Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request; National Flood Insurance Program Policy Forms

AGENCY:

Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION:

Notice.

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 a revision of a currently approved information collection. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice seeks comments concerning information collected for National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policies to accommodate the changing insurance needs of policyholders. The changes to the program were made as a result of the implementation of certain provisions of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 and Homeowners Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before May 16, 2016.

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-2016-0006. 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:

Mary Ann Chang, Insurance Examiner, Mitigation Directorate, 202-212-4712. You may contact the Records Management Division for copies of the proposed collection of information at email address: FEMA-Information-Collections-Management@fema.dhs.gov.

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 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.

Collection of Information

Title: National Flood Insurance Program Policy Forms.

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

OMB Number: 1660-0006.

FEMA Forms: FEMA Form 086-0-1, Flood Insurance Application; FEMA Form 0860-2, Flood Insurance Cancellation/Nullification Request Form; FEMA Form 086-0-3, Flood Insurance General Change Endorsement; FEMA Form 086-0-4, V-Zone Risk Factor Rating Form and Instructions; and FEMA Form 086-0-5, Flood Insurance Preferred Risk Application.

Abstract: In order to provide for the availability of policies for flood insurance, policies are marketed through the facilities of licensed insurance agents or brokers in the various States. Applications from agents or brokers are forwarded to a servicing company designated as fiscal agent by the Federal Insurance Administration (FIA). Upon receipt and examination of the application and required premium, the servicing company issues the appropriate Federal flood insurance policy.

Affected Public: Individuals or households; State, local or Tribal Government; Business or other for profit; Not-for-profit institutions; and Farms.

Number of Respondents: 601,067.

Number of Responses: 601,067.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 91,016.

Estimated Cost: 6,500.

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.