[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 40 (Wednesday, February 28, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14676-14677]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-04085]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-7082-N-01]


60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: HUD 
Environmental Review Online System (HEROS); OMB Control No.: 2506-0202

AGENCY: The Office of Community Planning and Development, 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: April 29, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding 
this proposal. Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection can be submitted within 60 days of publication 
of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this 
particular information collection by selecting ``Currently under 60-day 
Review--Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function. 
Interested persons are also invited to submit comments regarding this 
proposal by name and/or OMB Control Number and can be sent to: Colette 
Pollard, Reports Management Officer, REE, Department of Housing and 
Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW, Room 8210, Washington, DC 20410-
5000 or email at [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Glenn Schroeder, Program Analyst, OEE, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW, 
Washington, DC 20410; email at [email protected] or telephone 
(202) 402-5849. This is not a toll-free number. 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. Copies of available documents 
submitted to OMB may be obtained from Ms. Pollard.

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: HUD Environmental Review Online 
System (HEROS).
    OMB Approval Number: 2506-0202.
    Type of Request: Extension of currently approved collection.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Description of the need for the information and proposed use: 24 
CFR part 58, ``Environmental Review Procedures for Entities Assuming 
HUD Environmental Responsibilities'' requires units of general local 
government receiving HUD assistance to maintain a written environmental 
review record for all projects receiving HUD funding documenting 
compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the 
regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality, related federal 
environmental laws, executive orders, and authorities, and part 58 
procedure. Various laws that authorize this procedure are listed in 24 
CFR 58.1(b). 24 CFR part 50, ``Protection and Enhancement of 
Environmental Quality,'' implements procedures for HUD to perform 
environmental reviews for projects where part 58 is not permitted by 
law. Under Part 50, HUD staff complete the environmental review 
records, but they may use any information supplied by an applicant or 
contractor, provided HUD independently evaluates the information and is 
responsible for its accuracy and prepares the environmental finding. 
HEROS allows users to complete, store, and submit their environmental 
review records and documents online. HEROS is currently optional for 
Responsible Entity and other non-HUD users, who may continue to use 
paper-based environmental review formats.
    Respondents: The respondents are State, local, and Tribal 
governments receiving HUD funding who are required to complete 
environmental reviews as well as sub-recipients, applicants, and third-
party providers who submit information to be used in the completion of 
environmental review records.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 500.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 25 per year per unit of government 
or organization.
    Frequency of Response: 58.44.
    Average Hours per Response: varies.
    Total Estimated Burdens: 36,662.

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                                                                                                   Burden hour     Annual    Hourly cost
                  Information collection                     Number of    Frequency    Responses       per         burden        per        Annual cost
                                                            respondents  of response   per annum     response      hours       response
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Exempt/CENST reviews......................................          500        34.75       17,376         0.75       13,032       $39.63     $205,312.50
Reviews that convert to exempt............................          500        12.35        6,147            2       12,294        39.63      292,000.00
CEST/EA reviews...........................................          250       11.34t        2,834            4       11,336        39.63      102,200.00
                                                           ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.................................................          500        58.44       26,357       varies       36,662        39.63    1,452,915.06
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    Note: Average hours per response varies substantially depending 
on level of review. Reviews that are exempt or Categorically 
Excluded Not Subject To the related laws and authorities (CENST) 
take roughly 45 minutes to complete. Reviews that are Categorically 
Excluded Subject To the related laws (CEST) or require an 
Environmental Assessment (EA) take an average of 4 hours to 
complete. Some CEST reviews ``convert to exempt,'' and require 
roughly 2 hours to complete.
    HUD grants cover all eligible costs including staff work. Hourly 
cost per response based on hourly mean wage of urban planners 
working for local government (Bureau of Labor Statistics, https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes193051.htm).


[[Page 14677]]



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.

Marion M. McFadden,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and 
Development.
[FR Doc. 2024-04085 Filed 2-27-24; 8:45 am]
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