[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 201 (Wednesday, October 19, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63474-63475]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-22669]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Housing Service

[Docket No. RHS-22-SFH-0017]


60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Direct Single 
Family Housing Loans and Grants HB-1-3550, and HB-2-3550; OMB Control 
No.: 0575-0172

AGENCY: Rural Housing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Housing Service 
(RHS or Agency) announces its' intention to request a revision of a 
currently approved information collection and invites comments on this 
information collection.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by December 19, 2022 to 
be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by the Federal eRulemaking Portal: 
Go to http://www.regulations.gov and, in the ``Search Field'' box, 
labeled ``Search for Rules, Proposed Rules, Notices, or Supporting 
Documents,'' enter the following docket number: (RHS-22-SFH-0017). To 
submit or view public comments, click the ``Search'' button, select the 
``Documents'' tab, then select the following document title: (Direct 
Single Family Housing Loans and Grants HB-1-3550, and HB-2-3550)) from 
the ``Search Results,'' and select the ``Comment'' button. Before 
inputting your comments, you may also review the ``Commenter's 
Checklist'' (optional). Insert your comments under the ``Comment'' 
title, click ``Browse'' to attach files (if available). Input your 
email address and select ``Submit Comment.'' Information on using 
Regulations.gov, including instructions for accessing documents, 
submitting comments, and viewing the docket after the close of the 
comment period, is available through the site's ``FAQ'' link.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: MaryPat Daskal, Chief, Branch 1, Rural 
Development Innovation Center--Regulations Management Division, United 
States Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, South 
Building, Washington, DC 20250-1522. Telephone: (202) 720-7853. Email 
[email protected].

[[Page 63475]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) 
regulation (5 CFR part 1320) implementing provisions of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13) requires that interested members 
of the public and affected agencies have an opportunity to comment on 
information collection and recordkeeping activities (see 5 CFR 
1320.8(d)). This notice identifies the following information collection 
that RHS is submitting to OMB as a revision to an existing collection 
with Agency adjustment.
    Title: 7 CFR part 3550, Direct Single Family Housing Loans and 
Grant Programs, HB-1-3550, and HB-2-3550.
    OMB Control Number: 0572-0172.
    Expiration Date of Approval: February 28, 2025.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting for this collection of 
information is estimated to average .5 hours per response.
    Respondents: Individual applicants seeking direct single family 
housing loan and grants.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 647,777.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Number of Responses: 647,777.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 310,496 hours.
    Abstract: Through its direct single family housing loan and grant 
programs (specifically the sections 502 and 504 programs), RHS provides 
eligible applicants with financial assistance to own adequate but 
modest homes in rural areas. The financing and servicing are provided 
directly by RHS. The section 502 direct loan program provides 100 
percent loan financing to assist low- and very low-income applicants 
purchase modest homes in eligible rural areas by providing payment 
assistance to increase an applicant's repayment ability. The section 
504 loan program provides one percent interest rate loans to very low-
income homeowners in eligible rural areas to repair, improve, or 
modernize their home or to remove health and safety hazards. The 
section 504 grant program provides grants to elderly very low-income 
homeowners in eligible rural areas to remove health and safety hazards, 
or accessibility barriers from their home, often in conjunction with a 
section 504 loan.
    This revision includes an increase in the number of burden hours 
from 305,646 hours to 310,496 hours. This change is attributed to the 
adding of a newly simplified section 504-intake form and 
prequalification process. This form is necessary and will increase 
program usage while relieving applicant's burden. The reporting burden 
covered by this collection of information consists of forms, documents, 
and written burden to support a request for funding for a Direct Single 
Family Housing Loan and Grant Program.
    Applicants must provide the Agency with a uniform residential loan 
application and supporting documentation (e.g., verification of income, 
assets, liabilities, etc.) when applying for assistance. The 
information requested regarding the applicant and the property is vital 
in order for the Agency to make sound eligibility and underwriting 
decisions that comply with the laws and regulations that govern the 
programs. The information requested is comparable to that required by 
any public or private mortgage lender.
    When servicing loans, RHS offers servicing options that are 
standard to the industry. In addition, RHS offers unique servicing 
options (e.g., payment subsidies and payment moratoriums) and is 
required to take unique servicing actions (e.g., review borrowers for 
their ability to refinance with private credit). Borrowers must provide 
the Agency with pertinent information when a servicing option/action is 
requested/required in order for the Agency to make sound servicing 
decisions that comply with the laws and regulations that govern the 
programs.
    Comments are invited on:
    (a) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the 
proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether 
the information will have practical utility.
    (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
collection of information including the validity of the methodology and 
assumptions used.
    (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology. All 
responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request 
for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public record.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from Arlette 
Mussington, Rural Development Innovation Center--Regulations Management 
Division, at (202) 720-7853. Email: [email protected].
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of 
public record.

Joaquin Altoro,
Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-22669 Filed 10-18-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-XV-P