Appeals

Dear Eduardo Soria and Rolando Leon:

This is in response to the Central Office for Recovery, Reconstruction, and Resiliency’s (Recipient) March 4, 2025 letter, which transmitted the referenced second appeal on behalf of the Municipality of Maunabo (Applicant). The Applicant is appealing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) denial of $461,812.05 for permanent repairs to Punta Tuna Lighthouse.

Section 423(a) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act) provides that an applicant may appeal any decision regarding eligibility for assistance within 60 days of the date the applicant is notified of the decision. Implementing this provision, Title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) § 206.206(b)(1)(ii)(A) (2021) and FEMA policy require that applicants submit appeals to the recipient within 60 calendar days from the date FEMA transmits its determination to the applicant. Recipients must forward appeals within 120 calendar days of the date of the eligibility determination. According to the Administrative Record, FEMA transmitted its eligibility decision on April 18, 2024. However, the Applicant submitted its first appeal on June 18. 2025. This was after the 60 calendar-day timeframe required by FEMA’s regulations, making the first appeal untimely. Therefore, this appeal is denied.

This determination is the final agency decision on this matter pursuant to 44 C.F.R. § 206.206. 

                                                                                 Sincerely,

                                                                                      /S/

                                                                                Robert M. Pesapane

                                                                                Director, Public Assistance

cc:   Andrew D’Amora 

Acting Regional Administrator
FEMA Region 2