[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 119 (Monday, June 22, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35660-35667]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-15324]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-5871-N-01]


Notice of Regulatory Waiver Requests Granted for the First 
Quarter of Calendar Year 2015

AGENCY: Office of the General Counsel, HUD.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Section 106 of the Department of Housing and Urban Development 
Reform Act of 1989 (the HUD Reform

[[Page 35661]]

Act) requires HUD to publish quarterly Federal Register notices of all 
regulatory waivers that HUD has approved. Each notice covers the 
quarterly period since the previous Federal Register notice. The 
purpose of this notice is to comply with the requirements of section 
106 of the HUD Reform Act. This notice contains a list of regulatory 
waivers granted by HUD during the period beginning on January 1, 2015, 
and ending on March 31, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information about this 
notice, contact Camille E. Acevedo, Associate General Counsel for 
Legislation and Regulations, Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, 451 Seventh Street SW., Room 10282, Washington, DC 20410-
0500, telephone 202-708-1793 (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.
    For information concerning a particular waiver that was granted and 
for which public notice is provided in this document, contact the 
person whose name and address follow the description of the waiver 
granted in the accompanying list of waivers that have been granted in 
the first quarter of calendar year 2015.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 106 of the HUD Reform Act added a 
new section 7(q) to the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act 
(42 U.S.C. 3535(q)), which provides that:
    1. Any waiver of a regulation must be in writing and must specify 
the grounds for approving the waiver;
    2. Authority to approve a waiver of a regulation may be delegated 
by the Secretary only to an individual of Assistant Secretary or 
equivalent rank, and the person to whom authority to waive is delegated 
must also have authority to issue the particular regulation to be 
waived;
    3. Not less than quarterly, the Secretary must notify the public of 
all waivers of regulations that HUD has approved, by publishing a 
notice in the Federal Register. These notices (each covering the period 
since the most recent previous notification) shall:
    a. Identify the project, activity, or undertaking involved;
    b. Describe the nature of the provision waived and the designation 
of the provision;
    c. Indicate the name and title of the person who granted the waiver 
request;
    d. Describe briefly the grounds for approval of the request; and
    e. State how additional information about a particular waiver may 
be obtained.
    Section 106 of the HUD Reform Act also contains requirements 
applicable to waivers of HUD handbook provisions that are not relevant 
to the purpose of this notice.
    This notice follows procedures provided in HUD's Statement of 
Policy on Waiver of Regulations and Directives first issued on April 
22, 1991 (56 FR 16337). In accordance with those procedures and with 
the requirements of section 106 of the HUD Reform Act, waivers of 
regulations are granted by the Assistant Secretary with jurisdiction 
over the regulations for which a waiver was requested. In those cases 
in which a General Deputy Assistant Secretary granted the waiver, the 
General Deputy Assistant Secretary was serving in the absence of the 
Assistant Secretary in accordance with the office's Order of 
Succession.
    This notice covers waivers of regulations granted by HUD from 
January 1, 2015 through March 31, 2015. For ease of reference, the 
waivers granted by HUD are listed by HUD program office (for example, 
the Office of Community Planning and Development, the Office of Fair 
Housing and Equal Opportunity, the Office of Housing, and the Office of 
Public and Indian Housing, etc.). Within each program office grouping, 
the waivers are listed sequentially by the regulatory section of title 
24 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) that is being waived. For 
example, a waiver of a provision in 24 CFR part 58 would be listed 
before a waiver of a provision in 24 CFR part 570.
    Where more than one regulatory provision is involved in the grant 
of a particular waiver request, the action is listed under the section 
number of the first regulatory requirement that appears in 24 CFR and 
that is being waived. For example, a waiver of both Sec.  58.73 and 
Sec.  58.74 would appear sequentially in the listing under Sec.  58.73.
    Waiver of regulations that involve the same initial regulatory 
citation are in time sequence beginning with the earliest-dated 
regulatory waiver.
    Should HUD receive additional information about waivers granted 
during the period covered by this report (the first quarter of calendar 
year 2015) before the next report is published (the second quarter of 
calendar year 2015), HUD will include any additional waivers granted 
for the first quarter in the next report.
    Accordingly, information about approved waiver requests pertaining 
to HUD regulations is provided in the Appendix that follows this 
notice.

    Dated: June 16, 2015.
Tonya T. Robinson,
Principal Deputy General Counsel.

Appendix

Listing of Waivers of Regulatory Requirements Granted by Offices of the 
Department of Housing and Urban Development January 1, 2015 Through 
March 31, 2015

    Note to Reader: More information about the granting of these 
waivers, including a copy of the waiver request and approval, may be 
obtained by contacting the person whose name is listed as the 
contact person directly after each set of regulatory waivers 
granted.
    The regulatory waivers granted appear in the following order:
    I. Regulatory waivers granted by the Office of Community 
Planning and Development.
    II. Regulatory waivers granted by the Office of Housing.
    III. Regulatory waivers granted by the Office of Public and 
Indian Housing.

I. Regulatory Waivers Granted by the Office of Community Planning and 
Development

    For further information about the following regulatory waivers, 
please see the name of the contact person that immediately follows 
the description of the waiver granted.
     Regulation: 24 CFR 58.22(a).
    Project/Activity: The City of Eek, AK, requested a waiver of 24 
CFR 58.22(a) with regard to the submission of an application for 
CDBG funds to the State of Alaska Department of Commerce, Community 
and Economic Development for the construction of a solid waste 
facility and the closing of the existing uncontrolled dumpsite. The 
new landfill would allow the city to close its existing, 
uncontrolled open dumpsite. The existing dumpsite is collocated with 
a honey-bucket dumpsite, allowing waste to mix with water. A new 
landfill is needed to eliminate the safety hazard of an unfenced 
dumpsite and to eliminate fecal contaminated water in the community.
    Nature of Requirement: The second sentence of HUD's regulation 
at Sec.  58.22(a), entitled ``Limitation on activities pending 
clearance'', provides that until the Request for Release of Funds 
(RROF) and the related certification have been approved, neither a 
recipient nor any participant in the development process may commit 
non-HUD funds on or undertake an activity or project under a program 
listed in Sec.  58.1(b) if the activity or project would have an 
adverse environmental impact or limit the choice of reasonable 
alternatives. A waiver is required because the city accepted and 
recorded a quitclaim deed transfer of surface and subsurface rights 
for the new landfill prior to receiving an approved RROF.
    Granted By: Clifford Taffet, General Deputy Assistant Secretary 
for Community Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: January 23, 2015.
    Reason Waived: The above project will further the HUD mission 
and will advance HUD program goals to develop viable, quality 
communities--specifically, by constructing a

