2018-22243. 30-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: New Construction Subterranean Termite Protection for New Homes

AGENCY:

Office of the Chief Information Officer, HUD.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

HUD submitted the proposed information collection requirement described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 30 days of public comment.

DATES:

Comments Due Date: November 13, 2018.

ADDRESSES:

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Colette Pollard, Reports Management Officer, QMAC, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW, Washington, DC 20410; email [e-mail], or telephone [phone]. This is not a toll-free number. Person with hearing or speech impairments may access this number through TTY by calling the toll-free Federal Relay Service at [phone].

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.

The Federal Register notice that solicited public comment on the information collection for a period of 60 days was published on April 18, 2018 at 83 FR 17185.

A. Overview of Information Collection

Title of Information Collection: New Construction Subterranean Termite Protection for New Homes.

OMB Approved Number: 2502-0525.

Type of Request: Extension of currently approved collection.

Form Number: HUD NPFA-99A and HUD NPFA-99B.

Description of the need for the information and proposed use: HUD regulations at 24 CFR 200.926d(b)(3) require that the sites for HUD insured structures must be free of termite hazards. The HUD-NPCA-99-A requires the builder to certify that all required treatment for termites was performed by an authorized pest control company and further that the builder guarantees the treated area against infestation for one year. The form HUD-NPCA-99-B requires a licensed pest control company to provide to the builder a record of specific treatment information in those cases when the soil treatment method is used for prevention of subterranean termite infestation.

When applicable the HUD-NPCA-99-B must accompany the HUD-NPCA-99-A. If the requested data is not collected, new home purchasers and HUD are subject to the risk of purchasing or insuring a home that is infested by termites and would have no recourse against the builder.

Agency form numbers, if applicable: HUD NPMA-99-A and HUD NPMA-99-B.

Respondents (i.e. affected public): Business.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 78,000.

Estimated Number of Responses: 156,000.

Frequency of Response: 2.00.

Average Hours per Response: 0.083.

Total Estimated Annual Burden and Cost: 12,948.

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.

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

Dated: October 2, 2018.

Colette Pollard,

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