[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 21 (Tuesday, February 3, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 5945]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-2051]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


60-Day Notice of Intention To Request Clearance of Collection of 
Information; Opportunity for Public Comment

AGENCY: Department of the Interior, National Park Service.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
and 5 CFR Part 1320, Reporting and Record Keeping Requirements, the 
National Park Service (NPS) invites public comments on an extension of 
a currently approved collection of information (OMB 1024-
0009).

DATES: Public comments on this Information Collection Request (ICR) 
will be accepted on or before April 6, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to: Michael J. Auer, NPS Heritage Preservation 
Services, 1849 C St., NW (2255), Washington, DC 20240; or via phone at 
202/354-2031; or via fax at 202/371-1666; or via e-mail at 
[email protected]. Also, you may send comments to Leonard E. Stowe, 
NPS Information Collection Clearance Officer, 1201 Eye St., NW. (2605), 
Washington, DC 20005; or via e-mail at [email protected]. All 
responses to the Notice will be summarized and included in the request 
for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval. All comments 
will become a matter of public record.

TO REQUEST A DRAFT OF PROPOSED COLLECTION OF INFORMATION CONTACT: 
Michael J. Auer, NPS Heritage Preservation Services, 1849 C St., NW 
(2255), Washington, DC. 20005; or via phone at 202/354-2031; or via fax 
at 202/371-1666; or via e-mail at [email protected]. You are entitled 
to a copy of the entire ICR package free of charge once the package is 
submitted to OMB for review. You can access this ICR at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Historic Preservation Certification 
Application--36 CFR Part 67 Form(s): 10-168 (Evaluation of 
Significance); 10-168a (Description of Rehabilitation); 10-168b 
(Continuation/Amendment Sheet); 10-168c (Certification of Completed 
Work).
    OMB Control Number: 1024-0009.
    Expiration Date: 9/30/2009.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection of 
information.
    Description of Need: Section 47 of the Internal Revenue Code 
requires that the Secretary of the Interior certify to the Secretary of 
the Treasury upon application by owners of historic properties for 
Federal tax benefits: (a) The historic character of the property, and 
(b) that the rehabilitation work is consistent with that historic 
character. The NPS administers the program with the Internal Revenue 
Service. NPS uses the Historic Preservation Certification Application 
to evaluate the condition and historic significance of buildings 
undergoing rehabilitation for continued use, and to evaluate whether 
the rehabilitation work meets the Secretary of the Interior's Standards 
for Rehabilitation. The Department of the Interior regulation 36 CFR 
Part 67 contains a requirement for completion of an application form. 
The information required on the application form is needed to allow the 
authorized officer to determine if the applicant is qualified to obtain 
historic preservation certifications from the Secretary of the 
Interior. These certifications are necessary in order for an applicant 
to receive substantial Federal tax incentives authorized by Section 47 
of the Internal Revenue Code. These incentives include 20% Federal 
income tax credit for the rehabilitation of historic buildings and an 
income tax deduction for the donation of easements on historic 
properties. The Internal Revenue Code also provides 10% Federal income 
tax credit for the rehabilitation of non-historic buildings built 
before 1936, and owners of non-historic buildings in historic districts 
must also use the application to obtain a certification from the 
Secretary of the Interior that their building does not contribute to 
the significance of the historic district before they claim this lesser 
tax credit for rehabilitation. The obligation to respond is required to 
obtain and retain benefits.
    Description of respondents: Individuals or households, businesses 
or other for-profit entities.
    Estimated average number of respondents: 4,000 per year.
    Estimated average number of responses: 4,000 per year.
    Frequency of Response: 1 per respondent.
    Estimated average time burden per respondent: 20 hours.
    Estimated total annual reporting burden: 80,000 hours per year.
    Comments are invited on: (1) The practical utility of the 
information being gathered; (2) the accuracy of the burden hour 
estimate; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information being collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden to 
respondents, including use of automated information collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology. Before including 
your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal 
identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your 
entire comment--including your personal identifying information--may be 
made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your 
comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public 
review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

    Dated: January 12, 2009.
Leonard E. Stowe,
NPS, Information Collection Clearance Officer.
 [FR Doc. E9-2051 Filed 2-2-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-M