[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 158 (Wednesday, August 15, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49005-49006]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-19964]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-5610-N-12]


Notice of Proposed Information Collection for Public Comment; 
Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) Program Reporting

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian 
Housing, HUD.

ACTION: Notice of revised information collection.

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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.
    The purpose of this notice is to solicit public comment on a 
revised Word version of HUD-52737, Indian Housing Plan/Annual 
Performance Report (IHP/APR), and two additional, automated versions of 
form: an Excel version and a version on HUD's Energy and Performance 
Information Center (EPIC) Web site. All three versions of the form 
request exactly the same information, but have different burdens due to 
the automated capabilities of the Excel and EPIC versions. These 
automated enhancements make the Excel and EPIC versions easier and 
faster to complete than the Word version. Respondents may elect to 
complete and submit to HUD either the Word, Excel, or EPIC versions; 
however, the Excel and EPIC versions are preferred because of their 
automated capabilities and reduced burden.
    The Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act 
(NAHASDA) requires recipients (tribes and tribally designated housing 
entities) to submit specific information that is necessary for the 
implementation and evaluation of low income housing programs using 
Indian Housing Block Grant funds (IHBG). Recipients of IHBG funds are 
required to submit the IHP/APR annually. In addition to the IHP/APR, 
each year recipients may submit a Formula Response Form (HUD-4117), and 
Formula Challenge Form (HUD-4119).

DATES: Comments Due Date: October 15, 2012.

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: Colette Pollard, Departmental 
Reports Management Officer, QDAM, Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, 451 7th Street SW., Room 4160, Washington, DC 20410-5000; 
telephone 202-402-3400, (this is not a toll-free number) or email Ms. 
Pollard at [email protected] for a copy of the proposed forms, or 
other available information. Persons with hearing or speech impairments 
may access this number through TTY by calling the toll-free Federal 
Information Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. (Other than the HUD USER 
information line and TTY numbers, telephone numbers are not toll-free.)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Arlette Mussington, Office of Policy, 
Programs and Legislative Initiatives, PIH, Department of Housing and 
Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW., (L'Enfant Plaza, Room 2206), 
Washington, DC 20410; telephone 202-402-4109, (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 Block Grant Information 
Collection, Word, Excel and EPIC Versions of the Indian Housing Plan/
Annual Performance Report.
    OMB Control Number: 2577-0218.
    Description of the need for the information and proposed use:
    Indian tribes, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, or tribally 
designated housing entities that receive IHBG funds are required 
annually to submit HUD-52737 that consists of two components: the 
Indian Housing Plan (IHP) component and the Annual Performance Report 
(APR) component.
    The IHP is required by Section 102 of the Native American Housing 
Assistance and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA) and describes the 
eligible IHBG-funded, affordable housing activities the recipient plans 
to conduct for the benefit of low and moderate income tribal members 
and identifies the intended outcomes and outputs for the upcoming 12-
month year. The recipient submits the IHP at least 75 days prior to the 
beginning of its 12-month program year. HUD conducts a limited review 
of the IHP to determine that the planned activities are in compliance 
with NAHASDA requirements, as defined at 24 CFR Part 1000.
    At the end of the 12-month period, the recipient submits the APR 
that is required by Section 404 of NAHASDA and describes (1) The use of 
grant funds during the prior 12-month period; (2) the actual outcomes 
and outputs achieved; (3) program accomplishments; and (4) jobs 
supported by IHBG-funded activities. HUD uses the information in the 
APR to review the recipient's progress in implementing the IHP, verify 
whether the activities are eligible and to determine if the recipient 
has the capacity to continue implementing the activities described in 
the IHP in a timely manner. The information in the APR also will be 
used to provide Congress, stakeholders, and other interested parties 
with information on how the IHBG funds are being used to meet 
affordable housing needs within Native American communities.

[[Page 49006]]

    The IHP/APR is currently available in a Word version. With this 
submission HUD intends to make available a revised Word version, an 
Excel version, and a version on HUD's Energy and Performance 
Information Center (EPIC) Web site. All three versions of the IHP/APR 
request the same information and a recipient may elect to submit to HUD 
either the Word, Excel, or EPIC versions; however, the Excel and EPIC 
versions are preferred because of their automated capabilities and 
reduced burden. The Word, Excel, and EPIC versions differ from the 
current version of HUD-52737 with the elimination of Line 1 (Planned 
Grant-Based Budget for Eligible Programs) in Section 5 (Budgets) 
because collection of this information served no valid purpose.
    Participants in the IHBG program are responsible for notifying HUD 
of changes to the Formula Current Assisted Stock (FCAS) component of 
the IHBG formula. HUD is notified of changes in the FCAS through a 
Formula Response Form (HUD-4117), as defined at 24 CFR 1000.302. A 
tribe, TDHE, or HUD may challenge the data from the U.S. Decennial 
Census or provide an alternative source of data by submitting the 
Guidelines for Challenging U.S. Decennial Census Data Document (HUD-
4119). Census challenges are due June 15 of each fiscal year, as 
defined at 24 CFR 1000.336. This information collection is required of 
participants in the IHBG program to demonstrate compliance with 
eligibility and other requirements of NAHASDA; provision of correction 
or challenge documentation of the formula calculation; and provision of 
data for HUD's annual report to Congress. The information gathered will 
be used to allocate funds under the IHBG program. The quality assurance 
of data reported is a very important issue in maintaining HUD's 
databases used to monitor participant's proposed plans, 
accomplishments, determine program compliance, and to ensure fair and 
equitable allocations. In some cases, the FCAS information addressing 
the conveyances and conversions of units has resulted in the recouping 
of funds. The information collected will allow HUD to accurately audit 
the program.
    Agency form numbers: HUD-52737, HUD-4117, HUD-4119.
    Members of affected public: Native American Tribes and Tribally 
Designated Housing Entities, Alaska Natives and Corporations, and 
Native Hawaiians.
    Estimation of the total number of hours needed to prepare the 
information collection including number of respondents, frequency of 
response, and hours of response: The estimated number of respondents is 
579. The IHP/APR is submitted twice a year and the Formula Correction 
and Formula Challenge forms are submitted once per year for an 
estimated total of 1,326 responses. The total paperwork burden is 
estimated at 48,168 hours.
    Status of the proposed information collection: Revision.

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

    Dated: August 6, 2012.
 Merrie Nichols-Dixon,
Deputy Director for Office of Policy, Programs, and Legislative 
Initiatives.
[FR Doc. 2012-19964 Filed 8-14-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P