[[Page 35662]]

much needed landfill and closing the existing, uncontrolled open 
dumpsite; the City of Eek did not willfully violate the applicable 
regulations; no HUD funds were committed; and the waiver would not 
result in any unmitigated, adverse environmental impact.
    Contact: Nelson A. Rivera, Office of Environment and Energy, 
Office of Community Planning and Development, Department of Housing 
and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW., Room 7134, 
Washington, DC 20410, telephone number (202) 402-4455.
     Regulation: 24 CFR 84.22(g), 85.21, and Appendix I, 
section N.2 of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2 (NSP2) 
Notice of funding Availability (NOFA).
    Project/Activity: HUD regulations at 24 CFR 84.22(g), 24 CFR 
85.21, and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) policy require NSP2 
funds to be expended by September 30, 2015 or returned to the U.S. 
Treasury. However, 42 of the 56 NSP2 grantees have a substantial 
amount of program income that prevents them from meeting this 
requirement. For a listing of the affected NSP2 grantees see: 
https://www.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/NSP2-Program-Income-Waiver.pdf.
    Nature of Requirement: The regulations at 24 CFR 84.22(g) and 24 
CFR 85.21 state that recipients shall disburse funds available from 
repayments to and interest earned on a revolving fund, program 
income, rebates, refunds, contract settlements, audit recoveries and 
interest earned on such funds before requesting additional cash 
payments.
    Granted By: Clifford Taffet, General Deputy Assistant Secretary 
for Community Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: January 28, 2015.
    Reason Waived: Compliance with these program requirements has 
hindered NSP2 grantees' ability to rapidly expend their line of 
credit funds as many have successfully generated substantial amounts 
of program income. Unlike the line of credit funds, program income 
is not subject to the September 30, 2015, deadline imposed by OMB. 
Loss of the grant funds would reduce the ability of these grantees 
to invest in declining neighborhoods. The line of credit funds are 
used for such purposes as: investment in distressed or foreclosed 
properties, rehabilitation and reconstruction of deteriorated homes, 
down payment assistance for purchasers of redeveloped properties, 
rental assistance for multifamily properties, demolitions of homes 
in areas with serious abandonment and vacancies, and land banking to 
manage properties in areas with little current demand for real 
estate. All of these activities would be curtailed if grantees 
cannot expend their line of credit funds. As of January 12, 2015, 
$71,843,226 was subject to loss and approximately 1,033 homes would 
go untreated if this amount of funding was lost.
    Contact: Stanley Gimont, Director, Office of Block Grant 
Assistance, Office of Community Planning and Development, Department 
of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW., Room 7286, 
Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708-3587.
     Regulation: 24 CFR 92.500(d)(1)(C) .
    Project/Activity: Spartanburg County, SC, requested a waiver of 
24 CFR 92.500(d)(1)(C) to enable it complete the Ridge at Southport 
project, a housing project for low-income seniors, for which 
expenditures under the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) 
had been suspended pending resolution of HUD monitoring findings.
    Nature of Requirement: The regulation at 24 CFR 92.500(d)(1)(C) 
requires that a participating jurisdiction expend its annual 
allocation of HOME funds within five years after HUD notifies the 
participating jurisdiction that HUD has executed the jurisdiction's 
HOME Investment Partnership Agreement. The regulation at 24 CFR 
92.500(d)(1)(C) requires HUD to reduce or recapture any HOME funds 
in a participating jurisdiction's HOME Investment Trust Fund that 
are not expended within five years of HUD's notification to the 
participating jurisdiction that it has executed its HOME grant 
agreement. The County failed to disburse $92,686 of HOME grant funds 
by its July 31, 2014 deadline.
    Granted By: Clifford Taffet, General Deputy Assistant Secretary 
for Community Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: March 31, 2015.
    Reason Waived: HUD instructed the County to cease HOME 
disbursements pending the resolution of HUD monitoring findings and 
the County could not disburse funds to the project for a two year 
period. The waiver was granted because deobligation of $92,686 of 
HOME funds would create an undue financial hardship for the County 
and jeopardize the completion of the Ridge at Southport project.
    Contact: Virginia Sardone, Director, Office of Affordable 
Housing Programs, Office of Community Planning and Development, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW., 
Room 7164, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708-2486.
     Regulation: 24 CFR 570.208(a)(l)(ii) and CPD Notice 14-
11.
    Project/Activity: The City of Portage, MI, requested a waiver of 
24 CFR 570.208(a)(1)(ii) to allow the city to remove a block group 
from its upper quartile calculation when it determines whether 
service areas for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) assisted 
activities meet the national objective of providing benefit to low- 
and moderate-income persons on an area basis. The city maintained 
the block group is not representative of the actual population 
within the city.
    Nature of Requirement: HUD's regulations at 24 CFR 
570.208(a)(1)(ii) allow metropolitan cities and urban counties to 
qualify an activity under Sec.  570.208(a), area benefit, when the 
area served contains less than 51% low and moderate income residents 
and when the proportion of low to moderate income persons in the 
area is within the highest quartile of all areas in the recipient's 
jurisdiction in terms of the degree of concentration of such 
persons. CPD Notice 14-11, which implements that regulation for 
current year grants, provides guidance on the use of updated Low/
Moderate Income Summary Data (LMISD) by Entitlement CDBG grantees. 
The updated LMISD are based upon a new process incorporating the 
2006-2010 American Community Survey. The Notice requires grantees to 
use the updated LMISD, effective July 1, 2014, to determine whether 
service areas for CDBG-assisted activities meet the national 
objective of providing benefit to low- and moderate-income persons 
on an area basis.
    Granted By: Clifford Taffet, General Deputy Assistant Secretary 
for Community Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: January 8, 2015.
    Reason Waived: The city has documented that the majority of 
census tract 18.02, as well as all of its population and households, 
is physically located within the city of Kalamazoo, which is not a 
part of the city of Portage's entitlement area. Block group 2 of 
census tract 18.02 is the only block group of this tract currently 
belonging to the city of Portage. This block group is surrounded by 
the city of Kalamazoo. The block group consists of 2.31 acres of 
land and has no residents, has no household income and is on the 
grounds of the Kalamazoo-Battle Creek International airport where no 
residents or housing units will be permitted. The waiver allowed the 
city to remove the block group from its upper quartile calculation 
because it is not representative of the actual population within the 
city and has limited its ability to use CDBG funds for the benefit 
of low/moderate income persons.
    Contact: Steve Johnson, Director of Entitlement Communities 
Division, Office of Community Planning and Development, Department 
of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW., Room 7282, 
Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 402-4548.
     Regulation: 24 CFR 570.208(a)(l)(vi) and CPD Notice 14-
11.
    Project/Activity: Snohomish County, WA, requested a waiver of 24 
CFR 570.208(a)(l)(vi) to allow the use of prior Low and Moderate 
Income Summary Data for an infrastructure activity (sidewalk and 
storm water drainage improvements) in the City of Monroe in order to 
demonstrate compliance with the low- and moderate-income benefit 
national objective requirements.
    Nature of Requirement: HUD's regulation at 24 CFR 
570.208(a)(l)(vi) requires that the most recently available 
decennial census information must be used to the fullest extent 
feasible, together with the section 8 income limits that would have 
applied at the time the income information was collected by the 
Census Bureau, to determine whether there is a sufficiently large 
percentage of low- and moderate-income persons residing in the area 
served by a CDBG funded activity. The HUD-produced Low and Moderate 
Income Summary Data provide this data to grantees. On June 10, 2014, 
HUD issued new Low and Moderate Income Summary Data (LMISD), with an 
effective date of July 1, 2014 for use by grantees.
    Granted By: Clifford Taffet, General Deputy Assistant Secretary 
for Community Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: January 8, 2015.
    Reason Waived: The request pertained to an infrastructure 
activity in the City of Monroe, which had been in the planning

