[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 220 (Monday, November 16, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63742-63743]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-30481]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-4380-N-05]


Notice of Submission of Proposed Information Collection: Comment 
Request

AGENCY: Office of Community Planning and Development, HUD.

ACTION: Notice.

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

DATES: Comments Due Date: January 15, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding 
this proposal. Comments should refer to the proposal by name and/or OMB 
Control Number and must be received within sixty (60) days from the 
date of this Notice. Comments should be sent to: Ms. Shelia Jones, 
Reports Liaison Officer, Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, 451 
7th Street, SW., Room 7230, Washington, DC 20410.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Yvette Aidara, Office of Block Grant Assistance; (202) 708-1322, ext. 
4378 (this is not a toll-free number). Copies of the proposed forms and 
other available documents may be obtained from Mrs. Aidara.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Notice informs the public that the 
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has submitted to OMB 
an information collection package with respect to a Notice of Funding 
Availability (NOFA) for the HUD Colonias Initiative. A request for 
emergency processing, essential to secure the funding appropriated 
October 27, 1997, was approved on July 29, 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 U.S. 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

[[Page 63743]]

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 non-profit) 
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 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: NOFA: HUD Colonias Initiative.
    OMB Control Number, if applicable: 2506-0167.
    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.

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

    Dated: November 5, 1998.
Cardell Cooper,
Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development.
[FR Doc. 98-30481 Filed 11-13-98; 8:45 am]
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