Notice2022-17889
Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program and Policy Guide
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
August 24, 2022
Issuing agencies
Homeland Security DepartmentFederal Emergency Management Agency
Abstract
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is accepting comments on its 2022 update to the Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Program and Policy Guide (formerly 2015 HMA Guidance and Addendum). The HMA Program and Policy Guide was last published in 2015. The primary purpose of this update is to incorporate existing policies and guidance materials issued since 2015, simplify guidance materials, and revise the document to increase overall accessibility and organization.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 163 (Wednesday, August 24, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 163 (Wednesday, August 24, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52016-52018]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-17889]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Federal Emergency Management Agency
[Docket ID FEMA-2022-0023]
RIN 1660-ZA26
Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program and Policy Guide
AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.
ACTION: Notice, request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is accepting
comments on its 2022 update to the Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA)
Program and Policy Guide (formerly 2015 HMA Guidance and Addendum). The
HMA Program and Policy Guide was last published in 2015. The primary
purpose of this update is to incorporate existing policies and guidance
materials issued since 2015, simplify guidance materials, and revise
the document to increase overall accessibility and organization.
DATES: Comments must be received by September 23, 2022.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by Docket ID FEMA-2022-
0023, via the Federal eRulemaking Portal: <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennie Orenstein, Branch Chief, Hazard
Mitigation Division, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 400 C Street
SW, Washington, DC 20472, (202) 212-4071, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#513b343f3f38347f36303d3d302335281137343c307f3539227f363e27"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="aec4cbc0c0c7cb80c9cfc2c2cfdccad7eec8cbc3cf80cac6dd80c9c1d8">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Public Participation
Interested persons are invited to participate in this update to the
Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Program and Policy Guide (formerly
2015 HMA Guidance and 2015 HMA Guidance Addendum) by submitting
comments and related materials. We will consider all comments and
material received during the comment period.
[[Page 52017]]
If you submit a comment, include the Docket ID FEMA-2022-0023,
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 e-Rulemaking Portal at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>, and will include any personal information you
provide. Therefore, submitting this information makes it public. For
more about privacy and the docket, visit <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=DHS-2018-0029-0001">https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=DHS-2018-0029-0001</a>.
Viewing comments and documents: For access to the docket to read
background documents or comments received, go to the Federal e-
Rulemaking Portal at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>.
II. Background
FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grant programs provide
funding for eligible mitigation activities that reduce disaster losses
and protect life and property from future disaster damages.
The proposed 2022 HMA Program and Policy Guide consolidates the
2015 HMA Guidance and the 2015 HMA Guidance Addendum into one HMA
guidance document, and renames the document as ``Hazard Mitigation
Assistance Program and Policy Guide.'' The HMA Program and Policy Guide
covers the following hazard mitigation assistance programs: (1) the
Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program; (2) the Hazard Mitigation
Grant Program (HMGP); (3) the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Post Fire
(HMGP Post Fire); and (4) the Building Resilient Infrastructure and
Communities (BRIC) program. FEMA implemented the BRIC program following
the passage of the Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018, which amended
Section 203 of the Stafford Act.\1\
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\1\ The Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) program is no longer
covered in the HMA Program and Policy Guide. Congress may
appropriate additional funds under Section 203 outside of the
established HMA programs, and such funds may be administered through
the PDM program. FEMA intends to announce these funding
opportunities through Notices of Funding Opportunity, which will
specify the applicable program requirements.
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The updated HMA Program and Policy Guide includes the following
content updates:
<bullet> Highlights FEMA priorities such as resilience and climate
adaptation, community lifelines, whole community, equity, capability
and capacity building, comprehensive planning, and building codes.
<bullet> Incorporates changes resulting from the Disaster Recovery
Reform Act.\2\ For instance, the proposed 2022 HMA Program and Policy
Guide incorporates the BRIC Policy,\3\ the HMGP--Post Fire Policy,\4\
the HMGP Management Costs Interim Policy,\5\ the earthquake early
warning systems factsheet,\6\ and expanded wildfire mitigation
activities.\7\
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\2\ Div. D of Public Law 115-254, 132 Stat. 3438.
\3\ FEMA Policy 104-008-05, Mitigation Assistance: Building
Resilient Infrastructure and Communities, available at <a href="https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation/building-resilient-infrastructure-communities">https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation/building-resilient-infrastructure-communities</a> (last accessed July 17, 2022).
\4\ FEMA Policy 207-088-2, Hazard Mitigation Grant Program--Post
Fire, available at <a href="https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-07/fema_DRRA-1204-policy.pdf">https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-07/fema_DRRA-1204-policy.pdf</a> (last accessed Apr. 1, 2021).
\5\ FEMA Policy 104-11-1, Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
Management Costs (Interim), available at <a href="https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-07/fema_DRRA-1215-hazard-mitigation-grant-program-management-costs-interim-policy.pdf">https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-07/fema_DRRA-1215-hazard-mitigation-grant-program-management-costs-interim-policy.pdf</a> (last accessed Apr. 1,
2021).
\6\ FEMA Fact Sheet, Disaster Recovery Reform Act and Earthquake
Early Warning Systems, available at <a href="https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-09/fema_drra-earthquake-early-warning-systems_fact-sheet_September-2020.pdf">https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-09/fema_drra-earthquake-early-warning-systems_fact-sheet_September-2020.pdf</a> (last accessed Apr. 1, 2021).
