[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 104 (Thursday, May 30, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32430-32431]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-12755]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-5683-N-40]


Notice of Submission of Proposed Information Collection to OMB; 
Energy and Performance Information Center

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. HUD is 
soliciting public comments on the subject proposal.

DATES: Comments Due Date: July 1, 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 (2577-0274) 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].

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 
[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 HUD 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: Energy and Performance Information Center.
    OMB Approval Number: 2577-0274.
    Form Numbers: None.
    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 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.

[[Page 32431]]



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                                             Number of          Annual             Hours per
                                            respondents       responses      x      response       Burden hours
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Reporting Burden:.......................           3,150            22.09   ..           2.629          183,045
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    Total Estimated Burden Hours: 183,045.
    Status: Revision of a currently approved collection.

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

    Dated: May 22, 2013.
Colette Pollard,
Department Reports Management Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-12755 Filed 5-29-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P