[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 69 (Tuesday, April 12, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 19093]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-1656]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-4978-N-03]


Notice of Proposed Information Collection for Public Comment; 
Indian Housing Operating Cost Study

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: June 13, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding 
this proposal. Comments should refer to the proposal by name/or OMB 
Control number and should be sent to: Aneita Waites, Reports Liaison 
Officer, Public and Indian Housing, Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, 451 7th Street, SW., Room 4114, Washington, DC 20410-5000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Aneita Waites, (202) 708-0713, 
extension 4114, for copies of proposed forms and/or other available 
documents. (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.
    This Notice also lists the following information:
    Title of Proposal: Indian Housing Operating Cost Study, 1937 Act 
Housing Operating Costs Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 2577-XXXX [to be assigned].
    Description of the need for the information and proposed use: The 
Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) formula uses Allowable Expense Level 
(AEL) data in determining the operating subsidy portion of the IHBG 
grant for Tribes that continue to operate housing units developed under 
1937 Act programs. During recent Formula Negotiated Rulemaking 
Committee sessions several Committee members indicated that AEL did not 
adequately recognize the real cost of operating housing in Indian 
Country and that the AEL values needed to be replaced with a more 
current, accurate measure of the costs to operate housing in tribal 
areas. HUD committed to working with the Tribes to address this 
concern. There is no database with information about current operating 
costs of 1937 Act housing programs in Indian Country. The information 
gathered in this form will be used to establish a current, accurate 
cost database, and will support continued discussions on the role of 
AEL in the IHBG formula.
    Agency form number, if applicable: Not applicable.
    Members of affected public: Tribal Governments.
    Estimation of the total number of hours needed to prepare the 
information collection including number of respondents: 269 tribally 
designated housing entities (TDHEs) manage the 1937 Act housing for 
Tribes. Estimated response time is 2 hours. Estimated total responses 
based on 75% return rate is 202. Estimated total reporting burden is 
404 hours.
    Status of the proposed information collection: New collection.

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

    Dated: April 1, 2005.
Michael Liu,
Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing.
[FR Doc. E5-1656 Filed 4-11-05; 8:45 am]
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