[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 197 (Thursday, October 10, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54629-54630]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-22135]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-7022-N-01]


60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Opportunity 
Zone Grant Certification Form

AGENCY: Office of Field Policy and Management, 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.

DATES: Comments Due Date: December 9, 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: 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alex Stowe, Advisor, Field Policy and 
Management, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street 
SW, Washington, DC 20410; email [email protected] or telephone 
202-402-5309. 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. Copies of available 
documents submitted to OMB may be obtained from Mr. Stowe.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice informs the public that HUD is 
seeking approval from OMB for the information collection described in 
Section A.

A. Overview of Information Collection

    Title of Information Collection: Certification of Consistency With 
Opportunity Zone Initiative-Related Activity.
    OMB Approval Number: 2501-.
    Type of Request: New Collection.
    Form Number: HUD-XXXX Certification for Opportunity Zone Preference 
Points.
    Description of the need for the information and proposed use: This 
collection is a new collection regarding information for preference 
points in certain competitive federal grants and technical assistance 
applications. In accordance with Executive Order 13853, Establishing 
the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council (``WHORC'' or 
``Council''), signed by President Trump on December 12, 2018, the 
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has added preference 
points to grants in an effort to strategically target investment in 
communities designated as Opportunity Zones. To ensure that HUD's 
resources are being used to further the mission of the Executive Order 
and the WHORC Implementation Plan (published April 17, 2019), HUD has 
drafted the proposed certification form. This form will certify that 
valuable HUD resources are in fact being targeted to and expended in 
America's most economically distressed areas, including Opportunity 
Zones. Additionally, it will enable HUD to gather and analyze the most 
accurate data regarding the use of taxpayer funds; specifically, how 
they are being utilized by our grantee partners to support the 
President's mission of revitalizing distressed communities. The 
collection of this information will help to guide the Department 
through future grant awards and inform HUD's strategy to maximize non-
profit and private sector investment.
    Additionally, pending approval of this form on HUD's behalf, we 
anticipate that the following Agencies will also implement this form: 
Agriculture, Commerce, Education, Justice, Health and Human Services, 
Labor, Transportation, Interior, Commerce, Energy, Veterans Affairs, 
the Small Business Administration and the Environmental Protection 
Agency. Public and private investment in America's historically 
overlooked communities will be used to increase the supply of 
affordable housing to bolster economic development, support 
entrepreneurship, promote neighborhood safety, and expand employment 
and educational opportunities. For more information about the mission 
of the WHORC and to learn about the activities and vision of the 
federal agencies that comprise the Council, visit https://www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/Main/documents/WHORC-Implementation-Plan.pdf.
    Respondents (i.e., affected public): HUD grant applicants applying 
for preference points for activities conducted within or benefiting 
designated Qualified Opportunity Zone census tracts.

[[Page 54630]]



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                                             Number of     Frequency of    Responses per    Burden hour    Annual burden    Hourly cost
         Information collection             respondents      response          annum       per response        hours       per response     Annual cost
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Certification for OZ Preference Form....             737            2.26           1,667              .2           333.4           14.02       $4,674.27
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    Total...............................             737            2.26           1,667              .2           333.4           14.02        4,674.27
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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.

    Dated: October 4, 2019.
Ben Demarzo,
Assistant Deputy Secretary, Office of Field Policy and Management.
[FR Doc. 2019-22135 Filed 10-9-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P