[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 61 (Monday, March 31, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18048-18049]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-07068]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-5752-N-34]


30-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: HUD 
Environmental Review Online System (HEROS)

AGENCY: Office of the Chief Information Officer, HUD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: HUD has submitted the proposed information collection 
requirement described below to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) for review, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. The 
purpose of this notice is to allow for an additional 30 days of public 
comment.

DATES: Comments Due Date: April 30, 2014.

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: 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 7th 
Street SW., Washington, DC 20410; email Colette Pollard at 
[email protected] or telephone 202-402-3400. Persons with hearing 
or speech impairments may access this number through TTY by calling the 
toll-free Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. 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 in Section A. The Federal Register notice that solicited 
public comment on the information collection for a period of 60 days 
was published on December 27, 2013.

A. Overview of Information Collection

    Title of Information Collection: HUD Environmental Review Online 
System (HEROS).
    OMB Approval Number: 2506-New.
    Type of Request New collection.
    Form Number: None.
    Description of the need for the information and proposed use: 224 
CFR Part 58, ``Environmental Review Procedures for Entities Assuming 
HUD Environmental Responsibilities'' requires units of general local 
government receiving HUD assistance to maintain a written environmental 
review record for all projects receiving HUD funding documenting 
compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the 
regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality, related federal 
environmental laws, executive orders, and authorities, and Part 58 
procedure. Various laws that authorize this procedure are listed in 24 
CFR 58.1(b).
    In the past, HUD recipients were allowed to prepare their 
environmental review records using HUD recommended formats or 
equivalent formats. Now, HUD is developing a new online tool called the 
HUD Environmental Review Online System (HEROS), which will allow users 
to complete, store, and submit their environmental review records 
online. HUD's intention is HEROS will improve HUD's environmental 
reviews in a number of ways. First, it will replace HUD's many 
environmental review forms and requirements with one single format 
housed online with guidance integrated throughout to simplify the 
process and assist new employees in the preparation of their reviews. 
Second, HUD plans to increase transparency and overall compliance with 
NEPA by posting many environmental review records online for public 
review through HEROS. Finally, storing recipients' records in HEROS 
will allow HUD to collect data on environmental compliance for the 
first time. Once completed, HUD intends to make HEROS the only 
permitted format in most cases.
    24 CFR Part 50, ``Protection and Enhancement of Environmental 
Quality,'' implements procedures for HUD to perform environmental 
reviews for projects where Part 58 is not permitted by law. Under Part 
50, HUD staff complete the environmental review records, but they may 
use any information supplied by an applicant or contractor, provided 
HUD independently evaluates the information and is responsible for its 
accuracy and prepares the environmental finding. There is no current 
format for applicants and contractors to submit required information, 
but HEROS would allow these parties to submit environmental information 
to HUD staff through the system as well. HUD staff will then use HEROS 
to complete the environmental review record.
    Respondents: The respondents are state and local governments 
receiving HUD funding who are required to complete environmental 
reviews.
    Estimation of the total number of hours to prepare the information 
collection including number of respondents, frequency of response and 
hours of response:

[[Page 18049]]



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                                      Number of       Frequency of    Responses per   Burden hour per   Annual burden   Hourly cost per
      Information collection         respondents        response          annum           response          hours           response       Annual cost
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Total............................           2,500                5           12,500                1           12,500               30         $375,000
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B. Solicitation of Public Comment

    This notice is soliciting comments from members of the public and 
affected parties concerning the collection of information described in 
Section A on the following:
    (1) 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) The accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information;
    (3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    (4) Ways to 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.
    HUD encourages interested parties to submit comment in response to 
these questions.

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

    Dated: March 25, 2014.
Colette Pollard,
Department Reports Management Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-07068 Filed 3-28-14; 8:45 am]
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