request cannot be processed and forwarded to the White House. In the event the Governor's or Chief Executive's request ( printed page 58466) for a major disaster declaration or an emergency declaration is not granted, the Governor or Chief Executive may appeal the decision.

Affected Public: State, Local or Tribal Government.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 140.

Estimated Number of Responses: 240.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 4,040.

Estimated Total Annual Respondent Cost: $241,886.

Estimated Respondents' Operation and Maintenance Costs: $0.

Estimated Respondents' Capital and Start-Up Costs: $0.

Estimated Total Annual Cost to the Federal Government: $9,942,947.

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.

91 FR 58465