FEMA seeks comments on Cerro Grande Fire Assistance Act regulations
"I want to urge everyone affected by this terrible fire to tell us what they think about the regulations we've drafted and give us their input on how they think we should proceed," said FEMA Director James Lee Witt. "Our goal is to make this process as simple and user-friendly as possible. And we need to hear from those affected about the best way to do that."
Fire leads to enactment of law
The Cerro Grande Fire began as a National Park Service prescribed burn on May 4, 2000, at Bandelier National Monument and soon spread into a wildfire that burned approximately 47,750 acres in four counties and two Indian pueblos, and destroyed over 200 homes in Los Alamos. The fire had serious economic impacts on people and businesses in the surrounding and nearby areas, including Española, Santa Clara Pueblo and San Ildefonso Pueblo.
On July 13, the President signed the Cerro Grande Fire Assistance Act authorizing compensation for victims of the fire. The Act covers personal injury and property, business and financial losses directly related to the fire. The compensation program is being administered by FEMA at the request of Congress.
On August 28, FEMA published interim final regulations that allowed it to immediately begin processing claims and working with those affected by the fire. The interim final regulations provide an overview of the claims process, explain the procedures for filing a claim, describe compensation available under the act, explain how claims are to be documented and evaluated, and discuss appeal rights, arbitration and judicial review.
Send your thoughts to FEMA
Comments on the regulations should be sent to FEMA by Oct. 27, 2000. You may e-mail your comments to rules@fema.gov, or you may mail comments to the Rules Docket Clerk, Office of the General Counsel, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 500 C St. SW, Room 840, Washington, DC 20472. Where possible, cite the sections and paragraphs in this interim final rule to which each comment refers.
For information about the Cerro Grande Fire recovery program visit the FEMA Web site at www.fema.gov/cerrogrande or call toll-free 1-888-748-1853. Claims are being accepted from all those affected by the fire including foreign nationals, Native American tribes, businesses, local governments and insurance companies.
Edited by Bob Arguero, Managing Editor, GovCon