[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 136 (Friday, July 16, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 38308-38309]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-18179]


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FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY

44 CFR Part 7

RIN 3067-AC99


Extension of Filing Date for Discrimination Complaints

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This final rule amends our (FEMA) regulation on 
nondiscrimination in federally assisted programs by extending the 
filing deadline for discrimination complaints from 90 to 180 days from 
the alleged discriminatory act. This amendment will make our regulation 
comparable to the Title VI rules of other Federal agencies, and to the 
filing deadline in our own rule for federally conducted programs.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This rule is effective August 16, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Alan Clive, Civil Rights Program 
Manager, Office of Equal Rights, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 
500 C Street SW., room 407, Washington DC 20472; telephone: (202) 646-
3957, or (email) [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This final rule amends our (FEMA) regulation 
on nondiscrimination in federally assisted programs by extending the 
filing deadline for discrimination complaints from 90 to 180 days from 
the alleged discriminatory act. This amendment will make our regulation 
comparable to the rules of other Federal agencies under Title VI of the 
Civil Rights Act of 1964 and to the filing deadline for federally 
conducted programs to provide aggrieved parties additional time to file 
their complaints.

Administrative Procedure Act Determination

    FEMA is publishing this final rule without opportunity for prior 
public comment under the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. 553. 
This final rule is a rule of agency procedure or practice that is 
excepted from the prior public comment requirements of Sec. 553(b). The 
rule makes nonsubstantive, nonsignificant changes to 44 CFR part 7 by 
extending the time for filing discrimination complaints from 90 to 180 
days from the alleged discriminatory act.

Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review

    This final rule is not a significant regulatory action within the 
meaning of Sec. 2(f) of E.O. 12866 of September 30, 1993, 58 FR 51735, 
but attempts to adhere to the regulatory principles set forth in E.O. 
12866. The Office of Management and Budget has not reviewed this rule 
under E.O. 12866.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    I certify that this rule is not a major rule under Executive Order 
12291. It will not have significant impact on a substantial number of 
small entities within the meaning of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 
and is not expected (1)

[[Page 38309]]

to affect adversely the availability of disaster assistance funding to 
small entities, (2) to have significant secondary or incidental effects 
on a substantial number of small entities, or (3) to create any 
additional burden on small entities. We have not prepared a regulatory 
flexibility analysis of this rule.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This final rule does not contain a collection of information and 
therefore is not subject to the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995.

Congressional Review of Agency Rulemaking

    We have sent this final rule to the Congress and to the General 
Accounting Office under the Congressional Review of Agency Rulemaking 
Act, Public Law 104-121. The rule is not a ``major rule'' within the 
meaning of that Act. It is an administrative action in support of 
normal day-to-day activities. It does not result in nor is it likely to 
result in an annual effect on the economy of $100,000,000 or more; it 
will not result in a major increase in costs or prices for consumers, 
individual industries, Federal, State, or local government agencies, or 
geographic regions; and it will not have ``significant adverse 
effects'' on competition, employment, investment, productivity, 
innovation, or on the ability of United States-based enterprises to 
compete with foreign-based enterprises. This final rule is exempt (1) 
from the requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, and (2) from 
the Paperwork Reduction Act. The rule is not an unfunded Federal 
mandate within the meaning of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995, 
Public Law 104-4. It does not meet the $100,000,000 threshold of that 
Act, and any enforceable duties are imposed as a condition of Federal 
assistance or a duty arising from participation in a voluntary Federal 
program.

List of Subjects in 44 CFR Part 7

    Civil rights.

    Accordingly, we amend 44 CFR part 7 as follows:

PART 7--NONDISCRIMINATION IN FEDERALLY-ASSISTED PROGRAMS (FEMA REG. 
5)

    1. The authority citation for part 7 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: FEMA Reg. 5 issued under sec. 602, 78 Stat. 252; 42 
U.S.C. 2000 d-1; 42 U.S.C. 1855-1885g; 50 U.S.C. 404.

    2. We revise Sec. 7.11(b) to read as follows:


Sec. 7.11  Conduct of investigations.

* * * * *
    (b) Complaints. Any person who believes himself or any specific 
class of individuals to be subjected to discrimination prohibited by 
this regulation may by himself or by a representative file a written 
complaint with the National Headquarters or any Regional Office of the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency. A complaint must be filed not 
later than 180 days from the date of the alleged discrimination, unless 
the time for filing is extended by the responsible agency official or 
his designee.
* * * * *
    Dated: July 12, 1999.
James L. Witt,
Director.
[FR Doc. 99-18179 Filed 7-15-99; 8:45 am]
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