[[Page 35663]]

stage for many months, and was included in the county's Fiscal Year 
(FY) 2014 Annual Action Plan. The county had dedicated significant 
time and effort to designing this activity and ensuring that this 
activity met all applicable programmatic requirements. However, 
funds could not be obligated by the county to this activity prior to 
July 1, 2014, because the grant agreement was not executed until 
July 10, 2014, nine days after the effective date of the new LMISD. 
It was determined that, unless the waiver was granted for the 
county, this activity that directly benefits the safety of residents 
would not be completed due to the lack additional funds needed to 
conduct a special survey to qualify the service area. It was further 
determined that the waiver would allow the county to use the prior 
Low and Moderate Income Summary Data to demonstrate compliance with 
the low- and moderate-income benefit national objective 
requirements.
    Contact: Steve Johnson, Director of Entitlement Communities 
Division, Office of Community Planning and Development, Department 
of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW., Room 7282, 
Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 402-4548.
     Regulation: Neighborhood Stabilization Program 3 (NSP 
3) Notice published on October 19, 2010, at 75 FR 64322 (II.H.3.F) 
in accordance with Title XII of Division A under the heading 
Community Planning and Development: Community Development Fund of 
the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
    Project/Activity: Butler County, OH, requested a waiver of the 
10 percent demolition cap under the Neighborhood Stabilization 
Program, which restricts grantees from spending more than 10 percent 
of total grant funds on demolition activities. Butler County 
requested a waiver to increase an earlier approved waiver from 22.6 
percent ($300,000) to 24.8 percent ($330,000) to address the 
increasing costs associated with removing vacant units what will 
never be occupied again due to their unsafe and neglected condition 
and preserving housing units that enhance the stabilization of 
communities impacted from foreclosures and abandonment.
    Nature of Requirement: Section II.H.3.F of the NSP3 Notice 
provides that a grantee may not use more than ten percent of its 
grant for demolition activities.
    Granted By: Clifford Taffet, General Deputy Assistant Secretary 
for Community Planning and Development.
    Date Granted: January 9, 2015.
    Reason Waived: Butler County provided statistical data showing 
high vacancy and abandonment rates that resulted from significant 
population and job loss. The county also demonstrated that its NSP3 
target areas of Hamilton and New Miami, Ohio, have not benefitted 
from the recovery that other areas have seen. Within the target 
areas, roughly 80 percent of the housing stock is pre-1979, and 
subsequently as older homes, lack energy efficient elements and are 
not affordable for low and moderate income families.
    Contact: Jessie Handforth Kome, Deputy Director, Office of Block 
Grant Assistance, Office of Community Planning and Development, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW., 
Room 7286, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 402-5539.

II. Regulatory Waivers Granted by the Office of Housing--Federal 
Housing Administration (FHA)

    For further information about the following regulatory waivers, 
please see the name of the contact person that immediately follows 
the description of the waiver granted.
     Regulation: 24 CFR 219.220(b) (1995).
    Project/Activity: Cottage Brook Apartments, FHA Project Number 
023-069NIT, Boston, MA. The Owners requested a waiver of 24 CFR 
219.220(b) (1995) to exempt Cottage Brook Apartments, Incorporated 
(owner) from the requirement to repay the Flexible Subsidy Operating 
Assistance Loan (Flexible Subsidy Loan) totaling $4,428,814.26, 
including accrued interest.
    Nature of Requirement: HUD's regulation at 24 CFR 219.220(b) 
(1995), which governs the repayment of operating assistance provided 
under the Flexible Subsidy Program for Troubled Properties, states 
``Assistance that has been paid to a project owner under this 
subpart must be repaid at the earlier of the expiration of the term 
of the mortgage, termination of mortgage insurance, prepayment of 
the mortgage, or a sale of the project.
    Granted by: Biniam Gebre, Acting Assistant Secretary for Housing 
Federal Housing Commissioner, H.
    Date Granted: January 26, 2015.
    Reason Waived: The regulation was waived to permit the deferment 
of the repayment of the Flexible Subsidy Loan, plus accrued 
interest.
    Contact: James Wyatt, Account Executive, Office of Housing, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW., 
Room 6172, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 402-2636.
     Regulation: 24 CFR 219.220(b) (1995).
    Project/Activity: Spring Gate Apartments, Newark New Jersey, FHA 
number 023057NI owned by Rockland Place Apartments, LP Rockland, MA. 
The Owner has requested a one year deferral of the Flexible Subsidy 
Loan in order to position the project for recapitalization and 
preservation as affordable housing.
    Nature of Requirement: HUD's regulation at 24 CFR 219.220(b) 
(1995), which governs the repayment of operating assistance provided 
under the Flexible Subsidy Program for Troubled Properties, states 
``Assistance that has been paid to a project owner under this 
subpart must be repaid at the earlier of the expiration of the term 
of the mortgage, termination of mortgage insurance, prepayment of 
the mortgage, or a sale of the project.
    Granted by: Biniam Gebre, Acting Assistant Secretary for 
Housing-Federal Housing Commissioner.
    Date Granted: February, 2015.
    Reason Waived: The Owner requested and was granted waiver of the 
requirement to defer repayment of the Flexible Subsidy Operating 
Assistance Loan to allow the much needed preservation and moderate 
rehabilitation of the project. The project will be preserved as an 
affordable housing resource.
    Contact: Minnie Monroe-Baldwin, Director of Preservation, Office 
of Affordable Housing Preservation, Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, 451 7th Street SW., Washington, DC 20410-8000, 
telephone: (202) 402-2636.
     Regulation: 24 CFR 266.200(b).
    Project/Activity: Federal Financing Bank (FFB) Risk Sharing 
Initiative, Substantial Rehabilitation Defined. Eleven qualified 
Housing Finance Agencies (HFAs) participating.
    Nature of Requirement: HUD's regulation at 24 CFR 266.200(b) 
Substantial Rehabilitation Defined. The following changes apply to 
both Level I and II Housing Finance Agencies Definition of 
Substantial Rehabilitation (S/R) revised as: Work that exceeds 
either: (a) $15,000 times the high cost factor ``as adjusted by HUD 
for inflation'', or (b) replacement of two or more building systems. 
``Replacement'' is when cost of replacement work exceeds 50% of the 
cost of replacing the entire system. This is consistent with 
proposed changes in the Multifamily Accelerated Processing (MAP) 
Guide.
    Granted By: Biniam Gebre, Acting Assistant Secretary for 
Housing-Federal Housing Commissioner.
    Date Granted: March 20, 2015.
    Reason Waived: The waiver was necessary to effectuate the 
Federal Financing Bank (FFB) Risk Sharing Initiative between Housing 
and Urban Development and the Treasury Department/FFB announced in 
Fiscal Year 2014. There are 11 qualified HFAs participants. 
Concurrent with the rollout of the FFB Initiative, HUD's Office of 
Multifamily Housing is beginning the process of making regulatory 
changes to these same provisions. Under this Initiative, FFB 
provides capital to participating Housing Finance Agencies (HFAs) to 
make multifamily loans insured under the FHA Multifamily Risk 
Sharing Program.
    Contact: Theodore K. Toon, Director, FHA Multifamily Production, 
Office of Multifamily Housing Programs, Office of Production, Office 
of Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh 
Street SW., Room 6134, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 402-
8386.
     Regulation: 24 CFR 266.200(c).
    Project/Activity: Federal Financing Bank (FFB) Risk Sharing 
Initiative, Equity Take-Outs. Eleven qualified Housing Finance 
Agencies (HFAs) participating.
    Nature of Requirement: HUD's regulation at 24 CFR 266.200(c) 
addresses equity take-outs for existing projects (refinance 
transactions), and permits the insured mortgage to exceed the sum of 
the total cost of acquisition, cost of financing, cost of repairs, 
and reasonable transaction costs or ``equity take-outs'' in 
refinances of HFA-financed projects and those outside of HFA's 
portfolio if the result is preservation with the following 
conditions: (1) Occupancy is no less than 93% for previous 12 
months; (2) no defaults in the last 12 months of the HFA loan to be 
refinanced; (3) a 20 year affordable

