[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 5, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14326-14328]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-05085]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-5683-N-20]


Notice of Submission of Proposed Information Collection to OMB: 
Community Development Block Grant Recovery (CDBG-R) Program

AGENCY: Office of the Chief Information Officer, HUD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The proposed information collection requirement described 
below has been 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.
    This request identifies the estimated reporting burden associated 
with the reporting of CDBG-R assisted activities as they are completed 
and closing out the CDBG-R program. The American Recovery and 
Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) appropriated $1 Billion in 
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to states and local 
governments that received CDBG funding in Fiscal Year 2008 to carry 
out, on an expedited basis, eligible activities under the CDBG program. 
The purpose of the CDBG-R funding was to stimulate the economy through 
measures that modernized the Nation's infrastructure, improved energy 
efficiency, and expanded educational opportunities and access to health 
care. All CDBG-R funds were required to be expended by September 30, 
2012. Any CDBG-R funds remaining after that date were recaptured by HUD 
and returned to Treasury. The Recovery Act did not specify a 
requirement regarding the date for completion of CDBG-R assisted 
activities, although grantees were required to give preference to 
activities that could be started and completed expeditiously. While the 
CDBG-R expenditure deadline has passed, all CDBG-R assisted activities 
have not been completed. New activities were added over time when 
grantees amended their 2008 substantial amendments to add such 
activities because previously identified activities came in under 
budget, were identified as imprudent, or did not meet the purposes of 
the Recovery Act. Once CDBG-R assisted activities meet a national 
objective and are physically complete, grantees may proceed in closing 
out their CDBG-R programs. Grantees must complete their final reports 
in federalreporting.gov before closing out their CDBG-R grants. HUD 
expects grantees to be ready to begin closing out their grants by March 
31, 2013. Once final reports are completed in federalreporting.gov, 
grantees may begin the process of closing out their CDBG-R grants. This 
process requires grantees to submit their final federalreporting.gov 
report and prepare and submit a CDBG-R Program Grantee Closeout 
Certification, a CDBG-R closeout checklist, Grant Closeout Agreement, 
and a Federal Financial Report (SF 425) to local HUD Field Offices. The 
Recovery Act requires that not later than 10 days after the end of each 
calendar quarter, each recipient that received recovery funds from a 
federal agency shall submit a report to that agency that contains: (1) 
The total amount of recovery funds received from that agency; (2) the 
amount of recovery funds received that were expended or obligated to 
projects or activities; and (3) a detailed list of all projects or 
activities for which recovery funds were expended or obligated, 
including (A) the name of the project or activity; (B) a description of 
the project or activity; (C) an evaluation of the completion status of 
the project or activity; (D) an estimate of the number of jobs created 
and the number of jobs retained by the project or activity; and (E) for 
infrastructure investments made by State and local governments, the 
purpose, total cost, and rationale of the agency for funding the 
infrastructure investment with funds made available under the Recovery 
Act and name of the person to contact at the agency if there are 
concerns with the infrastructure investment. An update of the status of 
activities identified here must be reported quarterly in 
federalreporting.gov. In addition, not later than 30 calendar days 
after the end of each calendar quarter, each agency that made Recovery 
Act funds available to any recipient shall make the information in 
reports submitted publicly available by posting the information on a 
Web site. Grantees that have ongoing CDBG-R assisted activities are 
required to continue reporting quarterly on those activities until they 
are completed. Information must be submitted using HUD's IDIS system 
and in federalreporting.gov. Pursuant to Section 1512 of the Recovery 
Act, CDBG-R grantees must enter the data into IDIS on a quarterly

[[Page 14327]]

basis for generation of reports by HUD or other entities. In addition, 
grantees are required to submit reports in federalreporting.gov on a 
quarterly basis. Grantees will report in IDIS and federalreporting.gov 
for CDBG-R assisted activities, recordkeeping requirements, and 
reporting requirements. The Recovery Act imposes additional reporting 
requirements including, but not limited to, information on the 
environmental review process, the expected completion of the activity, 
the type of activity, and the location of the activity.

