[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 153 (Wednesday, August 9, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45573-45574]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-12992]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-5037-N-53]


Notice of Submission of Proposed Information Collection to OMB; 
Emergency Comment Request; Federal Labor Standards Payee Verification 
and Payment Processing

AGENCY: Office of Departmental Operations and Coordination, Office of 
Labor Relations, HUD.

ACTION: Notice of proposed information collection.

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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: August 21, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding 
this proposal. Comments must be received within ten (10) days from the 
date of this Notice. Comments should refer to the proposal by name and 
should be sent to: HUD Desk Officer, Office of Management and 
Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and

[[Page 45574]]

Budget, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lillian Deitzer, Departmental Reports 
Management Officer, QDAM Department of Housing and Urban Development, 
451 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20410; e-mail [email protected], telephone (202) 708-2374. This is not a toll-free 
number. Copies of documentation submitted to OMB may be obtained from 
Ms. Deitzer.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Notice informs the public that the U.S. 
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has submitted to OMB, 
for emergency processing, a proposed information collection requirement 
as described below.
    This Notice is soliciting comments from members of the public and 
affecting 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: Federal Labor Standards Payee Verification and 
Payment Processing.
    Description of Information Collection: HUD, and State, local, and 
Tribal agencies administering HUD-assisted programs must enforce 
Federal labor standards requirements, including the payment of 
prevailing wage rates to laborers and mechanics employed on HUD-
assisted construction and maintenance work that is covered by these 
requirements. Enforcement activities include securing funds to ensure 
the payment of wage restitution that has been or may be found due to 
laborers and mechanics who were employed on HUD-assisted projects, and 
the payment of liquidated damages that may be assessed for violations 
of Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act (CWHSSA) overtime 
violations. Ultimately, these funds are deposited to an account in the 
U.S. Treasury. If the labor standards discrepancies are resolved, HUD 
refunds associated amounts to the depositor. As underpaid laborers and 
mechanics are located, HUD sends wage restitution payments to the 
effected workers. Liquidated damages assessed for CWHSSA overtime 
violations are retained by HUD.
    In order to make refunds and wage restitution payments, HUD must 
verify the identity of the payee to ensure that the refund is made to 
the correct depositor or to the correct worker before payment is made. 
In order to complete these verifications, HUD will request information 
such as the depositor's or payee's tax identification number (i.e., 
employer identification number or Social Security Number); the project 
name or number; and/or the worker's employer's name.
    All refunds from labor standards deposit accounts are made, 
electronically. Depositors entitled to a refund must provide to HUD the 
name, address, and its account information for the banking institution 
to which it wants the refund sent. Wage restitution payments may be 
made by check or electronically, at the payee's choice. HUD must verify 
the payee's mailing address, so that a check may be sent to them, or 
request banking information for an electronic payment.
    OMB Control Number: 2501 (Pending)
    Agency Form Numbers: HUD-4734, Labor Standards Deposit Voucher. 
This form is completed by HUD staff after depositor or payee 
verification and the collection of payment processing information, 
i.e., banking details or mailing address.
    Members of Affected Public: Developers and prime contractors 
engaged on HUD-assisted construction or maintenance work subject to 
Federal labor standards requirements; construction and maintenance 
laborers and mechanics employed on HUD-assisted projects subject to 
Federal labor standards requirements that are entitled to wage 
restitution.
    Estimation of the total numbers of hours needed to prepare the 
information collection including number of respondents, frequency of 
responses, and hours of response: The estimated number of respondents 
is 50 per year. The estimated number of hours needed per respondent is 
0.1 hour. The total public burden is estimated to be 5 hours per year. 
Payees do not need to complete a form; the information may be collected 
by HUD in person, by telephone, or in writing, at the payee's option.
    Status: New Collection.

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

    Dated: August 3, 2006.
Lillian Deitzer,
Departmental Reports Management Officer, Office of the Chief 
Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E6-12992 Filed 8-8-06; 8:45 am]
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