Federal Emergency Management Agency: Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program
Highlights
GAO reviewed the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) new rule on assistance to firefighters grant program. GAO found that (1) the rule provides new guidance for making grants directly to fire departments and enhances their ability to protect the health and safety of the public as well as that of firefighting personnel from fire and fire-related hazards and (2) FEMA complied with the applicable requirements in promulgating the rule.
Federal Emergency Management Agency: Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, GAO-02-535R, March 27, 2002
The Honorable Ernest F. Hollings
Chairman
The Honorable John McCain
Ranking Minority Member
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
United States Senate
The Honorable Sherwood L. Boehlert
Chairman
The Honorable Ralph M. Hall
Ranking Minority Member
Committee on Science
House of Representatives
Pursuant to section 801(a)(2)(A) of title 5, United States Code, this is our report on a major rule promulgated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), entitled "Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program" (RIN: 3067-AD21). We received the rule on March 13, 2002. It was published in the Federal Register as an "interim final rule with request for comments" on February 27, 2002. 67 Fed. Reg. 9142.
The interim final rule provides new guidance for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program to make grants directly to fire departments of a state for the purpose of enhancing their ability to protect the health and safety of the public as well as that of firefighting personnel facing fire and fire-related hazards.
Enclosed is our assessment of the FEMA's compliance with the procedural steps required by section 801(a)(1)(B)(i) through (iv) of title 5 with respect to the rule. Our review indicates that FEMA complied with the applicable requirements.
If you have any questions about this report, please contact James W. Vickers, Assistant General Counsel, at (202) 512-8210. The official responsible for GAO evaluation work relating to the subject matter of the rule is John Anderson,
Managing Director, Physical Infrastructure. Mr. Anderson can be reached at (202) 512-2834.
signed
Kathleen E. Wannisky
Managing Associate General Counsel
Enclosure
ENCLOSURE
ANALYSIS UNDER 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(B)(i)-(iv) OF A MAJOR RULE
ISSUED BY THE
FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
ENTITLED
"ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT PROGRAM"
(RIN: 3067-AD21)
(i) Cost-benefit analysis
FEMA expects to award approximately $345 million in grants under the program and with cost-sharing, FEMA expects the total value of all grants to be in the $395 million to $400 million range.
(ii) Agency actions relevant to the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 603-605, 607, and 609
As the issuance of the interim final rule was not preceded by the publication of a notice of proposed rulemaking, the requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act do not apply.
(iii) Agency actions relevant to sections 202-205 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995, 2 U.S.C. 1532-1535
The interim final rule does not contain either an intergovernmental or private sector mandate, as defined in title II, of more than $100 million in any one year.
(iv) Other relevant information or requirements under acts and executive orders
Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. 551 et seq.
The interim final rule was published without prior notice and comment under the Administrative Procedure Act. The Director of FEMA found "good cause" under 5 U.S.C. 553 to forego notice and comment and to make the rule effective upon publication in order to comply with the statutory requirement that the grants be awarded no later than September 30, 2002.
However, FEMA is accepting public comments on the interim final rule until April 29, 2002.
Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520
The interim final rule contains information collections that are subject to review and approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act. FEMA has submitted the required documentation to OMB for approval of the collections on an emergency basis, and OMB has approved the collections and assigned OMB No. 3067-0285. The approval expires on August 31, 2002.
FEMA is requesting OMB approval under normal clearance procedures for a 3-year period. FEMA estimates the average cost of the collection is $5,678,100 ($15.00 per hour x 378,540 hours).
Statutory authorization for the rule
The interim final rule was promulgated under the authority contained in the Federal Fire Protection and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2201 et seq.) as amended by the Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002, Public Law 107-72, 115 Stat. 688.
Executive Order No. 12866
The interim final rule was reviewed by OMB and found to be an "economically significant" regulatory action under the order.
Executive Order No. 13132 (Federalism)
The interim final rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a federalism assessment.