DATES: Comments Due Date: April 4, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding 
this proposal. Comments should refer to the proposal by name and/or OMB 
approval Number (2506-0184) and should be sent to: HUD Desk Officer, 
Office of Management and Budget, New Executive Office Building, 
Washington, DC 20503; fax: 202-395-5806. Email: [email protected] fax: 202-395-5806.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colette Pollard, Reports Management 
Officer, QDAM, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh 
Street SW., Washington, DC 20410; email Colette Pollard at Colette. 
[email protected]. or telephone (202) 402-3400. This is not a toll-free 
number. Copies of available documents submitted to OMB may be obtained 
from Ms. Pollard.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice informs the public that the 
Department of Housing and Urban Development has submitted to OMB a 
request for approval of the Information collection described below. 
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 Proposed: Community development Block Grant Recovery 
(CDBG-R) Program.
    OMB Approval Number: 2506-0184.
    Form Numbers: None.
    Description of the need for the information and proposed use: This 
request identifies the estimated reporting burden associated with the 
reporting of CDBG-R assisted activities as they are completed and 
closing out the CDBG-R program. The American Recovery and Reinvestment 
Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) appropriated $1 Billion in Community 
Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to states and local governments 
that received CDBG funding in Fiscal Year 2008 to carry out, on an 
expedited basis, eligible activities under the CDBG program. The 
purpose of the CDBG-R funding was to stimulate the economy through 
measures that modernized the Nation's infrastructure, improved energy 
efficiency, and expanded educational opportunities and access to health 
care. All CDBG-R funds were required to be expended by September 30, 
2012. Any CDBG-R funds remaining after that date were recaptured by HUD 
and returned to Treasury. The Recovery Act did not specify a 
requirement regarding the date for completion of CDBG-R assisted 
activities, although grantees were required to give preference to 
activities that could be started and completed expeditiously. While the 
CDBG-R expenditure deadline has passed, all CDBG-R assisted activities 
have not been completed. New activities were added over time when 
grantees amended their 2008 substantial amendments to add such 
activities because previously identified activities came in under 
budget, were identified as imprudent, or did not meet the purposes of 
the Recovery Act. Once CDBG-R assisted activities meet a national 
objective and are physically complete, grantees may proceed in closing 
out their CDBG-R programs. Grantees must complete their final reports 
in federalreporting.gov before closing out their CDBG-R grants. HUD 
expects grantees to be ready to begin closing out their grants by March 
31, 2013. Once final reports are completed in federalreporting.gov, 
grantees may begin the process of closing out their CDBG-R grants. This 
process requires grantees to submit their final federalreporting.gov 
report and prepare and submit a CDBG-R Program Grantee Closeout 
Certification, a CDBG-R closeout checklist, Grant Closeout Agreement, 
and a Federal Financial Report (SF 425) to local HUD Field Offices. The 
Recovery Act requires that not later than 10 days after the end of each 
activity; and (E) for infrastructure investments made by State and 
local governments, the purpose, total cost, and rationale of the agency 
for funding the infrastructure investment with funds made available 
under the Recovery Act and name of the person to contact at the agency 
if there are concerns with the infrastructure investment. An update of 
the status of activities identified here must be reported quarterly in 
federalreporting.gov. In addition, not later than 30 calendar days 
after the end of each calendar quarter, each agency that made Recovery 
Act funds available to any recipient shall make the information in 
reports submitted publicly available by posting the information on a 
Web site. Grantees that have ongoing CDBG-R assisted activities are 
required to continue reporting quarterly on those activities until they 
are completed. Information must be submitted using HUD's IDIS system 
and in federalreporting.gov. Pursuant to Section 1512 of the Recovery 
Act, CDBG-R grantees must enter the data into IDIS on a quarterly basis 
for generation of reports by HUD or other entities. In addition, 
grantees are required to submit reports in federalreporting.gov on a 
quarterly basis. Grantees will report in IDIS and federalreporting.gov 
for CDBG-R assisted activities, recordkeeping requirements, and 
reporting requirements. The Recovery Act imposes additional reporting 
requirements including, but not limited to, information on the 
environmental review process, the expected completion of the activity, 
the type of activity, and the location of the activity.

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                                            Number of          Annual              Hours per
                                           respondents       responses      x       response       Burden hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reporting Burden.......................           1,196                4   ...              32          153,088
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[[Page 14328]]

    Total Estimated Burden Hours: 153,088.
    Status: Reinstatement with change of a currently approved 
collection.

    Authority: Section 3507 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 
44 U.S.C. 35, as amended.

    Dated: February 27, 2013.
Colette Pollard,
Department Reports Management Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-05085 Filed 3-4-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P