[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 46 (Wednesday, March 9, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13305-13306]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-04915]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-7061-N-03]


60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Energy and 
Performance Information Center (EPIC); OMB Control No.: 2577-0274

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.

DATES: Comments Due Date: May 9, 2022.

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: Dawn Smith, Office of Policy, Programs 
and Legislative Initiatives, PIH, Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, 451 7th Street SW, Room 3178, Washington, DC 20410; 
telephone 202-402-6488, (this is not a toll-free number). Persons with 
hearing or speech impairments may access this number via TTY by calling 
the Federal Information Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Copies of 
available documents submitted to OMB may be obtained from Ms. Smith.

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: Energy and Performance Information 
Center (EPIC).
    OMB Approval Number: 2577-0274.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Form Numbers: N/A--all information collected electronically through 
the EPIC data system.
    Description of the need for the information and proposed use: The 
EPIC data system automates the previous paper collection of the Five-
year Plan and Annual Statement/Budget/Performance and Evaluation (P&E) 
forms from grantees. These are required forms that were previously 
collected in hard copy on Forms HUD 50075.1 and HUD 50075.2 under 
collection OMB control number 2577-0157. These forms collect data on 
the eventual, and actual use of funds. Electronic collection will 
enable the Department to aggregate information about the way grantees 
are using Federal funding. Tracking of the use of Federal funds paid 
through the Public Housing Capital Fund, the only Federal funding 
stream dedicated to the capital needs of the nation's last resort 
housing option, is crucial to understanding how the Department can 
properly and efficiently assist grantees in meeting this goal as well 
as assessing the Department's own progress. EPIC also automates the 
collection of signed documents required by 24 CFR 905 in order to gain 
access to funds awarded by HUD. These forms are covered under other 
PRAs. Finally, EPIC allows PHAs to request to use additional funding 
sources, such as

[[Page 13306]]

Operating Funds, for capital fund eligible activities.
    The EPIC data system is equipped to collect Physical Needs 
Assessment (``PNA'') data, should this data be required in the future. 
This data being in the system coupled with the electronic planning 
process would streamline grantee planning. The EPIC data system is 
equipped to collect information about the Energy Performance Contract 
(``EPC'') process, including the energy efficiency improvements. As the 
Department moves to shrink its energy footprint in spite of rising 
energy costs, clear and comprehensive data on this process will be 
crucial to its success. The EPIC data system is equipped to track 
development of public housing with Federal funds and through other 
means, including mixed-finance development.
    Respondents: Members of Affected Public: State, Local or Local 
Governments and Non-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: See table below.
    Estimated Number of Responses: See table below.
    Frequency of Response: 1 See table below.
    Average Hours per Response: See table below.
    Total Estimated Burdens: See table below.

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                                                                Number of                   Total      Hours per      Total       Cost per
                        Form/document                          respondents   Frequency    responses     response      hours         hour     Total  cost
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1 Core Activity.............................................        2,8000            1        2,800            2        5,600       $44.10     $246,960
2 5-Yr Plan.................................................         2,000            1        2,000            2        4,000        44.10      176,400
3 Annual Stmt/Budget........................................         2,800            3        8,400            1        8,400        44.10      370,440
4 P&E.......................................................         2,800          0.5        1,475            1        1,475        44.10       65,048
5 Document Management Center................................         2,800            2        5,600          0.5        2,800        44.10      123,480
6 Additional Capital Resources..............................            15            1           15          0.5          7.5        44.10          331
6 EPC.......................................................            30            1           30          120        3,600        44.10      158,760
7 Public Housing Development................................            60            1           60          120        7,200        44.10      317,520
8 Mixed Finance Early Warning...............................            60            1           60         0.33           20        44.10          882
                                                             -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..................................................         2,800       Varies       20,440       Varies     33,102.5        44.10    1,459,820
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    The follow are the specific revisions to the public burden by 
instrument:
    1. The projected labor burden was decreased for Core Activity due 
to grantees becoming familiar with navigating that aspect of the EPIC 
system and because submissions after the first reporting cycle for a 
grant will be an update to the initial submitted report and will 
require less labor to complete. This reduced hours from the collection 
3,250 hours.
    2. P&E Reports are no longer required annually, reducing the number 
of responses and hours by 7,025.
    3. RHF data will no longer be collected as that program is being 
phased out of CFP, reducing the number of collection hours by 25.
    4. The Annual Statement/Budget total number of responses dropped by 
100 due to the total number of respondents being lowered.
    5. EPIC now collects copies of documents previously submitted on 
paper covered by CFP, Annual Plan and ACC PRA adding collection hours 
of 2,800.
    6. EPIC has added a way for PHA to request to use additional 
capital resources via EPIC, increasing collection hours of 7.5.

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.

Laura Miller-Pittman,
Chief, Office of Policy, Programs and Legislative Initiatives.
[FR Doc. 2022-04915 Filed 3-8-22; 8:45 am]
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