[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 114 (Tuesday, June 15, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33399-33400]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-13432]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-4529-N-08]


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

AGENCY: Office of the General Counsel.

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 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: June 22, 2004.

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: Mark D. Menchik, HUD Desk Officer, Office of 
Management and Budget, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 
20503, [email protected]. Fax: (202) 395-6974.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wayne Eddins, Reports Management 
Officer, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708-0050. 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 review and processing under the Paperwork Reduction Act, 
an information collection package with respect to HUD's Affordable 
Communities Award, a non-monetary award designed to acknowledge and 
honor those jurisdictions or communities that are expanding affordable 
housing opportunities by reducing regulatory barriers and creating an 
environment supportive of the construction and rehabilitation of 
affordable housing.
    In June 2003, HUD announced a new initiative, America's Affordable 
Communities Initiative (Initiative). The Initiative focuses on breaking 
down regulatory barriers that impede the production or rehabilitation 
of affordable housing. As part of this initiative, HUD is examining 
federal, state and local regulations to identify those regulations that 
present significant barriers to the production or rehabilitation of 
affordable housing. HUD is currently reviewing its own regulations to 
identify regulatory barriers to affordable housing that HUD can and 
should change. HUD's intention is to lead by example. Another effort of 
the Initiative includes providing incentives to state and local 
governments to remove regulatory barriers. As part of HUD's FY2004 
SuperNOFA, HUD included, as a policy priority, the removal of 
regulatory barriers. An applicant that meets the criteria of a policy 
priority is eligible to receive higher points. The removal of 
regulatory barriers will not only be a policy priority in HUD's FY2004 
SuperNOFA but in other FY2004 NOFAs published independently from the 
SuperNOFA.
    This non-monetary award announcement is designed to present an 
additional incentive to states, local, and tribal governments to become 
active in removing barriers to affordable housing to the extent 
feasible. This award will serve to publicly recognize jurisdictions or 
communities that have taken a leadership role in reexamining their 
existing regulatory systems and have taken the necessary steps to 
promote the construction and development of affordable housing.
    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.
    This Notice also lists the following information:
    Title of Proposal: Affordable Communities Award.
    Office: Office of the General Counsel.
    OMB Control Number: 2510--
    Description of the need for the information and proposed use:
    The information presented by applicants for the award will be used 
to select the award winners. The information presented by the 
applicants also should provide the Initiative with good examples of how 
regulatory barriers are removed and affordable housing made possible or 
increased in communities across America.
    Form Number: No form number.
    Members of affected public: States and local jurisdictions (cities, 
counties and towns, townships and incorporated municipalities.
    Estimation of the total numbers of hours needed to prepare the 
information collection including number of respondents, frequency of 
response, and hours of response:

[[Page 33400]]



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      Number of                    Frequency of
     respondents         x           response           =     Hours per response      =         Burden hours
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              300                              1                             8                          2,400
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    Total Estimated Burden Hours: 2,400.
    Status: New.

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

    Dated: June 10, 2004.
Camille E. Acevedo,
Associate General Counsel for Legislation and Regulations.
[FR Doc. 04-13432 Filed 6-14-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P