Agency information collection activities: Submission for OMB review; comment request,

[Federal Register: July 29, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 145)]

[Notices]

[Page 40540-40541]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr29jy98-95]

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-4369-N-07]

Notice of Submission of Proposed Information Collection to OMB; Emergency Comment Request

AGENCY: Office of Community Planning and Development, HUD.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The proposed information collection requirement described below has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for emergency review and approval, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Department is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal.

DATES: Comments Due Date: August 6, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding this proposal. Comments must be received within seven (7) days from the date of this Notice. Comments should refer to the proposal by name and should be sent to: Joseph F. Lackey, Jr., HUD Desk Officer, Office of Management and Budget, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wayne Eddins, Reports Management Officer, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708-1305. This is not a toll-free number. Copies of available documents submitted to OMB may be obtained from Mr. Eddins.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Notice informs the public that the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has submitted to OMB, for emergency processing, an information collection package with respect to a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the HUD Colonies Initiative. This emergency processing is essential to secure the funding appropriated October 27, 1997. Pending action by Congress may result in the loss of Fiscal Year 1998 funds appropriated to HUD that have not been obligated by September 30, 1998.

The Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1998 (Pub. L. 105-65, approved October 27, 1997) (FY 1998 HUD Appropriations Act) allocated $25,000,000 to test comprehensive approaches to developing a job base through economic development, developing affordable low- and moderate-income rental and homeownership housing, and increasing the investment of both private and nonprofit capital in rural and tribal areas of the US. Of that amount, $5 million has been targeted for the HUD Colonias NOFA to address housing and other development needs of colonia residents in the four border states where colonias are found (California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas). Of the $5 million, $1 million may be provided to one or more private or nonprofit intermediary organization(s) that would provide capacity-building loans, grants, or technical assistance to local nonprofit organizations serving colonia residents. The $4 million may be used by organizations serving colonias to provide decent, safe, sanitary, and accessible affordable housing as well as to address related development needs. Examples of likely activities are: new housing construction, self-help construction training, homeownership assistance, installation of water wells or septic systems, refinancing of debt to convert contracts-for- deed, surveying or replatting of existing subdivisions, and other related activities to support housing development.

Eligible applicants are organizations (for profit and nonprofit) providing assistance to and for residents of colonias in any of the four colonia States.

This Notice is soliciting comments from members of the public and affected agencies concerning the proposed collection of information to: (1) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses.

The Department has submitted the proposal for the collection of information, as described below, to OMB for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35):

Title of Proposal: NOF: HUD Colonias Initiative.

OMB Control Number, if applicable:

Description of the need for the information and proposed use: The information collection is essential so that HUD staff may determine the eligibility, qualifications and capability of applicants to carry out the HUD Colonias Initiative activities. HUD will review the information provided by the applicants against the selection criteria contained in the NOFA in order to rate and rank the applications and select the best and most qualified applications for funding. The selection criteria are: (1) Capacity of the Applicant and Relevant Organizational Staff; (2) Need/Extent of the Problem; (3) Soundness of Approach; and (4) Financial Feasibility/Leverage Resources.

Agency form numbers, if applicable: SF-424 (including a maximum 25 page application in response to the Factors for Award).

Members of affected public: Eligible applicants are organizations (for profit and nonprofit) providing assistance to and for residents of colonias in any of the four colonia States.

Estimation of the total numbers of hours needed to prepare the information collection including number of respondents, frequency of response, and hours of response: The estimated number of applicants is 25, with approximately 8 recipients. The proposed frequency of the response to the collection of information is one-time; the application need be submitted only one time. Preparation time of 80 hours per application is estimated for a total of 2000 hours. Annual recordkeeping (including electronic) payments) is estimated at 2016 hours for 8 grant recipients.

[[Page 40541]]

Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended.

Dated: July 22, 1998. David S. Cristy, Director, IRM Policy and Management Division.

[FR Doc. 98-20232Filed7-28-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4210-29-M