[[Page 35664]]

housing deed restriction placed on title that conforms to the 
statutory definition in section 542(c) of the Housing and Community 
Development Act of 1992; (4) a Property Capital Needs Assessment 
(PCNA) must be performed and funds escrowed for all necessary 
repairs, and reserves funded for future capital needs; and (5) for 
projects subsidized by Section 8 Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) 
contracts, owner agrees to renew HAP contract(s) for 20 year term, 
(subject to appropriations and statutory authorization), and 
existing and post-refinance HAP residual receipts are set aside to 
be used to reduce future HAP payments.
    Granted By: Biniam Gebre, Acting Assistant Secretary for 
Housing-Federal Housing Commissioner.
    Date Granted: March 20, 2015.
    Reason Waived: Waiver of the regulation was necessary to 
effectuate the Federal Financing Bank (FFB) Risk Sharing Initiative 
between Housing and Urban Development and the Treasury Department/
FFB announced in Fiscal Year 2014. There are 11 qualified HFAs 
participants. Concurrent with the rollout of the FFB Initiative, 
HUD's Office of Multifamily Housing is beginning the process of 
making regulatory changes to these same provisions. Under this 
Initiative, FFB provides capital to participating Housing Finance 
Agencies (HFAs) to make multifamily loans insured under the FHA 
Multifamily Risk Sharing Program.
    Contact: Theodore K. Toon, Director, FHA Multifamily Production, 
Office of Multifamily Housing Programs, Office of Production, Office 
of Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh 
Street SW., Room 6134, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 402-
8386.
     Regulation: 24 CFR 266.200(d).
    Project/Activity: Federal Financing Bank (FFB) Risk Sharing 
Initiative, Underwriting of Projects with Section 8 HAP Contracts. 
Eleven qualified Housing Finance Agencies (HFAs) participating.
    Nature of Requirement: HUD's regulation at 24 CFR 266.200(d) 
addresses projects with Section 8 rental subsidies or other rental 
subsidies, and provides that refinancing of Section 202 projects the 
HFA is permitted to underwrite the mortgage using current or to be 
adjusted project-based Section 8 assisted rents, even though the 
rents exceed the market rates. This is consistent with HUD Housing 
Notice 2013-17--Updated Requirements for Prepayment and Refinance of 
Section 202 Direct Loans.
    Granted By: Biniam Gebre, Acting Assistant Secretary for 
Housing-Federal Housing Commissioner.
    Date Granted: March 20, 2015.
    Reason Waived: The waiver was necessary to effectuate the 
Federal Financing Bank (FFB) Risk Sharing Initiative between Housing 
and Urban Development and the Treasury Department/FFB announced in 
Fiscal Year 2014. There are 11 qualified HFAs participants. 
Concurrent with the rollout of the FFB Initiative, HUD's Office of 
Multifamily Housing is beginning the process of making regulatory 
changes to these same provisions. Under this Initiative, FFB 
provides capital to participating Housing Finance Agencies (HFAs) to 
make multifamily loans insured under the FHA Multifamily Risk 
Sharing Program.
    Contact: Theodore K. Toon, Director, FHA Multifamily Production, 
Office of Multifamily Housing Programs, Office of Production, Office 
of Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh 
Street SW., Room 6134, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 402-
8386.
     Regulation: 24 CFR 266.620(e).
    Project/Activity: Federal Financing Bank (FFB) Risk Sharing 
Initiative, Termination of Mortgage Insurance. Eleven qualified 
Housing Finance Agencies (HFAs) participating.
    Nature of Requirement: HUD's regulation at 24 CFR 266.620(e), 
addresses termination of mortgage insurance provision (required for 
FFB Initiative), and in accordance with this regulation only Level I 
HFAs rated ``A'' or higher are permitted to substitute an 
indemnification agreement or similar document binding the FIFA to 
reimburse FHA for 100% of claim losses in the event the HFA commits 
fraud or mismanagement. Only Level I HFAs are eligible for FFB 
financing, thereby ensuring the HFA maintains financial capacity to 
perform under the indemnification agreement. If the HFA loses its 
``A'' rating, HFA must post the required reserve account as outlined 
in 24 CFR part 266.
    Granted By: Biniam Gebre, Acting Assistant Secretary for 
Housing-Federal Housing Commissioner.
    Date Granted: March 20, 2015.
    Reason Waived: The waiver was necessary to effectuate the 
Federal Financing Bank (FFB) Risk Sharing Initiative between Housing 
and Urban Development and the Treasury Department/FFB announced in 
Fiscal Year 2014. There are 11 qualified HFAs participants. 
Concurrent with the rollout of the FFB Initiative, HUD's Office of 
Multifamily Housing is beginning the process of making regulatory 
changes to these same provisions. Under this Initiative, FFB 
provides capital to participating Housing Finance Agencies (HFAs) to 
make multifamily loans insured under the FHA Multifamily Risk 
Sharing Program.
    Contact: Theodore K. Toon, Director, FHA Multifamily Production, 
Office of Multifamily Housing Programs, Office of Production, Office 
of Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh 
Street SW., Room 6134, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 402-
8386.
     Regulation: 24 CFR 266.200(c).
    Project/Activity: Federal Financing Bank (FFB) Risk Sharing 
Initiative, Equity Take-Outs. Eleven qualified Housing Finance 
Agencies (HFAs) participates.
    Nature of Requirement: HUD's regulation at 24 CFR 266.200(c) 
addresses equity take-outs for existing projects (refinance 
transactions), and permits the insured mortgage to exceed the sum of 
the total cost of acquisition, cost of financing, cost of repairs, 
and reasonable transaction costs or ``equity take-outs'' in 
refinances of HFA-financed projects and those outside of HFA's 
portfolio if the result is preservation with the following 
conditions: (1) Occupancy is no less than 93% for previous 12 
months; (2) no defaults in the last 12 months of the HFA loan to be 
refinanced; (3) a 20 year affordable housing deed restriction placed 
on title that conforms to the statutory definition in section 542(c) 
of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992; (4) a Property 
Capital Needs Assessment (PCNA) must be performed and funds escrowed 
for all necessary repairs, and reserves funded for future capital 
needs; and (5) for projects subsidized by Section 8 Housing 
Assistance Payment (HAP) contracts, owner agrees to renew HAP 
contract(s) for 20 year term, (subject to appropriations and 
statutory authorization), and existing and post-refinance HAP 
residual receipts are set aside to be used to reduce future HAP 
payments.
    Granted By: Biniam Gebre, Acting Assistant Secretary for 
Housing-Federal Housing Commissioner.
    Date Granted: March 20, 2015.
    Reason Waived: The waiver was necessary to effectuate the 
Federal Financing Bank (FFB) Risk Sharing Initiative between Housing 
and Urban Development and the Treasury Department/FFB announced in 
Fiscal Year 2014. There are eleven qualified HFAs participates. 
Concurrent with the rollout of the FFB Initiative, Multifamily is 
beginning the process of making regulatory changes to these same 
provisions. Under this Initiative, FFB provides capital to 
participating Housing Finance Agencies (HFAs) to make multifamily 
loans insured under the FHA Multifamily Risk Sharing Program.
    Contact: Theodore K. Toon, Director, FHA Multifamily Production, 
Office of Multifamily Housing Programs, Office of Production, Office 
of Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh 
Street SW., Room 6134, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 402-
8386.
     Regulation: 24 CFR 266.200(d).
    Project/Activity: Federal Financing Bank (FFB) Risk Sharing 
Initiative, Underwriting of Projects with Section 8 HAP Contracts. 
Eleven qualified Housing Finance Agencies (HFAs) participates.
    Nature of Requirement: HUD's regulation at 24 CFR 266.200(d) 
addresses projects with Section 8 rental subsidies or other rental 
subsidies, and provides that refinancing of Section 202 projects the 
HFA is permitted to underwrite the mortgage using current or to be 
adjusted project-based Section 8 assisted rents, even though the 
rents exceed the market rates. This is consistent with HUD Housing 
Notice 2013-17--Updated Requirements for Prepayment and Refinance of 
Section 202 Direct Loans.
    Granted By: Biniam Gebre, Acting Assistant Secretary for 
Housing-Federal Housing Commissioner.
    Date Granted: March 20, 2015.
    Reason Waived: The waiver was necessary to effectuate the 
Federal Financing Bank (FFB) Risk Sharing Initiative between Housing 
and Urban Development and the Treasury Department/FFB announced in 
Fiscal Year 2014. There are 11 qualified HFAs participants. 
Concurrent with the rollout of the FFB Initiative, HUD's Office of 
Multifamily Housing is beginning the process of making regulatory 
changes to these same provisions. Under this Initiative, FFB 
provides capital to participating Housing

