FEMA PA APPEAL SHORT SUMMARY & LINKS TO FEMA PA APPEAL WEBSITE

This is in response to a letter from your office dated November 17, 2014, which transmitted the referenced second appeal on behalf of Nobles Cooperative Electric (Applicant). The Applicant is appealing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) denial of $1,224,787.57 in Public Assistance funding to replace conductors on a portion of its electrical distribution system. As explained in the enclosed analysis, I have determined that in issuing the Final Request for Information, FEMA Region V did not properly inform the Applicant of the potential reasons for denying or partially approving the appeal. Thus, the administrative record was not properly closed because the Applicant was not afforded an opportunity to submit pertinent documentation to substantiate its claim that its facility was eligible for reconductoring. Accordingly, I am remanding this appeal to the Region and requesting the Regional Administrator take appropriate action to implement this determination. Such action will afford the Applicant a final opportunity, if necessary, to submit additional documentation to substantiate its claim, and appropriately close the administrative record. Please inform the Applicant of my decision. The Applicant’s right to a second appeal is not impacted by this decision. It may re-submit a second appeal pursuant to 44 C.F.R. § 206.206 if dissatisfied with the Regional Administrator’s decisions regarding this matter.