The Community Rating System (CRS) was
established to (1) reduce flood losses; (2) facilitate accurate
insurance rating, and; (3) promote the awareness of flood
insurance. The CRS encourages these goals by providing flood
insurance premium discounts to policy holders in those communities
that implement activities and programs which directly support the
goals stated above.
The overall increase in burden
hours for the CRS is a result of two types of program growth.
First, more communities participate every year, resulting in an
increase in the number of hours expended on information collection
nationwide. Second, participating communities voluntarily expand
the number of activities they undertake under the CRS program,
resulting in an accompanying increase in the hours they spend
providing information about those activities. The CRS monitors and
solicits feedback from participating communities about the amount
of time they spend providing information for different parts of the
program and on different information collection forms. Based on
this, the burden hours for specific forms are adjusted upward or
downward as needed, but decreases so far have been offset by the
overall program growth. The overall increase in CRS cost burden is
a result of the program’s growth (more participation) and the
increase in labor rates. There has been no change in the
information being collected.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.