[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 226 (Friday, November 23, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70181-70182]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-28519]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-5597-N-02]


Request for Information on Adopting Smoke-Free Policies in Public 
Housing Agencies (PHAs) and Multifamily Housing: Reopening of Public 
Comment Period

AGENCY: Office of the General Counsel, HUD.

ACTION: Request for Information, Reopening of public comments period.

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SUMMARY: On October 4, 2012, HUD published a request for information in 
the Federal Register inviting public comment on how HUD can best 
continue to support the implementation of smoke-free policies for both 
public housing and multifamily housing. HUD was seeking information 
from the general public and stakeholders, including resident councils, 
advocacy groups, and housing providers directly impacted by or involved 
with the implementation of smoke-free policies and methods for 
supporting residents and housing providers in transitioning to smoke-
free housing. The comment period for HUD's request for information 
closed November 5, 2012. In response to recent requests for additional 
time to submit public comments, HUD is announcing through this notice 
that it is reopening the public comment period for an additional 60-day 
period.

DATES: Comment Due Date: Comments on the October 4, 2012, request for 
information are requested on or before January 22, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments responsive 
to this request for information to the Office of General Counsel, 
Regulations Division, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 
7th Street, SW., Room 10276, Washington, DC 20410-0001. Communications 
must refer to the above docket number and title and should contain the 
information specified in the ``Request for Comments'' of this notice.
    Electronic Submission of Comments. Interested persons may submit 
comments electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at 
http://www.regulations.gov. HUD strongly encourages commenters to 
submit comments electronically. Electronic submission of comments 
allows the commenter maximum time to prepare and submit a comment, 
ensures timely receipt by HUD, and enables HUD to make them immediately 
available to the public. Comments submitted electronically through the 
http://www.regulations.gov Web site can be viewed by interested members 
of the public. Commenters should follow instructions provided on that 
site to submit comments electronically.
    Submission of Hard Copy Comments. Comments may be submitted by mail 
or hand delivery. To ensure that the information is fully considered by 
all of the reviewers, each commenter submitting hard copy comments, by 
mail or hand delivery, should submit comments or requests to the 
address above, addressed to the attention of the Regulations Division. 
Due to security measures at all federal agencies, submission of 
comments or requests by mail often result in delayed delivery. To 
ensure timely receipt of comments, HUD recommends that any comments 
submitted by mail be submitted at least 2 weeks in advance of the 
public comment deadline. All hard copy comments received by mail or 
hand delivery are a part of the public record and will be posted to 
http://www.regulations.gov without change.
    No Facsimile Comments. Facsimile (FAX) comments are not acceptable.
    Public Inspection of Comments. All comments submitted to HUD 
regarding this notice will be available, without charge, for public 
inspection and copying between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays at the above 
address. Due to security measures at the HUD Headquarters building, an 
advance appointment to review the documents must be scheduled by 
calling the Regulations Division at 202-708-3055 (this is not a toll-
free number). Copies of all comments submitted will also be available 
for inspection and downloading at http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shauna Sorrells, Director, Public 
Housing Programs, Office of Public and Indian Housing, Department of 
Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street, SW., Room 4232, 
Washington, DC, 20410-4000, telephone number 202-402-2769 (this is not 
a toll-free number) or Catherine Brennan, Director, Office of

[[Page 70182]]

Housing Assistance and Grant Administration, Office of Housing, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street, SW., Room 
6134, Washington, DC, 20410-4000, telephone number 202-708-3000 (this 
is not a toll-free number). Persons with hearing- or speech-impairments 
may access this number through TTY by calling the toll-free Federal 
Relay Service at 800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 4, 2012 (77 FR 60712), HUD 
published a notice in the Federal Register requesting information from 
the general public, PHAs, owners and management agents, public housing 
residents, multifamily housing residents and other stakeholders to help 
inform HUD on how it might best support housing providers and residents 
in implementing smoke-free policies for both public housing and 
multifamily housing. In the October 4, 2012 notice, HUD provided a list 
of topics for which HUD is seeking information and established a 
comment due date of November 5, 2012. In response to recent requests 
for additional time to submit public comments, HUD is announcing 
through this notice that it is reopening the public comment period for 
an additional 60-day period. Interested persons should refer to the 
October 4, 2012 notice for the list of topics to which HUD is seeking 
information.

    Dated: November 19, 2012.
Aaron Santa Anna,
Assistant General Counsel, Regulations Division, Office of General 
Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2012-28519 Filed 11-21-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P