[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 15 (Wednesday, January 23, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4859-4860]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-01309]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-5690-N-01]


Notice of Proposed Information for Public Comment for: Energy and 
Performance Information Center

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian 
Housing, 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. The Department 
is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal.
    HUD created the Energy and Performance Information Center 
(``EPIC'') data system to track the amount and types of Energy 
Efficiency Measures (EEMs) being implemented within Public Housing 
units (OMB Control Number 2577-0274). This revision expands the data 
collected to include the amount and type of Public Housing development, 
including development in conjunction with Low Income Housing Tax 
Credits; other planning collections and performance reports presently 
collected in hard copy; the Physical Needs Assessment; and 
modernization undertaken by PHAs through Energy Performance Contracts. 
The EPIC data system is necessary in order to support the Department's 
Agency Performance Goals (APGs), specifically APG  4, Measure 
 13 which sets numeric targets for completing green retrofits 
and creating energy efficient units. In addition to the direct support 
of HUD APG  4, Measure  13, the implementation of the 
EPIC data system will enable HUD to provide reports on the progress of 
EEMs completed with PIH funding. The EPIC data system will also improve 
PHA planning by making the five year plan and annual statement process 
electronic and also enabling HUD to aggregate this information in order 
to track APG  2, Measure  5, which sets goals for 
expanding the number of families housed. The EPIC data system will also 
allow improved tracking of the Energy Performance Contract process and 
will include the Physical Needs Assessment tool.

DATES: Comments Due Date: March 25, 2013.

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]. 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 affecting 
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: Energy and Performance Information Center 
(EPIC).
    OMB Control Number, if applicable: 2577-0274.
    Description of the need for the information and proposed use: The 
Department has recognized the need for improving energy efficiency in 
affordable housing and has prioritized this in Agency Priority Goal 
 4, Measure  13. The Department pioneered its data 
collection in this area with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 
of 2009 in creating the Recovery Act Management Performance System 
(``RAMPS''). The data collected through the RAMPS gave the Department a 
more comprehensive dataset regarding energy efficient improvements than 
it had ever had previously. The EPIC data system builds upon the 
successes of the RAMPS and adds data collection for other areas. This 
form is to revise the collection to include other information. Some of 
this information is presently collected in paper form and will be 
collected electronically through the EPIC data system.
    The EPIC data system will gradually automate the collection of the 
five year plan and annual statement forms from grantees. These are 
required forms presently collected in hard copy on

[[Page 4860]]

Forms 50075.1 and 50075.2 under collection OMB control number 2577-
0226. These forms also collect data on the eventual, actual use of 
funds; this data will be gradually collected electronically through the 
EPIC data system as well. Electronic collection will enable the 
Department to aggregate information about the way grantees are using 
Federal funding. Additionally, PHA grantees will be able to submit 
Replacement Housing Factor fund plans, the mechanism by which PHAs are 
allowed to accumulate special funds received based on units removed 
from the inventory from year to year. This information is presently 
collected in hard copy at the field office level; the EPIC data system 
will automate and centralize this collection in order to streamline the 
process and improve transparency.
    Furthermore, the EPIC data system will be loaded with Physical 
Needs Assessment (``PNA'') data. This data being in the system coupled 
with the electronic planning process will streamline grantee planning.
    The EPIC data system will collect information about the Energy 
Performance Contract (``EPC'') process such as energy efficiency 
improvement financed under an EPC, and construction start and 
completion date. It will also collect the energy efficiency 
improvements information on the types previously captured through the 
RAMPS for Public Housing Capital Fund Recovery grants. As the 
Department moves to shrink its energy footprint in spite of rising 
energy costs, clear and comprehensive data on this process will be 
crucial to its success.
    Finally, the Department has prioritized in Agency Performance Goal 
 2, Measure  5 making housing more available for more 
families. In the light of the recent housing crisis, this goal has 
become simultaneously more challenging and more important. Tracking of 
the use of Federal funds paid through the Public Housing Capital Fund, 
the only Federal funding stream dedicated to the capital needs of the 
nation's last resort housing option, is crucial to understanding how 
the Department can properly and efficiently assist grantees in meeting 
this goal as well as assessing the Department's own progress. The EPIC 
data system will track development of public housing with Federal funds 
and through other means, including mixed-finance development.
    Agency form numbers, if applicable: N/A, the data will be collected 
utilizing a web-based application. Recipients will be required to 
complete the collection online. To the greatest extent possible, all 
data will be pre-populated to minimize data entry. Once the initial 
file is created, recipients will be able to update the same file and 
submit on an ongoing basis.
    Members of Affected Public: State or Local Government and Non-
profit organizations.
    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 
3,150 with 69,600 annual responses and the total reporting burden is 
183,045 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: January 15, 2013.
Merrie Nichols-Dixon,
Deputy Director for Office of Policy, Program and Legislative 
Initiatives.
[FR Doc. 2013-01309 Filed 1-22-13; 8:45 am]
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