Update of FEMA's Public Assistance Regulations

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY <SUBAGY>Federal Emergency Management Agency</SUBAGY> <CFR>44 CFR Part 206</CFR> <DEPDOC>[Docket ID FEMA-2023-0005]</DEPDOC> <RIN>RIN 1660-AB09</RIN> <SUBJECT>Update of FEMA's Public Assistance Regulations</SUBJECT> <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD> Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS. <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD> Notice of proposed rulemaking. <SUM> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD> The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA, agency, or we) proposes to revise its Public Assistance program regulations to reflect current statutory authorities and implement program improvements. The proposed rule would incorporate changes brought about by amendments to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act). FEMA is also proposing clarifications and corrections to improve the efficiency and consistency of the Public Assistance program. </SUM> <EFFDATE> <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD> Comments must be submitted by September 3, 2024. </EFFDATE> <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD> You may submit comments, identified by Docket ID FEMA-2023-0005, via the Federal eRulemaking Portal: <E T="03">www.regulations.gov.</E> Search for the Docket ID and follow the instructions for submitting comments. <FURINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD> Robert Pesapane, Director, Public Assistance Division. Phone: (202) 646-3834. Email: <E T="03">fema-recovery-pa-policy@fema.dhs.gov.</E> </FURINF> <SUPLINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD> <HD SOURCE="HD1">Table of Contents</HD> <EXTRACT> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">I. Public Participation and Request for Comments</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">II. Executive Summary</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. Background and Purpose of the Regulatory Action</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. Summary of Major Provisions</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">III. Discussion of the Proposed Rule</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. 44 CFR Part 206, Subpart A—General</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. 44 CFR Part 206, Subpart C—Emergency Assistance</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. 44 CFR Part 206, Subpart G—Public Assistance Project Administration</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D. 44 CFR Part 206, Subpart H—Public Assistance Eligibility</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">E. 44 CFR Part 206, Subpart K—Community Disaster Loans</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">IV. Regulatory Analysis</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. Executive Order 12866, as Amended, Regulatory Planning and Review, Executive Order 13563, Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review, and Executive Order 14094, Modernizing Regulatory Analysis</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. Regulatory Flexibility Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D. National Environmental Policy Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">E. National Historic Preservation Act of 1966</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">F. Endangered Species Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">G. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">H. Privacy Act/E-Government Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">I. Executive Order 13175, Consultation and Coordination With Indian Tribal Governments</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">J. Executive Order 13132, Federalism</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">K. Executive Order 11988, Floodplain Management</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">L. Executive Order 11990, Protection of Wetlands</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">M. Executive Orders 12898 and 14096, Environmental Justice</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">N. OMB Circular A-119, Voluntary Consensus Standards</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">O. Congressional Review of Agency Rulemaking</FP> </EXTRACT> <HD SOURCE="HD1">Table of Abbreviations</HD> <EXTRACT> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">ADA Americans with Disabilities Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">CDL Community Disaster Loan</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">CFR Code of Federal Regulations</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">CPI-U Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">CRA Congressional Review of Agency Rulemaking Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">DFA Direct Federal Assistance</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">DHS Department of Homeland Security</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">DRRA Disaster Recovery Reform Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">EA Environmental Assessment</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">EMAC Emergency Management Assistance Compact</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">GAO Government Accountability Office</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">HOW Houses of Worship</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">HUD Department of Housing and Urban Development</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">NAC National Advisory Committee</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">NEPA