[Federal Register: September 24, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 185)] [Notices] [Page 51780-51781] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr24se99-92] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT [Docket No. FR-4442-N-12] Notice of Proposed Information Collection for Public Comment; Housing Condition Assessment (Pilot Study) AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The proposed information collection requirement described below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The Department is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal. DATES: Comments Due Date: November 23, 1999. [[Page 51781]] ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding this proposal. Comments should refer to the proposal by name or OMB Control Number and should be sent to: Reports Liaison Officer, Office of Policy Development and Research, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street, SW., Room 8226, Washington, DC 20410. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William E. Freeborne, Program Analyst, Office of Policy Development and Research, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street, SW, Room 8134, Washington, DC 20410- 6000, telephone (202) 708-4370 ext. 5725. (This is not a toll-free number). A copy of the proposed forms and other available documents to be submitted to OMB may be obtained from Mr. Freeborne. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department will submit the proposed information collection to OMB for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended). This notice is soliciting comments from members of the public concerning proposed collection information to: (1) Evaluate 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) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (3) Enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) 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. Title of Proposal: Housing Condition Assessment (Pilot Study). Description of the Need for Information and Proposed Use: Housing is the most basic and important part of the infrastructure in the United States and worldwide. Its direct and indirect impact on the economy and public welfare is far reaching. While increasing homeownership opportunities has benefits, it presents certain challenges to the future of housing in the United States. For example, housing production and resource utilization is stretched to meet the housing demand of a diverse and growing population. To continue to meet this demand, conventional methods need to be improved while innovative materials and methods need to rise to meet the challenge in a responsible, but competitive manner. This challenge can only be effectively met by better understanding the performance of the existing housing stock and developing improved technologies, including both design and construction practices that lead to better and more affordable homes for all Americans. This study will help fill critical knowledge gaps to develop more durable products for single-family home construction. The work will help to establish a baseline of housing performance from which defects can be rationally identified and future improvements and innovations can be cost-effectively directed. The objectives are as follows: (1) Pilot test and define the data collection methodology for potential use as a national housing condition assessment instrument. (2) Establish a baseline of housing condition (durability), based on the pilot test data. (3) Evaluate the housing condition assessment data to identify trends related to durability performance. The housing performance assessment protocol will be implemented on a pilot scale. The focus will be on documenting conditions including products, homeowner maintenance, history of any damage, etc. The study will obtain a random selection (representative sample) of about 200 homes for site inspections and occupant/owner interviews in a pilot study region (Anne Arundel County, MD). Homes will be single-family detached, selected from property tax records according to the following age brackets: 5 to 10 years old and 25-30 years old. A data collection form will be created with detailed information to be collected from the sampled homes by field inspectors operating under contract to HUD. Assessment teams will contact owners or occupants prior to site visits to conduct a phone interview and to arrange for an on-site assessment. The data will be recorded on field survey forms and then transcribed to a computer database. Homes not receiving voluntary homeowner participation will be subject only to a visual survey from the street. Agency Form Numbers, if Applicable: None. Members of Affected Public: A randomly selected group of 200 homeowners will be affected by the information collection. Estimation of the Total Number of Hours Needed to Prepare the Information Collection Including Number of Respondents, Frequency of Response, and Hours of Response: Information will be collected by a telephone and a voluntary personal interview with a maximum of 200 randomly selected homeowners in the Mid-Atlantic Region. Each survey will take approximately 30 minutes or less to complete. This means a total of 200 hours of response time for the information collection. Status of the Proposed Information Collection: Pending submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance. Authority: Section 3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended. Dated: September 10, 1999. Lawrence L. Thompson, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy Development. [FR Doc. 99-24947 Filed 9-23-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4210-62-M