[[Page 35665]]

Finance Agencies (HFAs) to make multifamily loans insured under the 
FHA Multifamily Risk Sharing Program.
    Contact: Theodore K. Toon, Director, FHA Multifamily Production, 
Office of Multifamily Housing Programs, Office of Production, Office 
of Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh 
Street SW., Room 6134, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 402-
8386.
     Regulation: 24 CFR 891.100(d).
    Project/Activity: Stroud Manor, Sulphur, LA, Project Number: 
046-HD143/LA48-Q101-003.
    Nature of Requirement: Section 891.100(d) prohibits amendment of 
the amount of the approved capital advance funds prior to closing.
    Granted by: Biniam Gebre, Acting Assistant Secretary for 
Housing-Federal Housing Commissioner.
    Date Granted: February 20, 2015.
    Reason Waived: The project is economically designed and 
comparable in cost to similar projects in the area, and the sponsor/
owner exhausted all efforts to obtain additional funding from other 
sources.
    Contact: Alicia Anderson, Branch Chief, Grants and New Funding, 
Office of Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 
Seventh Street SW., Room 6138, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 
402-5787.
     Regulation: 24 CFR 891.130(b).
    Project/Activity: Pollywog Creek Senior Housing, Lebelle, FL, 
Project Number: 066-EE120/FL29-S101-006.
    Nature of Requirement: Section 891.130(b) prohibits an identify 
of interest between the sponsor or owner (or borrower, as 
applicable) and any development team member or between development 
team members until two years after final closing.
    Granted by: Biniam Gebre, Acting Assistant Secretary for 
Housing-Federal Housing Commissioner.
    Date Granted: February 11, 2015.
    Reason Waived: The entities are all affiliated, non-profit, and 
have non-compensated officers. They meet HUD requirements.
    Contact: Alicia Anderson, Branch Chief, Grants and New Funding, 
Office of Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 
Seventh Street SW., Room 6138, Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 
402-5787.

