[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 65 (Tuesday, April 6, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16734-16735]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-8466]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request
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 and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity
to comment on proposed revised information collections. In accordance
with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)),
this notice seeks comments concerning the Elevation Certificate and the
Floodproofing Certificate. The certificates are required by the NFIP to
certify the elevations of buildings, so that the policy can be properly
rated. It also provides documentation to verify the community's
enforcement of building ordinances, which is important to the NFIP
mitigation and floodplain management activities.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. The NFIP is authorized by Public Law 90-448
(1968) and expanded by Public Law 93-234 (1973). The National Flood
Insurance Act of 1968 requires that the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) provide flood insurance at full actuarial rates
reflecting the complete flood risk to structures built or substantially
improved on or after the effective date, for the initial Flood
Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) for the community, or after December 31,
1974, whichever is later, so that the risks associated with buildings
in flood-prone areas are borne by those located in such areas and not
by the taxpayers at large. In accordance with Public Law 93-234, the
purchase of flood insurance is mandatory when Federal or federally
related financial assistance is being provided for acquisition or
construction of buildings located, or to be located, within FEMA-
identified special flood hazard areas of communities that are
participating in the NFIP.
The NFIP regulations require the elevation or floodproofing of
newly constructed structures in designated special flood hazard areas.
As part of the agreement for making flood insurance available in a
community, the NFIP requires the community to adopt a floodplain
management ordinance containing certain minimum requirements intended
to reduce future flood losses. One such requirement is that the
community obtain the elevation of the lowest floor (including basement)
of all new and substantially improved
[[Page 16735]]
structures, and maintain a record of all such information. The data may
be generated and retained as part of the community's permit issuance
and building inspection processes. The Elevation Certificate is one
convenient way for a community to comply with this requirement. The
Floodproofing Certificate may similarly be used to establish the
required record in those instances when floodproofing for non-
residential structures is a permitted practice.
In the past several years, FEMA has collected feedback from users
of the Elevation Certificate form requesting minor changes and
clarifications. These changes include better description of structure
being certified; expanding ``Section B--Flood Insurance Rate Map
Information'' to include critical map information; improving
Instructions Section and simplifying the existing Building Diagrams;
and clarifying the certification section to reduce the liability risk
on the surveyors and professional engineers.
Collection of Information
Title: Post Construction Elevation Certificate/Floodproofing
Certificate.
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved
collection.
OMB Number: 3067-0077.
Form Numbers: FEMA Form 81-31, Elevation Certificate; FEMA Form 81-
65, Floodproofing Certificate for Non-Residential Structures.
Abstract: The Elevation Certificate and Floodproofing Certificate
are adjuncts to the application for flood insurance. The certificates
are required for proper rating of post-Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM)
structures, which are buildings constructed after publication of the
FIRM, for flood insurance in Special Flood Hazard Areas. In addition,
the Elevation Certificate is needed for pre-FIRM structures being rated
under post-FIRM flood insurance rules. The certificates provide
community officials and others, with standardized documents that are
readily needed.
The certificates are supplied to insurance agents, community
officials, surveyors, engineers, architects, and NFIP policyholders/
applicants. The community officials or other professionals provide the
elevation data required to document conformance with floodplain
management regulations and for the applicants so that actuarial
insurance rates can be charged. The elevation data is transmitted to
the NFIP by the insurance applicant or agent with the appropriate NFIP
policy forms.
The data is also used to assist FEMA in measuring the effectiveness
of the NFIP regulations in eliminating or decreasing damage caused by
flooding and the appropriateness of the NFIP premium charges for
insuring property against the flood hazard.
Affected Public: Individuals and households, Businesses or other
for-profit, Not-for-profit institutions, Farms, and State, local or
tribal governments.
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 166,362.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of
FEMA forms respondents Hours per Annual burden
(A) response (B) hours (A x B)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
81-31........................................................... 73,000 2.25 164,250
81-65........................................................... 650 3.25 2,112
-----------------------------------------------
Total....................................................... 73,650 .............. 166,362
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated Cost: The average cost is estimated to be a fee of $125-
$200 charged to the applicant by the private sector professional
completing the Elevation or Floodproofing Certificates. Total annual
costs could range from $9,206,250 to $14,730,000 (i.e., 73,650
respondents x $125 per respondent = $9,206,250 to 73,650 respondents
x $200 per respondent = $14,730,000.) Although the average is
estimated to range from $125 to $200 per certificate, the actual cost
for a given certificate may vary by region and location. In many cases,
the Certificates will be available at no cost as a normal product of
the community's construction and local permitting processes.
The cost to the Federal government for developing/revising the
Elevation Certificate and Floodproofing Certificate is estimated to
total $50,000. There is no independent dollar cost to the Federal
government to develop, process, analyze and maintain this information
since it is submitted by the applicant for flood insurance, along with
the applicant's application.
COMMENTS: Written 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.
Comments should be received within 60 days of the date of this notice.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons should submit written comments to Muriel
B. Anderson, FEMA Information Collections Officer, Federal Emergency
Management Agency, 500 C Street, SW, Room 316, Washington, DC 20472.
Telephone number (202) 646-2625. FAX number (202) 646-3524 or email
[email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Jhun de la Cruz, Insurance
Examiner, Federal Insurance Administration, (202) 646-2650 for
additional information. Contact Ms. Anderson at (202) 646-2625 or email
[email protected] for copies of the proposed collection of
information.
Dated: March 26, 1999.
Reginald Trujillo,
Director, Program Services Division, Operations Support Directorate.
[FR Doc. 99-8466 Filed 4-5-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6718-01-P