[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 185 (Tuesday, September 28, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 53570-53571]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-21049]


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

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

24 CFR Parts 5 and 200

[Docket No. FR-6160-N-02]


Notice of Continuation of Demonstration To Assess the National 
Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate and Associated 
Protocols

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Housing; Office of the 
Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing, U.S. Department of 
Housing and Urban Development.

ACTION: Demonstration continuation.

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

SUMMARY: Through this notification, HUD announces the continuation of 
the Demonstration to Assess the National Standards for the Physical 
Inspection of Real Estate and Associated Protocols through April 30, 
2023. This demonstration allows HUD to test the NSPIRE standards and 
protocols as the means for assessing the physical conditions of HUD-
assisted and HUD-insured housing. The continuation provides the 
authority to further evaluate and refine the future state of HUD's 
physical inspection model.

DATES: The demonstration continuation is effective September 28, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Timothy Weese, NSPIRE Program Manager, 
Office of Public and Indian Housing, Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, 550 12th Street SW, Suite 100, Washington, DC 20410-4000, 
telephone number 202-475-8811 (this is not a toll-free number) or via 
email to [email protected]. Persons with hearing or speech impairments may 
contact the numbers above via TTY by calling the Federal Relay Service 
at 800-877-8339 (this is a toll-free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 21, 2019, the U.S. Department of 
Housing and Urban Development published a document implementing the 
``Demonstration To Assess the National Standards for the Physical 
Inspection of Real Estate and Associated Protocols.'' (``the 2019 
document'').\1\ Through this demonstration, HUD is collecting, 
processing, and evaluating physical inspection data and information, 
and is improving and refining the NSPIRE model. The NSPIRE model will 
revise the way that HUD-assisted housing is inspected and evaluated to 
reduce regulatory burden and improve HUD oversight through a unified 
assessment of housing quality and a prioritization of resident health 
and safety.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Originally announced in the Notice of Demonstration To 
Assess the National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real 
Estate and Associated Protocols, 84 FR 43536 (August 21, 2019) 
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/08/21/2019-17910/notice-of-demonstration-to-assess-the-national-standards-for-the-physical-inspection-of-real-estate.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    HUD has decided to extend this demonstration to assess the 
improvements and alignment of the inspection protocol. This decision 
furthers the direction contained in the Joint Explanatory Statement 
accompanying the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016, Public Law 
114-113, approved December 18, 2015; the statutory requirements 
detailed in the Economic Growth and Recovery, Regulatory Relief, and 
Consumer Protection Act of 2018, Public Law 115-174; \2\ and the 
proposed guidance the Department has outlined in the Economic Growth, 
Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act: Implementation of 
National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate proposed 
rule.\3\ All participant

[[Page 53571]]

and program-specific requirements highlighted in the 2019 document 
continue to apply, including the extension of the inspection 
periodicity for participating properties as outlined in section V. HUD 
extends this demonstration through April 30, 2023. HUD may amend the 
demonstration dates in response to changes in programmatic and 
environmental conditions through subsequent Federal Register 
publications.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ The text of the Economic Growth Act, along with a summary 
prepared by the Congressional Research Service, can be found at 
https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/2155/text.
    \3\ See Economic Growth Regulatory Relief and Consumer 
Protection Act: Implementation of National Standards for the 
Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE), 86 FR 2582 (January 13, 
2021) https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/01/13/2021-00098/economic-growth-regulatory-relief-and-consumer-protection-act-implementation-of-national-standards.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    This notification provides operating instructions and procedures in 
connection with activities under a Federal Register document that has 
previously been subject to a required environmental review. 
Accordingly, under Sec.  50.19(c)(4), this notification is 
categorically excluded from environmental review under the National 
Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.)

Dominique G. Blom,
General Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing.
[FR Doc. 2021-21049 Filed 9-27-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P