III. Regulatory Waivers Granted by the Office of Public and Indian 
Housing

    For further information about the following regulatory waivers, 
please see the name of the contact person that immediately follows 
the description of the waiver granted.
     Regulations: 24 CFR 5.216(b), 5.508(h) and 5.609.
    Project/Activity: San Antonio, Texas.
    Nature of Requirement: These regulations require applicants for 
and participation in covered HUD programs to disclose and submit 
documentation to verify their Social Security Numbers and 
immigration status, and for the public housing authority to obtain 
income information about the applicant or participant prior to 
determining eligibility.
    Granted By: Jemine A. Bryon, Acting Assistant Secretary for 
Public Housing and Indian Housing.
    Reason Waived: In accordance with 24 CFR 5.110 and by virtue of 
section B.1 of the Redelegation of Authority to the Deputy Assistant 
Secretaries for Public and Indian Housing published August 4, 2011 
at 76 FR 47231, HUD found that good cause exists to grant a waiver 
to permit San Antonio Housing Authority (SAHA) to provide temporary 
housing assistance for families displaced by a fire at the former 
Wedgwood Apartments for up to 120 days until eligibility for 
assistance can be determined by SAHA. It has been generally 
represented to HUD that these displaced families are all at least 
low-income.
    Contact: Todd Thomas, Housing Program Specialist, Office of 
Public Housing Management & Occupancy Division, Office of Public and 
Indian Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 17th 
Floor, Atlanta, GA 30303, telephone (678) 732-2056.
     Regulation: 24 CFR 5.801(d)(1).
    Project/Activity: Ogden Housing Authority (UT002) Ogden, UT.
    Nature of Requirement: The regulation establishes certain 
reporting compliance dates. The audited financial statements are 
required to be submitted to the Real Estate Assessment Center (REAC) 
no later than nine months after the housing authority's (HA) fiscal 
year end (FYE), in accordance with the Single Audit Act and OMB 
Circular A-133.
    Granted By: Jemine A. Bryon, Acting Assistant Secretary for 
Public and Indian Housing.
    Date Granted: March 5, 2015.
    Reason Waived: Pursuant to 24 CFR 5.110, the request to waive 
the reporting compliance deadlines under 24 CFR 5.801 and remove the 
LPF score of zero was granted. The circumstances that prevented 
resubmitting and correcting the audited financial data by the due 
date are acceptable. The agency had made good faith efforts during 
the submission process.
    Contact: Judy Wojciechowski, Program Manager, NASS, Real Estate 
Assessment Center, Office of Public and Indian Housing, Department 
of Housing and Urban Development, 550 12th Street SW., Suite 100, 
Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 475-7907.
     Regulation: 24 CFR 5.801(d)(1).
    Project/Activity: Housing Authority of the City of Reno (NV001) 
Reno, NV.
    Nature of Requirement: The regulation establishes certain 
reporting compliance dates. The audited financial statements are 
required to be submitted to the Real Estate Assessment Center (REAC) 
no later than nine months after the housing authority's (HA) fiscal 
year end (FYE), in accordance with the Single Audit Act and OMB 
Circular A-133.
    Granted By: Jemine A. Bryon, Acting Assistant Secretary for 
Public and Indian Housing.
    Date Granted: March 5, 2015.
    Reason Waived: The circumstances that prevented the HA from 
resubmitting and correcting the unaudited financial data to be 
available for review by the auditor were beyond the agency's 
control. The agency made good faith efforts during the submission 
process. However, this Financial Assessment Subsystem (FASS) audited 
submission waiver (extension) does not apply to Single Audit 
submissions to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse. The HA is required 
to meet the Single Audit due dates.
    Contact: Judy Wojciechowski, Program Manager, NASS, Real Estate 
Assessment Center, Office of Public and Indian Housing, Department 
of Housing and Urban Development, 550 12th Street SW., Suite 100, 
Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 475-7907.
     Regulation: 24 CFR 902.20.
    Project/Activity: Tupelo of Mesa Housing Authority (MS077), 
Tupelo, MS.
    Nature of Requirement: The objective of this regulation is to 
determine whether a housing authority (HA) is meeting the standard 
of decent, safe, sanitary, and in good repair. The Real Estate 
Assessment Center (REAC) provides for an independent physical 
inspection of a HA's property of properties that includes a 
statistically valid sample of the units.
    Granted By: Jemine A. Bryon, Acting Assistant Secretary for 
Public and Indian Housing.
    Date Granted: February 26, 2015.
    Reason Waived: The circumstances surrounding the waiver request 
are unusual and beyond the agency's control. No physical inspections 
will be conducted for the HA's FYE December 31, 2015; however, HUD 
expects that physical inspections for all projects will resume for 
the HA's fiscal year ending December 31, 2016.
    Contact: Judy Wojciechowski, Program Manager, NASS, Real Estate 
Assessment Center, Office of Public and Indian Housing, Department 
of Housing and Urban Development, 550 12th Street SW., Suite 100, 
Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 475-7907.
     Regulation: 24 CFR 943.115(b)(3).
    Project/Activity: Greeley Housing Authority (GHA), Greeley, CO.
    Nature of Requirement: This regulation states that a public 
housing agency may not participate in a consortium in its capacity 
as an owner of a Section 8 project
    Granted By: Jemine A. Bryon, Acting Assistant Secretary for 
Public and Indian Housing.
    Date Granted: March 10, 2015.
    Reason Waived: These 20 project-based vouchers would provide 
decent, safe and sanitary housing for low-income elderly families 
that may not otherwise be obtainable due to the shrinking vacancy 
rate and oil and gas expansion and overall increase in economic 
activity.
    Contact: Becky Primeaux, Director, Housing Voucher Management 
and Operations Division, Office of Public Housing and Voucher 
Programs, Office of Public and Indian Housing, Department of Housing 
and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW., Room 4216, 
Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708-0477.
     Regulation: 24 CFR 982.207(b)(1)(ii).
    Project/Activity: New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), New 
York, NY.
    Nature of Requirement: This regulation states that a residency 
preference is a

[[Page 35666]]

