[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 157 (Wednesday, August 14, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40434-40435]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-17455]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-7015-N-05]


60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: National 
Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE) 
Demonstration

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian 
Housing, PIH, HUD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: HUD is seeking approval from the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for the information collection described below. In 
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, HUD is requesting comment 
from all interested parties on the proposed collection of information. 
The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment. 
This Information Collection was previously approved as an Emergency 
PRA, with the specific intent of expeditiously testing revisions to the 
inspection standards and protocol through a demonstration program to 
enable enhanced identification and resolution of health and safety 
deficiencies in HUD-assisted/insured housing. Due to the urgency to 
expedite the Emergency PRA, a mathematical error was noted in the 
burden requirement and corrections have been made accordingly. A 
revision to correct the burden hours is being requested to correct the 
hours from 11,950 to 12,150 burden hours.

DATES: Comments Due Date: October 15, 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

[[Page 40435]]

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: 2577-0289.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved 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 (OAs) (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 an annual self-inspection of the 
property, including all the dwelling units. POAs will be provided with 
self-inspection software that will enable them to easily document and 
submit deficiencies 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, 
if there is an attached garage, types of fuel-burning appliances, and 
an updated floor plan.
    3. POAs will submit an electronic copy of all building system 
certificates. These certificates include but are not limited to 
elevators, fire alarm systems (including carbon monoxide detectors if 
part of the fire alarm system), 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 the 
resident.
    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), require 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 feedback on the NSPIRE 
Demonstration 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 information from the property's annual self-inspection, 
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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                                                                                                                      Annual    Hourly cost
        Information collection          Number of    Frequency of response    Responses       Burden hour per         burden        per      Annual cost
                                       respondents                            per annum           response            hours       response
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                                            60,000  Annually...............        4,500  2.7 hours per 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;
    (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: August 1, 2019.
Merrie Nichols-Dixon,
Director, Office of Policy, Programs and Legislative Initiatives.
[FR Doc. 2019-17455 Filed 8-13-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4210-67-P