[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 12 (Tuesday, January 20, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 2720]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-1100]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-4910-N-01]


Notice of Proposed Information Collection for Public Comment--
Exigent Health and Safety Deficiency Correction and Remedy 
Certification

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian 
Housing, HUD.

ACTION: Notice.

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

DATES: Comments Due Date: March 22, 2004.

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 should be sent to: Mildred M. Hamman, Reports 
Liaison Officer, Public and Indian Housing, Department of Housing and 
Urban Development, 451 7th Street, SW., Room 4238, Washington, DC 
20410-5000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mildred M. Hamman, (202) 708-0614, 
extension 4128. (This is not a toll-free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department will submit the proposed 
information collection to OMB for review, as required by the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended).
    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 Exigent Health and Safety Deficiency Correction and Remedy 
Certification templates are the set of documents on which the 
Department will collect information from Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) 
and multifamily property owners/agents about the correction and 
mitigation of exigent health and safety (EH&S) deficiencies that are 
identified in the property inspection.
    The Department's Uniform Physical Condition Standards (UPCS) 
regulation (24 CFR part 5, subpart G) provides that HUD assisted and 
insured housing must be decent, safe, sanitary, and in good repair. 
Owners/agents and PHAs must maintain the housing in a manner that meets 
the prescribed physical condition standards in order to be considered 
decent, safe, sanitary, and in good repair. In addition, the UPCS 
regulation provides that all areas and components of the housing must 
be free of health and safety hazards.
    This Notice also lists the following information:
    Title of Proposal: Exigent Health and Safety Deficiency Correction 
and Remedy Certification.
    OMB Control Number: 2507-00X.
    Description of the need for the information and proposed use: 
Pursuant to the UPCS inspection protocol, at the end of the property 
inspection (or at the end of each day of a multi-day inspection) (or at 
the end of each day of a multi-day inspection) the inspector provides 
the property representative with a copy of the ``Notification of 
Exigent and Fire Safety Hazards Observed'' form. Listed on this 
document that is given to the property representative for signature is 
each EH&S deficiency that the inspector observed during the inspection 
or on that day of the inspection.
    The PHAs are to correct or mitigate EH&S deficiencies (i.e., 
emergency work orders) within 24 hours (24 CFR part 902). Property 
owners/agents are to correct or remedy EH&S deficiencies immediately 
and notify the Department in writing within three business days of the 
date of inspection which the date the owner was provided notice of 
these deficiencies (24 CFR 200.857(c)).
    In accordance with these requirements, PHAs and multifamily 
property owners/agents enter the required data on the templates, 
certify to the data entered, and electronically submit the information 
to HUD. Requiring PHAs and multifamily property owners/agents to report 
correction and mitigation activities enables HUD to monitor regulatory 
requirements and conduct follow-up activities to assist in ensuring the 
residents are living in HUD housing that is decent, safe, sanitary and 
in good repair and is free of health and safety hazards.
    Agency form numbers, if applicable: Not applicable.
    Members of affected public: Local, State, or Tribal governments, 
not-for-profit institutions, businesses or other for-profit.
    Estimation of the total number of hours needed to prepare the 
information collection including number of respondents, frequency of 
response, and hours of response:
    2,061 PHAs; annual submission per PHA; average burden hours for PHA 
response is .32 hours; the total reporting burden is 648.65 hours.
    6,771 multifamily property owners; annual submission per owner; 
average burden hours for owner response is .3 hours; the total 
reporting burden is 2,044.15 hours.
    Status of the proposed information collection: Approval of a new 
collection.

    Authority: Section 3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 
44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended.

    Dated: December 31, 2003.
William Russell III,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Housing and Voucher Programs.
[FR Doc. 04-1100 Filed 1-16-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-33-M