preference for admissions of persons who reside in a specific 
geographic area (``residency preference area''). A county or 
municipality may be used as a residency preference area; however, 
the regulation stipulates that ``an area smaller than a county or 
municipality may not be used as a residency preference area.''
    Granted By: Jemine A. Bryon, Acting Assistant Secretary for 
Public and Indian Housing.
    Date Granted: January 15, 2015.
    Reason Waived: The area known as Community Block 11 has a 
population of more than 120,000 which would rant in the top one 
percent of municipalities nationwide. Nearly 50 percent of seniors 
in CB11 live at or below the federal poverty level compared with 
just under 30 percent of seniors in the larger borough of Manhattan. 
This preference was granted for 25 percent of residents at Draper 
Hall, a project-based voucher project for the elderly, and only for 
initial leasing of the project and not in perpetuity.
    Contact: Becky Primeaux, Director, Housing Voucher Management 
and Operations Division, Office of Public Housing and Voucher 
Programs, Office of Public and Indian Housing, Department of Housing 
and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW., Room 4216, 
Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708-0477.
     Regulation: 24 CFR 982.505(d).
    Project/Activity: Brookline Housing Authority (BHA), Brookline, 
MA.
    Nature of Requirement: HUD's regulation at 24 CFR 982.505(d) 
states that a public housing agency may only approve a higher 
payment standard for a family as a reasonable accommodation if the 
higher payment standard is within the basic range of 90 to 110 
percent of the fair market rent (FMR) for the unit size.
    Granted By: Jemine A. Bryon, Acting Assistant Secretary for 
Public and Indian Housing.
    Date Granted: January 7, 2015.
    Reason Waived: The participant, who is a person with 
disabilities, required an exception payment standard to remain in 
his current unit that meets his needs. To provide this reasonable 
accommodation so that the client could remain in his current unit 
and pay no more than 40 percent of his adjusted income toward the 
family share, the BHA was allowed to approve an exception payment 
standard that exceeded the basic range of 90 to 110 percent of the 
FMR.
    Contact: Becky Primeaux, Housing Voucher Management and 
Operations Division, Office of Public Housing and Voucher Programs, 
Office of Public and Indian Housing, Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, 451 Seventh Street SW., Room 4216, Washington, DC 
20410, telephone (202) 708-0477.
     Regulation: 24 CFR 982.505(d).
    Project/Activity: Housing Authority of the City of Alameda 
(HACA), Alameda, CA.
    Nature of Requirement: HUD's regulation at 24 CFR 982.505(d) 
states that a public housing agency may only approve a higher 
payment standard for a family as a reasonable accommodation if the 
higher payment standard is within the basic range of 90 to 110 
percent of the fair market rent (FMR) for the unit size.
    Granted By: Jemine A. Bryon, Acting Assistant Secretary for 
Public and Indian Housing.
    Date Granted: January 26, 2015.
    Reason Waived: The participant, who is a person with 
disabilities, required an exception payment standard to move to a 
new unit that meets her needs. To provide this reasonable 
accommodation so that the client could move to this unit and pay no 
more than 40 percent of her adjusted income toward the family share, 
the HACA was allowed to approve an exception payment standard that 
exceeded the basic range of 90 to 110 percent of the FMR.
    Contact: Becky Primeaux, Housing Voucher Management and 
Operations Division, Office of Public Housing and Voucher Programs, 
Office of Public and Indian Housing, Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, 451 Seventh Street SW., Room 4216, Washington, DC 
20410, telephone (202) 708-0477.
     Regulation: 24 CFR 982.505(d).
    Project/Activity: Housing Authority of the County of Alameda 
(HACA), Hayward, CA.
    Nature of Requirement: HUD's regulation at 24 CFR 982.505(d) 
states that a public housing agency may only approve a higher 
payment standard for a family as a reasonable accommodation if the 
higher payment standard is within the basic range of 90 to 110 
percent of the fair market rent (FMR) for the unit size.
    Granted By: Jemine A. Bryon, Acting Assistant Secretary for 
Public and Indian Housing.
    Date Granted: February 11, 2015.
    Reason Waived: The participant, who is a person with 
disabilities, required an exception payment standard to remain in 
his current unit that meets his needs. To provide this reasonable 
accommodation so that the client could remain in his current unit 
and pay no more than 40 percent of his adjusted income toward the 
family share, the HACA was allowed to approve an exception payment 
standard that exceeded the basic range of 90 to 110 percent of the 
FMR.
    Contact: Becky Primeaux, Housing Voucher Management and 
Operations Division, Office of Public Housing and Voucher Programs, 
Office of Public and Indian Housing, Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, 451 Seventh Street SW., Room 4216, Washington, DC 
20410, telephone (202) 708-0477.
     Regulation: 24 CFR 982.505(d).
    Project/Activity: Berkeley Housing Authority (BHA), Berkeley, 
CA.
    Nature of Requirement: HUD's regulation at 24 CFR 982.505(d) 
states that a public housing agency may only approve a higher 
payment standard for a family as a reasonable accommodation if the 
higher payment standard is within the basic range of 90 to 110 
percent of the fair market rent (FMR) for the unit size.
    Granted By: Jemine A. Bryon, Acting Assistant Secretary for 
Public and Indian Housing.
    Date Granted: March 6, 2015.
    Reason Waived: The participant, who is a person with 
disabilities, required an exception payment standard to move to a 
more accessible unit that met her needs. To provide this reasonable 
accommodation so that the client could move to this new unit and pay 
no more than 40 percent of her adjusted income toward the family 
share, the BHA was allowed to approve an exception payment standard 
that exceeded the basic range of 90 to 110 percent of the FMR.
    Contact: Becky Primeaux, Housing Voucher Management and 
Operations Division, Office of Public Housing and Voucher Programs, 
Office of Public and Indian Housing, Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, 451 Seventh Street SW., Room 4216, Washington, DC 
20410, telephone (202) 708-0477.
     Regulation: 24 CFR 982.505(d).
    Project/Activity: Housing Authority of the County of Alameda 
(HACA), Hayward, CA.
    Nature of Requirement: HUD's regulation at 24 CFR 982.505(d) 
states that a public housing agency may only approve a higher 
payment standard for a family as a reasonable accommodation if the 
higher payment standard is within the basic range of 90 to 110 
percent of the fair market rent (FMR) for the unit size.
    Granted By: Jemine A. Bryon, Acting Assistant Secretary for 
Public and Indian Housing.
    Date Granted: March 6, 2015.
    Reason Waived: The participant, who is a person with 
disabilities, required an exception payment standard to remain in 
his current unit that meets his needs. To provide this reasonable 
accommodation so that the client could remain in his current unit 
and pay no more than 40 percent of his adjusted income toward the 
family share, the HACA was allowed to approve an exception payment 
standard that exceeded the basic range of 90 to 110 percent of the 
FMR.
    Contact: Becky Primeaux, Housing Voucher Management and 
Operations Division, Office of Public Housing and Voucher Programs, 
Office of Public and Indian Housing, Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, 451 Seventh Street SW., Room 4216, Washington, DC 
20410, telephone (202) 708-0477.
     Regulation: 24 CFR 982.505(d).
    Project/Activity: South Metro Housing Options (SMHO), Littleton, 
CO.
    Nature of Requirement: HUD's regulation at 24 CFR 982.505(d) 
states that a public housing agency may only approve a higher 
payment standard for a family as a reasonable accommodation if the 
higher payment standard is within the basic range of 90 to 110 
percent of the fair market rent (FMR) for the unit size.
    Granted By: Jemine A. Bryon, Acting Assistant Secretary for 
Public and Indian Housing.
    Date Granted: March 27, 2015.
    Reason Waived: The applicant, who is a person with disabilities, 
required an exception payment standard to remain in her mobile home 
and rent the manufactured home space. To provide this reasonable 
accommodation so that the client could remain in her current unit 
and pay no more than 40 percent of her adjusted income toward the 
family share, SMHO was allowed to approve an exception payment 
standard

