Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Federal Emergency Management Agency, Emergency Preparedness and Response Directorate, Department of Homeland Security.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), 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 proposed continuing information collection. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), this notice seeks comments concerning FEMA's Debt Collection Financial Statement, which requests personal financial data from individual debtors.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Under FEMA's debt collection regulations, 44 CFR 11.36(b), FEMA is required to maintain current credit data on FEMA's debtors including, the individual debtor's own financial statement, executed under penalty for false claim, concerning his/her assets and liabilities and his/her income and expenses. FEMA Form 22-13, Debt Collection Financial Statement, collects such data directly from the individual debtor. FEMA uses this data to understand the debtor's financial condition and locate their assets to accurately determine a debtor's ability to pay debts or to set arrangements for installment payments of debts.

Collection of Information

Title: Debt Collection Financial Statement.

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

OMB Number: 1660-0011.

Form Numbers: FEMA Form 22-13, Debt Collection Financial Statement.

Abstract: FEMA may request debtors to provide personal financial information on FEMA Form 22-13 concerning their current financial position. With this information, FEMA evaluates whether to allow debtors to pay the FEMA debts under installment repayment agreements and if so, under what terms. FEMA also uses this data to determine whether to compromise, suspend, or completely terminate collection efforts on respondent's debts. This data is also used to locate the debtor's assets if the debts are sent for judicial enforcement.

Affected Public: Individuals or Households.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 225 hours.

Estimated Costs: The annualized cost for this information collection is $5100, based on 300 respondents spending 45 minutes (.75 hours) per form at an average hourly rate of $22.27 per 2003 Department of Labor's National Employment, Hours, and Earnings Tables.

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, Chief, Records Management Section, Information Resources Management Branch, Information Technology Services Division, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Emergency Preparedness and Response Directorate, Department of Homeland Security, 500 C Street, SW., Room 316, Washington, DC 20472.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Contact Michael H. Komack, Systems Accountant, FEMA, Financial and Acquisition Management Division (FAMD), Management and Policy Analysis Branch (MPA), (202) 646-4164 for additional information. You may contact Ms. Anderson for copies of the proposed collection of information at facsimile number (202) 646-3347 or e-mail address: FEMA-Information-Collections@dhs.gov.