[Federal Register: June 2, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 106)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 31055-31056]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02jn04-24]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
24 CFR Part 990
[Docket No. FR-4874-N-06]
Negotiated Rulemaking Advisory Committee on the Operating Fund;
Notice of Meeting
AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian
Housing, HUD.
ACTION: Notice of Negotiated Rulemaking Committee meeting.
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SUMMARY: This document announces a meeting of HUD's Negotiated
Rulemaking Advisory Committee on the Operating Fund. The purpose of the
committee is to provide advice and recommendations on developing a rule
for effectuating changes to the Public Housing Operating Fund Program
in response to the Harvard University Graduate School of Design's
``Public Housing Operating Cost Study.''
DATES: The committee meeting will be held on June 8 and June 9, 2004.
Each day the meeting will start at approximately 8:30 a.m. and run
until approximately 5 p.m., unless the committee agrees otherwise.
ADDRESSES: The committee meeting will take place at the Bolger Center,
North Building, 9600 Newbridge Drive, Potomac, MD 20854-4436;
telephone: (301) 983-7000 (this telephone number is not toll-free). For
further information and directions to the Bolger Center, please go to
the following Web site: http://www.bolgercenter.dolce.com.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chris Kubacki, Director, Funding and
Financial Management Division, Public and Indian Housing--Real Estate
Assessment Center, Suite 800, Department of Housing and Urban
Development, 1280 Maryland Ave SW., Washington, DC 20024-2135;
telephone (202) 708-4932 (this telephone number is not toll-free).
Individuals with speech or hearing impairments may access this number
through TTY by calling the toll-free Federal Information Relay Service
at 1-800-877-8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Through the Operating Fund program, HUD distributes operating
subsidies to public housing agencies (PHAs). A regulatory description
of the Operating Fund program can be found at 24 CFR part 990. The
Operating Fund Formula regulations were developed through negotiated
rulemaking procedures. Negotiated rulemaking for an Operating Fund
Formula was initiated in March 1999, and resulted in a proposed rule,
published on July 10, 2000 (65 FR 42488), which was followed by an
interim rule published on March 29, 2001 (66 FR 17276). The March 29,
2001, interim rule established the Operating Fund Formula that is
currently in effect.
During the negotiated rulemaking for the Operating Fund Formula,
Congress in the Conference Report (H.Rept. 106-379, October 13, 1999)
accompanying HUD's Fiscal Year (FY) 2000 Appropriation Act (Pub. L.
106-74, approved October 20, 1999) directed
[[Page 31056]]
HUD to contract with the Harvard University Graduate School of Design
(Harvard GSD) to conduct a study on the costs incurred in operating
well-run public housing. Harvard GSD issued a final report, the Harvard
Cost Study, on June 6, 2003. In Section 222 of the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2004 (Pub. L. 108-199, approved January 23, 2004),
Congress directed the Secretary to conduct negotiated rulemaking with
the publication of a final rule by July 1, 2004.
On March 10, 2004, HUD published a document establishing a
Negotiated Rulemaking Advisory Committee on the Operating Fund
(Committee) to provide advice and recommendations on developing a rule
for effectuating changes to the Public Housing Operating Fund Program
in response to the Harvard Cost Study. The Committee has met three
times. The first meeting was held in Washington, DC on March 30, March
31, and April 1, 2004. A second meeting was held, also in Washington,
DC, on April 13-15, 2004. The third Committee meeting was held on May
11 and 12, 2004, in Atlanta, Georgia.
II. Committee Meeting
This document announces a fourth meeting of the Committee. The
Committee meeting will take place as described in the DATES and
ADDRESSES section of this document.
In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C.
Appendix) and the implementing regulations issued by the General
Services Administration at 41 CFR part 102-3, HUD publishes notices in
the Federal Register of an advisory committee meeting at least 15
calendar days prior to the meeting. In this case HUD is providing less
than 15-days advance notice due to exceptional circumstances. The
Committee was originally scheduled to complete its work at the third
meeting. Although great progress was made at the previous meeting
towards the development of a rule, the Committee determined that a
fourth meeting would be necessary to complete its work. The time
required to complete hotel reservations and other logistical
arrangements prevented publication of this meeting notice prior to
today's date.
The agenda planned for the meeting includes discussion of issues
relating to the development of changes in response to the Harvard Cost
Study. The meeting will be open to the public without advance
registration. Public attendance may be limited to the space available.
Members of the public may be allowed to make statements during the
meeting, to the extent time permits, and file written statements with
the committee for its consideration. Written statements should be
submitted to the address listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION section
of this document.
Dated: May 27, 2004.
Deborah Hernandez,
Director, Office of Voucher Programs.
[FR Doc. 04-12495 Filed 6-1-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-33-P