Public Assistance Program Minimum Standards

AGENCY:

Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION:

Notice of availability; request for comments.

SUMMARY:

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is accepting comments on a proposed policy regarding minimum standards for Public Assistance restoration of damaged facility projects.

DATES:

Comments must be received by May 23, 2016.

ADDRESSES:

Comments must be identified by docket ID FEMA-2016-0007 and may be submitted by one of the following methods:

Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. Please note that this proposed policy is not a rulemaking and the Federal Rulemaking Portal is being utilized only as a mechanism for receiving comments.

Mail: Regulatory Affairs Division, Office of Chief Counsel, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 8NE, 500 C Street SW., Washington, DC 20472-3100.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

William Roche, Director, Public Assistance Division, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 500 C Street SW., Washington, DC 20472, 202-646-3834.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Public Participation

Instructions: 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, which can be viewed by clicking on the “Privacy Notice” link in the footer of www.regulations.gov.

You may submit your comments and material by the methods specified in the ADDRESSES section above. Please submit your comments and any supporting material by only one means to avoid the receipt and review of duplicate submissions.

Docket: The proposed policy is available in docket ID FEMA-2016-0007. For access to the docket to read background documents or comments received, go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov and search for the docket ID. Submitted comments may also be inspected at FEMA, Office of Chief Counsel, 8NE, 500 C Street SW., Washington, DC 20472.

II. Background

The purpose of the proposed policy is to establish minimum standards for Public Assistance projects to promote resiliency and increase achieved risk reduction under the authority of Stafford Act § 323, 42 U.S.C. 5165a and § 406(e), 42 U.S.C. 5172. When using Public Assistance funds to repair, replace or construct buildings located in hazard-prone areas, applicants would use, at a minimum, the hazard-resistant standards reflected or referenced in the International Building Code (IBC). Costs associated with meeting these standards would be eligible. The proposed policy language would replace Chapter 2:VII.C.2 of the Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide (PAPPG), available at http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/111781.

The proposed policy does not have the force or effect of law.

FEMA seeks comment on the proposed policy, which is available online at http://www.regulations.gov in docket ID FEMA-2016-0007. Based on the comments received, FEMA may make appropriate revisions to the proposed policy. Although FEMA will consider any comments received in the drafting of the final policy, FEMA will not provide a response to comments document. When or if FEMA issues a final policy, FEMA will publish a notice of availability in the Federal Register and make the final policy available at http://www.regulations.gov. The final policy will not have the force or effect of law.

Authority: 42 U.S.C. 5165a, 5172; 44 CFR 206.226, 206.400.