2011-396. Notice of Submission of Proposed Information Collection to OMB Exigent Health and Safety Deficiency Correction Certification

AGENCY:

Office of the Chief Information Officer, HUD.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The proposed information collection requirement described below has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Department is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal.

HUD's Uniform Physical Condition Standards (UPCS) regulation (24 CFR part 5, subpart G) provides that HUD housing must be decent, safe, sanitary, and in good repair. Public housing agencies (PHAs) must maintain housing in a manner that meets prescribed physical condition standards to be considered decent, safe, sanitary, and in good repair. The UPCS regulation also provides that all area and components of the housing must be free of health and safety hazards. HUD conducts physical inspections of the HUD-funded housing to determine if the UPCS standards are being met. Pursuant to the UPCS inspection protocol, at the end of the inspection (or at the end of each day of a multi-day inspection) the inspector provides the property representative with a copy of the “Notification of Exigent and Fire Safety Hazards Observed” form. Each exigent health and safety (EHS) deficiency that the inspector observed that day is listed on the form. The property representative signs the form acknowledging receipt. PHAs are to correct EHS deficiencies (i.e., emergency work orders) within 24 hours. PHAs are to notify HUD, using the electronic format, within three business days of the date of inspection, which is the date the PHA was provided notice of these deficiencies, that the deficiencies were corrected within the prescribed time frames.

DATES:

Comments Due Date: February 10, 2011.

ADDRESSES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding this proposal. Comments should refer to the proposal by name and/or OMB approval Number (2577-0241) and should be sent to: HUD Desk Officer, Office of Management and Budget, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503; fax: [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Colette Pollard, Reports Management Officer, QDAM, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20410; e-mail Colette Pollard at [e-mail]; or telephone [phone]. This is not a toll-free number. Copies of available documents submitted to OMB may be obtained from Ms. Pollard.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This notice informs the public that the Department of Housing and Urban Development has submitted to OMB a request for approval of the Information collection described below. This notice is soliciting comments from members of the public and affecting 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: Exigent Health and Safety Deficiency Correction Certification.

OMB Approval Number: 2577-0241.

Form Numbers: None.

Description of the Need for the Information and its Proposed Use: HUD's Uniform Physical Condition Standards (UPCS) regulation (24 CFR part 5, subpart G) provides that HUD housing must be decent, safe, sanitary, and in good repair. Public housing agencies (PHAs) must maintain housing in a manner that meets prescribed physical condition standards to be considered decent, safe, sanitary, and in good repair. The UPCS regulation also provides that all area and components of the housing must be free of health and safety hazards. HUD conducts physical inspections of the HUD-funded housing to determine if the UPCS standards are being met. Pursuant to the UPCS inspection protocol, at the end of the inspection (or at the end of each day of a multi-day inspection) the inspector provides the property representative with a copy of the “Notification of Exigent and Fire Safety Hazards Observed” form. Each exigent health and safety (EHS) deficiency that the inspector observed that day is listed on the form. The property representative signs the form acknowledging receipt. PHAs are to correct EHS deficiencies (i.e., emergency work orders) within 24 hours. PHAs are to notify HUD, using the electronic format, within three business days of the date of inspection, which is the date the PHA was provided notice of these deficiencies, that the deficiencies were corrected within the prescribed time frames.

Frequency of Submission: Annually.

Estimation of the total number of hours needed to prepare the information collection including number of respondents: 1,236 respondents annually with one response per respondent. Average time per response is .44 hours and the total burden hours are 333.57.

Total Estimated Burden Hours: 333.57.

Status: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Authority: Section 3507 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 35, as amended.

Dated: January 6, 2011.

Colette Pollard,

Departmental Reports Management Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer.