[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 25, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 4727]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-01354]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

24 CFR Parts 5 and 200

[Docket No. FR-6160-N-03]


Notice of Modification to the 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 (HUD).

ACTION: Demonstration modification.

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SUMMARY: Through this notification, HUD announces changes to the 
Demonstration to Assess the National Standards for the Physical 
Inspection of Real Estate and Associated Protocols (NSPIRE). 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. Through this notification, HUD is informing 
Demonstration participants who are subject to HUD's Multifamily Housing 
program that Demonstration participants will receive an inspection of 
record through the NSPIRE demonstration unless they opt out of the 
demonstration, in which case they will receive an inspection of record 
through the Uniform Physical Condition Standards (UPCS). HUD is also 
revising this demonstration so that the demonstration ends on the 
effective date of the NSPIRE final rule.

DATES: This demonstration modification is effective January 25, 2023.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marcel M. Jemio, Real Estate 
Assessment Center, Office of Public and Indian Housing, Department of 
Housing and Urban Development, 550 12th Street SW, Suite 100, 
Washington, DC 20410-4000, telephone number 202-708-1112 (this is not a 
toll-free number) or via email to [email protected]. HUD 
welcomes and is prepared to receive calls from individuals who are deaf 
or hard of hearing, as well as individuals with speech or communication 
disabilities. To learn more about how to make an accessible telephone 
call, please visit: https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/telecommunications-relay-service-trs.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 21, 2019 (84 FR 43536), 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''). Through this demonstration, HUD is collecting, 
processing, and evaluating physical inspection data and information, 
and is improving and refining the NSPIRE model. On September 28, 2021 
(86 FR 53570), HUD extended this demonstration through October 1, 2021.
    During this demonstration, participants have not received an 
inspection of record, meaning the result of the inspection is 
provisional and does not result in a traditional score that is recorded 
in Multifamily Housing's system of record, the Integrated Real Estate 
Management System (iREMS). Because the demonstration has been running 
since 2019, demonstration participants have not received an inspection 
of record for several years, longer than HUD intended when HUD 
initially established the demonstration. Therefore, HUD seeks to 
prioritize providing demonstration participants an inspection of 
record. Through this notification, HUD is informing Multifamily Housing 
program participants who are currently in this demonstration and have 
yet to receive an inspection of record since joining the demonstration 
that between April 1, 2023, and September 30, 2023, HUD intends to 
conduct an inspection using the NSPIRE standards and scoring and that 
this inspection will be considered an inspection of record.
    Demonstration participants who do not wish to be subject to an 
NSPIRE inspection of record before October 1, 2023, may choose to opt 
out of the NSPIRE demonstration by submitting a request via email to 
[email protected] no later than March 1, 2023. Demonstration 
participants who opt out of the demonstration will be subject to a UPCS 
inspection of record.
    Additionally, through this notification, HUD is revising the end of 
this demonstration to align with the NSPIRE final rule. The 
demonstration will end for Public Housing participants on June 30, 
2023, the day before HUD intends to begin inspections under NSPIRE for 
Public Housing, and the demonstration will end for Multifamily Housing 
participants on September 30, 2023, one day before the day HUD intends 
the NSPIRE final rule to take effect for Multifamily Housing. HUD will 
provide additional notice through Federal Register notice should these 
dates change.
    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 24 CFR 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. 2023-01354 Filed 1-24-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P