Emergency Justification

Justification for Emergency Approval Request

Emergency approval of the September 11^th Victim Compensation Fund Claimant Eligibility and Compensation Form is requested given the high-profile and time-sensitive nature of this program. The Final Rule governing the administration of the Fund, which was published in the Federal Register on August 31, 2011, was effective October 3, and claimants have begun to register for the Fund. Emergency approval is needed in order to begin processing compensation claims as soon as possible. Absent emergency approval, eligible claimants would have to wait substantially longer to begin filing their claims, thereby impairing Congress’s goal of providing compensation in as expeditious a manner as possible (as evidenced by the short statutory deadline for implementation). Such a delay in implementing the compensation process would clearly be contrary to the public interest.

In addition, delaying the publication of the forms associated with the Victim Compensation Fund will prevent the Department from accomplishing its stated goal of allowing victims to begin to submit claims in October 2011. Meeting this date is consistent with the priorities of the Administration and the Fund’s Special Master.

Timeline

The following timeline is based on receiving emergency approval of the form.

October 28, 2011 Make Eligibility Form available to the public.

Late November 2011 Make Compensation Form available to the public