[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 195 (Tuesday, October 9, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50677-50679]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-21860]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-7001-N-51]


Notice of Proposed Information Collection to OMB: Emergency 
Comment Request, Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) Competitive Program

AGENCY: Office of the Chief Information Officer.

ACTION: Notice of proposed information collection.

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SUMMARY: The proposed information collection requirement described 
below has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for emergency review and approval, as required by the Paperwork 
Reduction Act. The Department is soliciting public comments on the 
subject proposal.

[[Page 50678]]

    This is a request for approval to collect information from eligible 
applicants and recipients of Indian Housing Block Grants awarded on a 
competitive basis, as authorized under the Native American Housing and 
Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4101 et seq.).

DATES: Comments Due Date: October 30, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding 
this proposal. Comments must be received within 21 days from the date 
of this Notice. Comments should refer to the proposal by name and 
should be sent to: Colette Pollard, Reports Management Officer, QDAM, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW, Room 
4176, Washington, DC 20410-5000; telephone 202-402-3400 (this is not a 
toll-free number) or email at [email protected] for a copy of the 
proposed forms or other available information. Persons with hearing or 
speech impairments may access this number through TTY by calling the 
toll-free Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

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 the U.S. 
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has submitted to OMB, 
for emergency processing, a proposed information collection requirement 
as 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.

A. Overview of Information Collection

    Title of Information Collection: Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) 
Competitive Program.
    OMB Approval Number: 2577-0218.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Form Numbers: HUD-53246, HUD-53247, HUD-52737, HUD-4117, HUD-4119, 
HUD-52736-A, SF-424, HUD-2880, HUD-2993.
    Description of the need for the information and proposed use: The 
purpose of this notice is to solicit public comment on the Notice of 
Funding Availability (NOFA), and two new forms (IHBG Cost Summary (HUD-
53246), and IHBG Implementation Schedule (HUD-53247)) associated with 
the Indian Housing Block Grant Competitive program (IHBG Competitive).
    In Fiscal Year 2018, Congress enacted H.R. 1625--Consolidated 
Appropriations Act, 2018 (Pub. L. 115-141) (Effective: 3/23/18) that 
appropriated $99,000,000 for IHBG Competitive funding awards under the 
Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act (NAHASDA) 
of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4101 et seq.). The Department will give priority to 
projects that will spur construction and rehabilitation from NAHASDA-
eligible recipients while considering need and administrative capacity. 
Additionally, applicants may apply for other eligible activities under 
Section 202 of NAHASDA. Applicants for competitive IHBG funds are 
required to submit a grant application in response to a NOFA that 
includes a narrative response to the NOFA requirements, Application for 
Federal Assistance (SF-424), Applicant/Recipient Disclosure/Update 
Report (HUD-2880), Acknowledgement of Application Receipt (HUD-2993), 
IHBG Cost Summary (HUD-53246), and IHBG Implementation Schedule (HUD-
53247). At the end of the 12-month program year, awardees are required 
to submit Annual Performance Reports (HUD-52737) that describe 
accomplishments, outcomes, and outputs. Note: The Annual Performance 
Report (HUD-52737) is not part of this information collection and 
displays a valid OMB Control Number through July 31, 2018.
    The Department believes that the funding for IHBG Competitive meets 
the emergency processing criteria of 5 CFR 1320.13. The appropriations 
language meets the ``unanticipated event'' criteria of 5 CFR 1320.13 
because this additional funding creates an entirely new competitive 
grant program to supplement the traditional formula-based block grant 
program of NAHASDA. Furthermore, the Department believes that the 
information collection associated with this competitive grant warrants 
emergency processing because following the regular PRA schedule would 
impede both the intent of this additional appropriation and HUD's goal 
to award funding to Native American communities in an expedited manner. 
The ``Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018'' also directs the 
Department to give priority to projects that will ``spur construction 
and rehabilitation for grantees'' and the additional amount would 
``remain available until September 30, 2022.'' For example, 
construction projects in Indian County can take three to five years 
from start to completion due to remote locations and complex land 
issues. Following an expedited emergency processing time frame would 
maximize the limited period of availability given by Congress for 
recipients to plan and implement projects as soon as possible.
    Respondents: Native American Tribes, Alaska Native Villages and 
Corporations, and Tribally Designated Housing Entities.

[[Page 50679]]



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                                                                                     Estimate        Estimate
       Type of submission            Number of     Frequency of        Total       average time    annual burden
                                    respondents     submissions      responses        (hours)         (hours)
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                                            IHBG Competitive Program
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IHBG Competitive Grant                       500               1             500              80          40,000
 Application (Includes
 Narrative, SF-424, HUD-2880,
 HUD-2993, HUD-53246, HUD-53247)
Annual Performance Report (HUD-              200               1             200              32           6,400
 52737).........................
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Subtotal........................             700  ..............             700  ..............          46,400
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                                                  IHBG Program
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IHP/APR (HUD-52737).............             366               2             732              62          45,384
Formula Correction (HUD-4117)...             300               1             300             0.5             150
Formula Challenge (HUD-4119)....              15               1              15             150           2,250
Depository Agreement (Banker)                366               1             366            0.25            91.5
 (HUD-52736-A)..................
Depository Agreement (Broker)                366               1             366            0.25            91.5
 (HUD-52736-B)..................
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal....................             366  ..............           1,779  ..............          47,967
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        Grand Total.............           1,066  ..............           2,479  ..............          94,367
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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.

C. Authority

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

    Dated: September 26, 2018.
Colette Pollard,
 Department Reports Management Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018-21860 Filed 10-5-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4210-67-P