[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 161 (Monday, August 20, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 50151]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-20420]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-5609-N-08]


Notice of Proposed Information Collection for Public Comment: 
2013 American Housing Survey

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and 
Research, HUD.

ACTION: Notice.

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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 of 1995, Public 
Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). The Department is soliciting 
public comments on the subject proposal.

DATES: Comments Due Date: October 19, 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: Reports Liaison Officer, Office 
of Policy Development and Research, Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, 451 7th Street SW., Room 8226, Washington, DC 20410.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David A. Vandenbroucke at (202) 402-
5890 (this is not a toll-free number), or Joe Huesman, Bureau of the 
Census, Demographic Surveys Division, Washington, DC 20233, (301) 763-
4822 (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: 2013 American Housing Survey.
    OMB Control Number: 2528-0017.
    Description of the need for the information and proposed use: The 
American Housing Survey (AHS) provides a periodic measure of the size 
and composition of the country's housing inventory. Title 12, United 
States Code, Sections 1701Z-1, 1701Z-2(g), and 1710Z-10a mandates the 
collection of this information.
    Like the previous surveys, the 2013 AHS will collect data on 
subjects such as the amount and types of changes in the inventory, the 
physical condition of the inventory, the characteristics of the 
occupants, housing costs, the persons eligible for and beneficiaries of 
assisted housing, and the number and characteristics of vacancies. 
There are plans to collect additional data on people who had to 
temporarily move in with other households, neighborhood conditions, 
working from home, ability to travel via public transportation, 
bicycling, or walking, energy efficiency, and emergency preparedness. 
Questions about potential health and safety hazards and home 
modifications made to assist occupants living with disabilities that 
were added to the 2011 survey will not be included in the 2013 survey. 
A supplemental sample of housing units will be selected for 
approximately 31 metropolitan areas. The supplemental sample will be 
combined with existing sample in these areas in order to produce 
metropolitan estimates using the National data.
    Policy analysts, program managers, budget analysts, and 
Congressional staff use AHS data to advise executive and legislative 
branches about housing conditions and the suitability of public policy 
initiatives. Academic researchers and private organizations also use 
AHS data in efforts of specific interest and concern to their 
respective communities.
    The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) needs the AHS 
data for two important uses.
    1. With the data, policy analysts can monitor the interaction among 
housing needs, demand and supply, as well as changes in housing 
conditions and costs, to aid in the development of housing policies and 
the design of housing programs appropriate for different target groups, 
such as first-time home buyers and the elderly.
    2. With the data, HUD can evaluate, monitor, and design HUD 
programs to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
    Members of affected public: Households.
    Estimation of the total number of hours needed to prepare the 
information collection including number of respondents, frequency of 
response, and hours of response:

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Number of Respondents..................  194,000.
Estimate Responses per Respondent......  1 every 2 years.
Time (minutes) per respondent..........  45.
Total hours to respond.................  145,500.
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    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Status of the proposed information collection: Pending OMB 
approval.

    Authority: Title 13 U.S.C. Section 9(a), and Title 12 U.S.C. 
Section 1701z-1 et seq.

    Dated: August 14, 2012.
Erika Poethig,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research.
[FR Doc. 2012-20420 Filed 8-17-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P