[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 100 (Thursday, May 23, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23800-23801]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-10821]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-7011-N-21]


Notice of Emergency Approval of an Information Collection: 
National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE) 
Demonstration

AGENCY: Office of the Chief Information Officer, HUD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, HUD 
has requested from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) emergency 
approval of the information collection described in this notice.

DATES: Comments Due Date: June 6, 2019.

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.

A. Overview of Information Collection

    Title of Information Collection: National Standards for the 
Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE) Demonstration.
    OMB Approval Number: 2577-Pending.
    Type of Request: New Collection.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use: HUD's 
Real Estate Assessment Center (REAC) has developed a new inspection 
model entitled the National Standards for the Physical Inspection of 
Real Estate (NSPIRE). Prior to nationwide implementation, REAC will 
test NSPIRE through a multistage Demonstration to identify potential 
adjustments to standards, protocols, and processes. HUD will ask public 
housing agencies (PHAs), and owners and agents (OA) (collectively 
referred to as POAs) to participate in this Demonstration through a 
voluntary application process and plans to test this model with 
approximately 4,500 properties.
    HUD is developing a standardized electronic system and data 
exchange standard for this collection and will distribute self-
inspection software for properties to collect and submit this data 
electronically. Within the scope of this collection, HUD requests the 
following information from participating POAs: An annual self-
inspection report or work order receipts, a property profile, copies of 
building system certificates, local code violations over the rolling 
calendar year, and participation in feedback sessions.
    1. Many POAs have statutory, regulatory, or housing program 
contractual requirements to conduct annual self-inspections on all 
dwelling units. POAs will be provided with self-inspection software 
that will enable them to easily document and submit deficiencies that 
are present within dwelling units across the rolling calendar year. In 
lieu of submitting a self-inspection report, POAs can electronically 
submit work order receipts from across the rolling calendar year. This 
data provides reasonable assurance that every dwelling unit was 
evaluated for deficiencies and maintenance needs.
    2. POAs will submit a property profile documenting the: Owner/
company name, physical address, type of housing (e.g., section 8), 
structure type, number of buildings, number of floors, number of units, 
existence of an attached garage, types of fuel-burning appliances, and 
an updated floor plan.
    3. POAs will submit an electronic copy of the building system 
certificates, including elevators, fire alarm systems, sprinkler 
systems, boilers (HVAC or domestic water), and lead-based paint 
inspection reports. HUD believes that it is important for POAs to 
provide this information annually as the inoperability of these systems 
can have a substantial effect on residents.
    4. POAs will submit a list of local code violations for which the 
property was cited over the rolling calendar year. HUD regulations at 
24 CFR 5.703(g), requires HUD housing to adhere to local code. HUD 
believes that compliance (or non-compliance) with local code can serve 
as an important indicator as to whether a property is conducting 
regular maintenance and whether it is providing acceptable basic 
housing conditions.
    5. Finally, HUD will ask 900 POAs to provide Demonstration feedback 
via one in-person listening session. With this information, HUD will be 
better able to refine inspection standards and protocols ensuring 
resident housing is decent, safe, sanitary, and in good repair.
    Without the information on POA-conducted physical inspections, 
HUD's interests will not be protected, and HUD will not be able to 
easily identify risks due to neglected maintenance. Analyzing self-
inspection data will allow HUD to better identify these risks and 
improve the accuracy of property assessments, the consistency of 
inspections, and ultimately to provide residents with quality 
affordable housing.
    Respondents: POAs participating in the NSPIRE Demonstration.

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                            Number of                               Responses per     Burden hour per      Annual burden    Hourly cost
 Information collection    respondents     Frequency of response        annum             response             hours       per response     Annual cost
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                                 60,000  Annually................           4,500  2.7 hours/property...          12,150          $22.76        $276,534
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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;

[[Page 23801]]

    (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 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: May 16, 2019.
Colette Pollard,
Department Reports Management Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer.
[FR Doc. 2019-10821 Filed 5-22-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4210-67-P