[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 121 (Friday, June 22, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37696-37697]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-15313]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-5608-N-01]


Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Survey and Collection 
of Information From HUD Lead Hazard Control Grantees To Support HUD and 
EPA Requirements To Study the Lowering of the Lead Hazard Standards and 
the Lead-Based Paint Standard

AGENCY: Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control, HUD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The proposed information collection requirement concerning a 
survey of selected lead hazard control grantees funded by HUD 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: August 21, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding 
this proposal. Comments should refer to the proposal by name and/or OMB 
Control Number and should be sent to: Brittany M. Birdsong, Reports 
Liaison Officer, Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street, SW., Room 
8236, Washington, DC 20410.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter J. Ashley, Department of Housing 
and Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW., Room 8236, Washington, DC 
20410, telephone number (202) 402-7595 (this is not a toll-free number) 
for copies of the proposed survey and other available documents. 
Hearing- or speech-challenged individuals may access this number 
through TTY by calling the toll-free Federal Relay Service at 800-877-
8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department is submitting 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

[[Page 37697]]

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: Survey and Collection of Information from HUD 
Lead Hazard Control Grantees to Support HUD and EPA Requirements to 
Study the Lowering of the Lead Hazard Standards and the Lead-Based 
Paint Standard.
    OMB Control Number: Pending.
    Need for the Information and Proposed Use: Leaded paint in housing 
remains as the last major source of lead exposure to young children. 
Efforts to reduce childhood lead poisoning have focused on controlling 
lead paint hazards, specifically lead dust and deteriorated lead-based 
paint. Lead hazard control programs are looking for ways to make this 
housing safer without placing an undue financial burden on the property 
owners or tenants.
    On August 10, 2009, a petition was submitted to EPA 
www.regulations.gov; search for EPA-HQ-OPPT-2009-0655) to lower the 
definition of lead-based paint in pre-1978 ``target'' housing to some 
value below the current value of 1 mg/cm \2\ or 0.5% by weight (42 
U.S.C. 4822(c)), and to lower the lead hazard control standards and 
clearance standards for lead in dust on floors and window sills in such 
housing and in pre-1978 child-occupied facilities below the current 
values of 40 and 250 [micro]g/ft \2\ (micrograms per square foot), 
respectively (40 CFR 745.65(b) and 745.227(e)(8)(viii), and 24 CFR 
35.1320(b)(2)(i)), and below the current clearance standard for window 
troughs of 400 [micro]g/ft\2\ (40 CFR 745.227(e)(8)(viii), and 24 CFR 
35.1320(b)(2)(i)). The HUD Secretary may reduce the level that defines 
lead-based paint in target housing (42 U.S.C. 4822(c)), and the EPA 
Administrator identifies the lead-based paint hazard standards (15 
U.S.C. 2683), and the lead-based paint standard in child-occupied 
facilities.
    In a response dated October 22, 2009, EPA, writing on behalf of 
itself and HUD, agreed to study the issues and decide whether the lead 
hazard standards and/or the lead-based paint standard should be 
changed, and to collaborate with HUD on this effort. (www.epa.gov/oppt/chemtest/pubs/epa-response.pdf) The Agency and the Department intend to 
have identical standards for the sake of maximizing their effectiveness 
in this matter.
    One of the issues to be considered is the ability to actually 
determine ``clearance'' (a work area is sufficiently clean of lead 
dust) before allowing re-occupancy. The clearance levels for floors and 
window sills are the same as the lead hazard standards. This survey 
will question HUD grantees as to their ability to achieve clearance at 
the current level for floors and windowsills, and whether it would be 
technically feasible to achieve clearance at potentially lower levels.
    Agency Form Numbers: None.
    Members of Affected Public: HUD Office of Healthy Homes and Lead 
Hazard Control's Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control grantees and Lead 
Hazard Reduction Demonstration grantees, and the grantees' lead hazard 
control contractors.

                                                                  Total Burden Estimate
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                                                   Number of    Hours per                  Cost per                  Startup
                   Requirement                    respondents   respondent  Total hours      hour      Labor cost      cost       O&M cost    Total cost
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Complete questionnaire..........................          100           16         1600       $32.75      $52,400           $0           $0      $52,400
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    Total.......................................          100  ...........         1600  ...........       52,400            0            0       52,400
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    Status of the Proposed Information Collection: New request.

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

    Dated: June 15, 2012.
Jon L. Gant,
Director, HUD Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control.
[FR Doc. 2012-15313 Filed 6-21-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P