\7\ FEMA Job Aid, Job Aid for Disaster Recovery Reform Act,
Section 1205, Additional Activities for Wildfire & Wind
Implementation under Hazard Mitigation Assistance Programs, Dec. 3,
2019, available at <a href="https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-07/fema_DRRA-1205-implementation-job-aid.pdf">https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-07/fema_DRRA-1205-implementation-job-aid.pdf</a> (last accessed May 19,
2021).
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<bullet> Incorporates additional policy changes that were published
after 2015, such as the Ecosystem Service Benefits in Benefit-Cost
Analysis for FEMA's Mitigation Program Policy.\8\
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\8\ FEMA Policy 108-024-02, Ecosystem Service Benefits in
Benefit-Cost Analysis for FEMA's Mitigation Program Policy,
available at <a href="https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-09/fema_ecosystem-service-benefits_policy_september-2020.pdf">https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-09/fema_ecosystem-service-benefits_policy_september-2020.pdf</a> (last
accessed Apr. 1, 2021).
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<bullet> Expands information on project types in Part 12 based on
existing job aids and factsheets, such as aquifer storage and
recovery,\9\ floodplain and stream restoration,\10\ flood diversion and
storage,\11\ wind retrofit,\12\ acquisition projects,\13\ and
generators.\14\
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\9\ FEMA, Climate Resilient Mitigation Activities Aquifer
Storage and Recovery Fact Sheet (undated); FEMA, Job Aid: Aquifer
Storage and Recovery (Aug. 2016); FEMA, Acquifer Storage and
Recovery Supplemental (Dec. 2016).
\10\ FEMA, Floodplain and Stream Restoration Fact Sheet
(undated); FEMA, Job Aid: Floodplain and Stream Restoration (Aug.
2016); FEMA, Floodplain and Stream Restoration Supplemental (Dec.
2016).
\11\ FEMA, Flood Diversion and Storage Fact Sheet (undated);
FEMA Job Aid: Flood Diversion and Storage (Aug. 2016); FEMA, Flood
Diversion and Storage Supplemental (Dec. 2016).
\12\ FEMA, Memorandum, Cost Effectiveness Determination for Non-
Residential Hurricane Wind Retrofit Measures Funded by FEMA (Mar. 1,
2018), available at <a href="https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-05/fema_bca_pre-calculated_non-residential-wind-retrofit.pdf">https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-05/fema_bca_pre-calculated_non-residential-wind-retrofit.pdf</a> (last
accessed May 19, 2021).
\13\ FEMA, Acquisition and Relocation Job Aid (Aug. 2017),
available at <a href="https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-09/fema_acquisition_relocation_job_aid_08-21-17.pdf">https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-09/fema_acquisition_relocation_job_aid_08-21-17.pdf</a> (last accessed May
19, 2021).
\14\ FEMA, Job Aid, Eligibility of Generators as a Fundable
Project by the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program and Pre-Disaster
Mitigation Program, available at <a href="https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-09/fema_eligibility_generators_fundable_project_under_hmgp_pdm_02-19-15.pdf">https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-09/fema_eligibility_generators_fundable_project_under_hmgp_pdm_02-19-15.pdf</a> (last accessed May 19, 2021).
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<bullet> Incorporates 2021 updates to Hazard Mitigation Assistance
and Mitigation Planning regulations.\15\
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\15\ FEMA, FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Assistance and Planning
Regulations, 86 FR 50653 (Sept. 10, 2021).
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<bullet> Clarifies issues specific to HMGP, including application
period, the HMGP 12-month lock-in and de-obligation, extensions, and
the total award amount for the purpose of management costs.
<bullet> Extends the period of performance for HMGP from 36 to 48
months.
<bullet> Expands the eligibility of codes and standards assistance
in Part 11.
<bullet> Incorporates the 2020 regulatory changes made to 2 CFR
part 200 \16\ and expands information on grants management requirements
and procedures.
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\16\ See 85 FR 49506 (Aug. 13, 2020).
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<bullet> Expands guidance content and resources on mitigation
planning, recognizing its importance to effective hazard mitigation.
<bullet> Includes new guiding principles, such as nature-based
solutions and the National Mitigation Investment Strategy.\17\
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\17\ <a href="https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-10/fema_national-mitigation-investment-strategy.pdf">https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-10/fema_national-mitigation-investment-strategy.pdf</a> (last accessed Apr.
1, 2021).
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<bullet> Makes nonsubstantive revisions to increase overall
accessibility and organization of the document.
FEMA seeks comment on the proposed 2022 HMA Program and Policy
Guide, which is available online at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a> in
docket ID FEMA-2022-0023. Based on the comments received, FEMA may make
appropriate revisions to the proposed 2022 HMA Program and Policy
Guide. When or if FEMA issues a final policy, FEMA will publish it on
its website at <a href="https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation/hazard-mitigation-assistance">https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation/hazard-mitigation-assistance</a>.
[[Page 52018]]
Most helpful to the agency will be comments that provide concrete
suggestions and the reasoning for a proposed approach or change.
Authority: 6 U.S.C. 101 et seq.; 42 U.S.C. 4001 et seq.; 42 U.S.C.
5121 et seq.
Deanne Criswell,
Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency.
[FR Doc. 2022-17889 Filed 8-23-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-BW-P
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