National Environmental Policy Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">NIST National Institute of Standards and Technology</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">OMB Office of Management and Budget</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">PAPPG Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">PKEMRA Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">PNP Private Nonprofit</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">PV Present Value</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">SBA Small Business Administration</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">SORN System of Records Notice</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">SRIA Sandy Recovery Improvement Act of 2013</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">Stafford Act Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act</FP> </EXTRACT> <HD SOURCE="HD1">I. Public Participation and Request for Comments</HD> Interested persons are invited to participate in this rulemaking by submitting comments and related materials. We will consider all comments and material received during the comment period. If you submit a comment, include the Docket ID FEMA-2023-0005, indicate the specific section of this document to which each comment applies, and give the reason for each comment. All submissions may be posted, without change, to the Federal eRulemaking Portal at <E T="03">www.regulations.gov,</E> and will include any personal information you provide. Therefore, submitting this information makes it public. You may wish to read the Privacy and Security Notice that is available via a link on the homepage of <E T="03">www.regulations.gov.</E> For access to the docket to read background documents or comments received, go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal at <E T="03">www.regulations.gov.</E> <HD SOURCE="HD1">II. Executive Summary</HD> <HD SOURCE="HD2">A. Background and Purpose of the Regulatory Action</HD> FEMA is responsible for administering and coordinating the Federal Government response to Presidentially declared disasters pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, as amended (Stafford Act), Public Law 93-288, 42 U.S.C. 5121 <E T="03">et seq.</E> When a catastrophe occurs in a State or affects the members of a Tribal community, the State's Governor or Tribal Chief Executive may request a Presidential declaration of a major disaster pursuant to Section 401 of the Stafford Act. <SU>1</SU> <FTREF/> Such a request must be based on a finding that the disaster is of such severity and magnitude that an effective response is beyond the capabilities of the State or Tribal government and the affected local governments, and that Federal assistance is necessary. <SU>2</SU> <FTREF/> The President's declaration of a disaster will designate the areas within a State, or for an Indian Tribal government, where Federal assistance may be made available (including local governments such as counties, parishes, or Tribal lands, if appropriate) and identify the types of assistance that are authorized under the declaration, <SU>3</SU> <FTREF/> although other types may be authorized later. <SU>4</SU> <FTREF/> A major disaster declaration may authorize all, or only particular types of, supplemental Federal assistance requested by the Governor or Tribal Chief Executive. <SU>5</SU> <FTREF/> <FTNT> <SU>1</SU>  42 U.S.C. 5170(a), (b); 44 CFR 206.36(a). </FTNT> <FTNT> <SU>2</SU>  42 U.S.C. 5170. </FTNT> <FTNT> <SU>3</SU>  44 CFR 206.40(a). </FTNT> <FTNT> <SU>4</SU>  44 CFR 206.40(c). </FTNT> <FTNT> <SU>5</SU>  44 CFR 206.40(a). </FTNT> One of the programs that may be authorized by a declaration is the Public Assistance program, which provides a broad range of assistance to State, Tribal, Territorial and local governments. <SU>6</SU> <FTREF/> It provides assistance for emergency protective measures, such as emergency evacuation, sheltering, and debris removal, as well as financial assistance for the permanent restoration of facilities. <SU>7</SU> <FTREF/> In addition, the Stafford Act authorizes Community Disaster Loans for any local or Tribal government that has suffered a substantial loss of tax and other revenues as a result of a major disaster, and that demonstrates a need for financial assistance to perform its governmental functions. <SU>8</SU> <FTREF/> <FTNT> <SU>6</SU>  Generally, the State, Territorial, or Indian Tribal government for which the emergency or major disaster is declared is the recipient. The applicant is a State, Tribal, or Territorial agency, local government, or eligible private nonprofit organization submitting an application to the recipient for assistance under the recipient's grant. Upon award, the recipient notifies the applicant of the award, and the applicant becomes a subrecipient. </FTNT> <FTNT> <SU>7</SU>  42 U.S.C. 5170b, 5172, and 5173. </FTNT> <FTNT> <SU>8</SU>  42 U.S.C. 5184. </FTNT> FEMA proposes to amend its Public Assistance and Community Disaster Loan program regulations to both improve program administration and incorporate statutory changes relating to Public Assistance and Community Disaster Loans. These include the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (PKEMRA), Public Law 109-295, 120 Stat. 1394, the Security and Accountability for Every Port Act of 2006 (SAFE Port Act), Public Law 109-347, 120 Stat. 1884, the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standar ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Preview showing 10k of 360k characters. Full document text is stored and available for version comparison. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━