[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 16 (Thursday, January 25, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3404-3405]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-1178]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-4878-N-03]


Final Guidance on Federal Financial Assistance Recipients 
Regarding Title VI Prohibition Against National Origin Discrimination 
Affecting Limited English Proficient Persons: Announcement of Meeting

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal 
Opportunity, HUD.

ACTION: Notice; announcement of meeting.

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SUMMARY: On January 22, 2007, HUD published in the Federal Register 
final guidance on ``Federal Financial Assistance Regarding Title VI 
Prohibition against National Origin Discrimination Affecting Limited 
English Proficient Persons'' (LEP Final Guidance). This guidance 
becomes effective on February 21, 2007. This notice announces that HUD 
will hold a meeting at HUD Headquarters on February 13, 2007, to brief 
interested members of the public on the LEP Final Guidance and respond 
to questions about the guidance.

DATES: HUD will conduct the meeting on LEP Final Guidance on February 
13, 2007.

ADDRESSES: The LEP Guidance meeting will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. 
(Eastern time) on February 13, 2007, at HUD Headquarters for which the 
address is the Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh 
Street, SW, Washington, DC.
    Members of the public who are interested in attending this meeting 
in person must submit a request to HUD by sending an e-mail to 
[email protected]. The e-mail must contain the 
participant's name, contact information, and basis for interest in this 
meeting. In addition, participants who require a reasonable 
accommodation must identify the accommodation they need to attend and 
fully participate in this meeting. The deadline for submitting requests 
is Friday, February 9, 2007.
    HUD will strive to honor requests on a first-come first-serve 
basis. However, HUD reserves the right to select participants so as to 
ensure that there is adequate representation of the various sectors 
affected by the LEP Final Guidance.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pamela D. Walsh, Director, Program 
Standards Division, Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development 451 Seventh Street, SW, 
Room 5246, Washington, DC 20410-0500; telephone (202) 708-2288 (this is 
not a toll-free number). Persons with hearing or speech disabilities 
may access this number through TTY by calling the toll-free Federal 
Information Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
    To Request Participation in the Meeting: A request to participate 
in the meeting must be submitted to the following e-mail address: 
[email protected]. The deadline for submitting requests 
is Friday, February 9, 2007.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

Background

    On January 22, 2007, HUD published in the Federal Register final 
guidance to help recipients of federal financial assistance take 
reasonable steps to meet their regulatory and statutory obligations to 
ensure that LEP persons have meaningful access to HUD programs and 
activities. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI) 
and its implementing regulations, recipients of federal financial 
assistance have a responsibility to ensure meaningful access to 
programs and activities by LEP persons.
    Executive Order 13166, issued on August 11, 2000, and published in 
the Federal Register on August 16, 2000 (65 FR 50121), directs each 
federal agency that extends assistance, which is subject to the 
requirements of Title VI, to publish guidance for its respective 
recipients clarifying this obligation. The Department of Justice (DOJ) 
issued the first LEP guidance as a model for other federal agencies. 
HUD's guidance adheres to the federal-wide compliance standards and 
framework detailed in the DOJ model LEP Guidance, published on June 18, 
2002 (67 FR 41455). HUD's guidance follows the established format used 
in the DOJ model. Specific examples set out in HUD's guidance explain 
and/or highlight how federal-wide compliance standards are applicable 
to recipients of HUD's federal financial assistance.
    The January 22, 2007, LEP Final Guidance was preceded by proposed 
guidance published on December 19, 2003 (68 FR 70968) for which HUD 
solicited public comment. The LEP Final Guidance takes into 
consideration the public comments received on the December 19, 2003, 
proposed guidance. There are no significant changes between the 
proposed guidance and the final guidance. However, for purposes of 
clarification, several minor changes were made in Appendix A, and a new 
Appendix B has been added to the Guidance. Appendix B, ``Questions and 
Answers (Q&A),'' responds to frequently asked questions (FAQs) related 
to providing meaningful access to LEP persons. HUD's LEP Final Guidance 
can be found at http://www.hud.gov/offices/fheo/promotingfh/lep.cfm.

February 13, 2007 Meeting

    In consideration of widespread interest in HUD's LEP Final 
Guidance, HUD will hold a meeting on the guidance on February 13, 2007, 
and interested members of the public are invited to attend this 
meeting.
    Members of the public who are interested in attending the meeting 
in person must submit a request to HUD by sending an e-mail to 
[email protected]. The email must contain the 
participant's name, contact information, and basis for interest in this 
meeting. In addition, participants who require a reasonable 
accommodation must identify the accommodation they need to attend and 
fully participate in this meeting.
    The deadline for submitting requests is Friday, February 9, 2007.
    HUD will strive to honor requests on a first-come first-serve 
basis. However, HUD reserves the right to select participants so as to 
ensure that there is adequate representation of the various sectors 
affected by LEP Final Guidance.
    HUD will respond to requests to participate in this meeting and 
will provide participants with information on attending the February 
13, 2007, meeting prior to the meeting date. HUD advises participants 
that they must comply with security procedures when visiting the HUD 
building.
    Please send any questions regarding the meeting to the above email 
address. HUD will respond to your questions by e-mail.


[[Page 3405]]


    Dated: January 19, 2007.
Kim Kendrick,
Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity.
 [FR Doc. E7-1178 Filed 1-24-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P