[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 206 (Tuesday, October 24, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63605-63606]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-27188]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-4497-N-09]
RIN 2577-AC08


Public Housing Assessment System (PHAS); Notice of PHAS 
Transition Assistance for Certain PHAs Concerning PHA Inspection of 
Occupied Units

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian 
Housing, and Office of the Director of the Real Estate Assessment 
Center, HUD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This document notifies public housing agencies (PHAs) with 
fiscal years ending September 30, 2000, December 31, 2000, March 31, 
2001, and June 30, 2001, that they may conduct annual physical 
inspections of their units in accordance with HUD's Housing Quality 
Standards.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information contact the 
Real Estate Assessment Center (REAC), Attention: Wanda Funk, U. S. 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 1280 Maryland Avenue, SW, 
Suite 800, Washington DC, 20024; telephone Technical Assistance Center 
at (888)-245-4860 (this is a toll free number). Persons with hearing or 
speech impairments may access that number via TTY by calling the 
Federal Information Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additional 
information is available from the REAC Internet Site, http://www.hud.gov/reac.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On January 11, 2000 (65 FR 1712), HUD issued a final rule, as 
amended June 6, 2000 (65 FR 36042), that made certain amendments to the 
Public Housing Assessment System (PHAS) regulations. The PHAS was 
implemented by final regulations published on September 1, 1998. The 
amendments published to the PHAS regulations on January 11, 2000, 
followed a proposed rule published on June 22, 1999, and were prompted 
by both statutory and administrative changes to the PHAS.

II. Additional Transition Assistance to Certain PHAs

    Following publication of the January 11, 2000, final rule, HUD was 
asked to provide further transition assistance to PHAs with fiscal 
years ending March 31, 2000, and June 30, 2000, by allowing these PHAs 
to inspect occupied units in accordance with HUD's Housing Quality 
Standards (HQS). Under sub-indicator #3 of PHAS Indicator #3, 
Management Operations, PHAs are assessed on the percentage of units and 
systems that a PHA inspects on an annual basis in order to determine 
short-term maintenance needs and long-term Capital Fund needs. PHAs 
must inspect these units in accordance with HUD's Uniform Physical 
Condition Standards (UPSC). In a June 6, 2000 (65 FR 36047) notice, HUD 
advised PHAs with fiscal years ending March 31, 2000 and June 30, 2000, 
of the extended transition assistance permitting these PHAs to inspect 
their units in accordance with HQS because HUD only recently released 
its physical inspection and training guidebook.
    Through this notice, HUD advises that it will further extend the 
transition assistance provided in the June 6, 2000, notice to PHAs with 
fiscal years ending September 30, 2000, December 31, 2000, March 31, 
2001, and June 30, 2001. All PHAs with fiscal years ending on or after 
September 30, 2001, must inspect units in accordance with HUD's UPCS.


[[Page 63606]]


    Dated: October 16, 2000.
Harold Lucas,
Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing.
Donald J. LaVoy,
Director, Real Estate Assessment Center.
[FR Doc. 00-27188 Filed 10-23-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-33-P