[Federal Register: June 15, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 114)]
[Notices]
[Page 33400-33401]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15jn04-63]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
[Docket No. FR-4529-N-09]
Notice of Submission of Proposed Information Collection to OMB;
Affordable Communities Initiative
AGENCY: Office of the General Counsel.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The proposed information collection requirement described
below has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
for review and approval, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act.
The Department is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal.
DATES: Comments Due Date: August 16, 2004.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding
this proposal. Comments should refer to the proposal by name and should
be sent to: Mark D. Menchik, HUD Desk Officer, Office of Management and
Budget, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503, Mark --
D.-- Menchik@omb. eop. gov. Fax: (202) 395-6974.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wayne Eddins, Reports Management
Officer, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20410, telephone (202) 708-0050. This is
not a toll-free number. Copies of available documents submitted to OMB
may be obtained from Mr. Eddins.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice informs the public that the
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has submitted to OMB
for review and processing under the Paperwork Reduction Act an
information collection package with respect to HUD's Affordable
Communities Award, a non-monetary award designed to acknowledge and
honor those jurisdictions or communities that are expanding affordable
housing opportunities by reducing regulatory barriers and creating an
environment supportive of the construction and rehabilitation of
affordable housing.
In June 2003, HUD announced a new initiative, America's Affordable
Communities Initiative (Initiative). The Initiative focuses on breaking
down regulatory barriers that impede the production or rehabilitation
of affordable housing. As part of this initiative, HUD is examining
federal, state and local regulations to identify those regulations that
present significant barriers to the production or rehabilitation of
affordable housing. HUD is currently reviewing its own regulations to
identify regulatory barriers to affordable housing that HUD can and
should change. HUD's intention is to lead by example. Another effort of
the Initiative includes providing incentives to state and local
governments to remove regulatory barriers. As part of HUD's FY2004
SuperNOFA, HUD included, as a policy priority, the removal of
regulatory barriers. An applicant that meets the criteria of a policy
priority is eligible to receive higher points. The removal of
regulatory barriers will not only be a policy priority in HUD's FY2004
SuperNOFA but in other FY2004 NOFAs published independently from the
SuperNOFA.
This non-monetary award announcement is designed to present an
additional incentive to states, local, and tribal governments to become
active in removing barriers to affordable housing to the extent
feasible. This award will serve to publicly recognize jurisdictions or
communities that have taken a leadership role in reexamining their
existing regulatory systems and have taken the necessary steps to
promote the construction and development of affordable housing.
This Notice is soliciting comments from members of the public and
affected agencies concerning the proposed collection of 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.
This Notice also lists the following information:
Title of Proposal: Affordable Communities Award.
Office: Office of the General Counsel.
OMB Control Number: 2510--
Description of the need for the information and proposed use:
The information presented by applicants for the award will be used
to select the award winners. The information presented by the
applicants also should provide the Initiative with good examples of how
regulatory barriers are removed and affordable housing made possible or
increased in communities across America.
Form Number: No form number.
Members of affected public: States and local jurisdictions (cities,
counties and towns, townships and incorporated municipalities.
Estimation of the total numbers of hours needed to prepare the
information collection including number of respondents, frequency of
response, and hours of response:
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Number of Frequency of
respondents x response = Hours per response = Burden Hours
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300 ....... 1 ....... 8 ....... 2,400
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[[Page 33401]]
Total Estimated Burden Hours: 2,400.
Status: New.
Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C.
Chapter 35, as amended.
Dated: June 10, 2004.
Camille E. Acevedo,
Associate General Counsel for Legislation and Regulations.
[FR Doc. 04-13434 Filed 6-14-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P