[[Page 35667]]

that exceeded the basic range of 90 to 110 percent of the FMR.
    Contact: Becky Primeaux, Housing Voucher Management and 
Operations Division, Office of Public Housing and Voucher Programs, 
Office of Public and Indian Housing, Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, 451 Seventh Street SW., Room 4216, Washington, DC 
20410, telephone (202) 708-0477.
     Regulation: 24 CFR 982.505(d).
    Project/Activity: Bangor Housing Authority (BHA), Bangor, ME.
    Nature of Requirement: HUD's regulation at 24 CFR 982.505(d) 
states that a public housing agency may only approve a higher 
payment standard for a family as a reasonable accommodation if the 
higher payment standard is within the basic range of 90 to 110 
percent of the fair market rent (FMR) for the unit size.
    Granted By: Lourdes Castro Ramirez, Principal Deputy Assistant 
Secretary for Public and Indian Housing.
    Date Granted: March 27, 2015.
    Reason Waived: The applicant, who is a person with disabilities, 
required an exception payment standard to rent her manufactured home 
space for her mobile home. To provide this reasonable accommodation 
so that the client could remain in her current unit and pay no more 
than 40 percent of her adjusted income toward the family share, BHA 
was allowed to approve an exception payment standard that exceeded 
the basic range of 90 to 110 percent of the FMR.
    Contact: Becky Primeaux, Housing Voucher Management and 
Operations Division, Office of Public Housing and Voucher Programs, 
Office of Public and Indian Housing, Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, 451 Seventh Street SW., Room 4216, Washington, DC 
20410, telephone (202) 708-0477.
     Regulation: 24 CFR 983.53(a)(2).
    Project/Activity: Hall County Housing Authority (HCHA), Grand 
Island, NE.
    Nature of Requirement: This regulation states that the public 
housing agency may not attach or pay project-based voucher 
assistance for units on the grounds of a penal, reformatory, 
medical, mental or similar public or private institutions.
    Granted By: Jemine A. Bryon, Acting Assistant Secretary for 
Public and Indian Housing.
    Date Granted: February 11, 2015.
    Reason Waived: The project is part of the Veterans Affairs' (VA) 
Burr Initiative in which public and private developers bid on vacant 
VA land for housing development geared towards Veterans. The project 
will offer veterans supportive services including case management, 
substance abuse counseling, and other services to promote self-
sufficiency. By housing additional homeless veterans, the HCHA will 
be assisting the Department in obtaining the goal of ending Veteran 
homelessness by the end of 2015.
    Contact: Becky Primeaux, Housing Voucher Management and 
Operations Division, Office of Public Housing and Voucher Programs, 
Office of Public and Indian Housing, Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, 451 Seventh Street SW., Room 4210, Washington, DC 
20410, telephone (202) 708-0477.
     Regulation: 24 CFR 985.101(a).
    Project/Activity: Bellevue Housing Authority (BHA), Omaha, NE.
    Nature of Requirement: HUD's regulation at 24 CFR 985.101(a) 
states a PHA must submit the HUD-required Section Eight Management 
Assessment Program (SEMAP) certification form within 60 calendar 
days after the end of its fiscal year.
    Granted By: Jemine A. Bryon, Acting Assistant Secretary for 
Public and Indian Housing.
    Date Granted: February 12, 2015.
    Reason Waived: This waiver was granted because for its fiscal 
year ending June 30, 2014, the BHA was required to submit a SEMAP 
certification because it no longer had less than 250 vouchers. 
However, the BHA was mistakenly notified by the HUD Field Office on 
August 5, 2014, that is was not required to submit a SEMAP 
certification. BHA was permitted to submit its SEMAP certification 
after the due date.
    Contact: Laure Rawson, Director, Housing Voucher Management and 
Operations Division, Office of Public Housing and Voucher Programs, 
Office of Public and Indian Housing, Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, 451 Seventh Street SW., Room 4210, Washington, DC 
20410, telephone (202) 708-0477.
     Regulation: 24 CFR 985.101(a).
    Project/Activity: Chesapeake Redevelopment and Housing Authority 
(CRHA), Chesapeake, VA.
    Nature of Requirement: HUD's regulation at 24 CFR 985.101(a) 
states a PHA must submit the HUD-required Section Eight Management 
Assessment Program (SEMAP) certification form within 60 calendar 
days after the end of its fiscal year.
    Granted By: Lourdes Castro Ramirez, Principal Deputy Assistant 
Secretary for Public and Indian Housing.
    Date Granted: March 27, 2015.
    Reason Waived: The CRHA's Board of Commissioners was unable to 
meet to approve the SEMAP certification prior to its due date of 
February 29, 2015, because of severe weather. The board meets on the 
fourth Wednesday of each month. On the fourth Wednesday of February 
evening activities were cancelled due to a snow storm. CRHA was 
permitted to submit its SEMAP certification after the due date.
    Contact: Becky Primeaux, Director, Housing Voucher Management 
and Operations Division, Office of Public Housing and Voucher 
Programs, Office of Public and Indian Housing, Department of Housing 
and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW., Room 4210, 
Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708-0477.
     Regulation: 24 CFR 985.101(a).
    Project/Activity: Franklin Township Housing Authority (FTHA), 
Somerset, NJ. e, VA.
    Nature of Requirement: HUD's regulation at 24 CFR 985.101(a) 
states a PHA must submit the HUD-required Section Eight Management 
Assessment Program (SEMAP) certification form within 60 calendar 
days after the end of its fiscal year.
    Granted By: Lourdes Castro Ramirez, Principal Deputy Assistant 
Secretary for Public and Indian Housing.
    Date Granted: March 27, 2015.
    Reason Waived: FTHA is a small deregulated PHA with 230 voucher 
units. FTHA submitted its last SEMAP certification for its fiscal 
year ending September 30, 2013, when small PHAs were not required to 
submit a biennial certification. Its designation for that period was 
high performer. However, all PHAs (including small PHAs) were 
required to submit SEMAP certifications for the period ending 
September 30, 2014. Since FTHA had submitted its certification the 
year before, there was confusion regarding these submission 
requirements and the certification was not submitted for the period 
ending September 30, 2014. FTHA was permitted to submit its SEMAP 
certification after the due date.
    Contact: Becky Primeaux, Director, Housing Voucher Management 
and Operations Division, Office of Public Housing and Voucher 
Programs, Office of Public and Indian Housing, Department of Housing 
and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW., Room 4210, 
Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708-0477.
     Regulation: 24 CFR 985.101(a).
    Project/Activity: Garden State Episcopal Community Development 
Corporation (GSECDC), Jersey City, NJ.
    Nature of Requirement: HUD's regulation at 24 CFR 985.101(a) 
states a PHA must submit the HUD-required Section Eight Management 
Assessment Program (SEMAP) certification form within 60 calendar 
days after the end of its fiscal year.
    Granted By: Lourdes Castro Ramirez, Principal Deputy Assistant 
Secretary for Public and Indian Housing.
    Date Granted: March 27, 2015.
    Reason Waived: This waiver was granted since the SEMAP 
certification could not be submitted due to an issue with the 
Information Management System/Public and Indian Housing Information 
Center (IMS/PIC) when information for the GSECDC was updated. GSECDC 
was permitted to submit its SEMAP certification after the due date.
    Contact: Becky Primeaux, Director, Housing Voucher Management 
and Operations Division, Office of Public Housing and Voucher 
Programs, Office of Public and Indian Housing, Department of Housing 
and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW., Room 4210, 
Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708-0477.
[FR Doc. 2015-15324 Filed 6-19-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P