Document ID: FEMA-2016-0007-0029
Agency: fema
Document Type: Notice
Title: Public Assistance Program Minimum Standards
Posted Date: 2016-10-07T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 195 (Friday, October 7, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69840-69841]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-24340]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

[Docket ID FEMA-2016-0007]

Public Assistance Program Minimum Standards

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: This document provides notice of the availability of the final 
policy Public Assistance Program Minimum Standards. The Federal 
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) published a notice of

[[Page 69841]]

availability and request for comment on the proposed policy in the 
April 21, 2016 Federal Register (81 FR 23503), and requested public 
comments no later than May 23, 2016. The comment period was then 
reopened on June 8, 2016 (81 FR 36940) and public comments were 
requested no later than July 8, 2016.

DATES: This policy is effective September 30, 2016.

ADDRESSES: The final policy is available online at http://www.regulations.gov and on FEMA's Web site at http://www.fema.gov. The 
proposed and final policy, all related Federal Register notices, and 
all public comments received during the comment period are available at 
http://www.regulations.gov under Docket ID FEMA-2016-0007. Hard copies 
of the final policy are available at the Office of Chief Counsel, 
Federal Emergency Management Agency, 8NE, 500 C St. SW., Washington, DC 
20472.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher Logan, Acting Director, 
Public Assistance Division, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 500 C 
Street SW., Washington, DC 20472, 202-212-2340.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the policy is to establish 
minimum standards for Public Assistance projects in order to promote 
resiliency and achieve risk reduction under the authority of the 
Stafford Act Sec. Sec.  323 and 406(e) (42 U.S.C. 5165a and 5172) and 
44 CFR part 206, subpart M. When using Public Assistance funds to 
repair, replace, or construct buildings located in hazard-prone areas, 
applicants will use, at a minimum, the hazard-resistant design 
standards in or referenced in the International Building Code (IBC), 
the International Existing Building Code (IEBC), and/or the 
International Residential Code (IRC). Costs associated with meeting 
these standards are eligible for Public Assistance funding.
    FEMA revised the policy content in response to public comments 
received as follows:
     To clarify that FEMA will evaluate more stringent, locally 
adopted codes or standards as described in 44 CFR part 206.226(d),
     To clarify that the most recent edition of the IBC, IEBC, 
or IRC as of the disaster declaration date will be used as the new 
Federal minimum design standard,
     To clarify that the policy only applies to the standards 
of the IBC, IEBC, and IRC related to hazard-resistant designs, and
     To provide information regarding how the policy will 
interact with floodplain management minimization standards as described 
in 44 CFR part 9.11(d) as well as with the calculation for repair 
versus replacement described in 44 CFR part 206.226(f).
    The final policy does not have the force or effect of law.

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

Matthew Payne,
Director, Policy Division, Office of Policy and Program Analysis, 
Federal Emergency Management Agency.
[FR Doc. 2016-24340 Filed 10-6-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9111-23-P