E8-30606. Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Comment Request; Community Development Block Grant Entitlement Program

AGENCY:

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development, HUD.

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. The Department is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal.

DATES:

Comments Due Date: February 23, 2009.

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: Lillian L. Deitzer, Reports Management Officer, QDAM, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street, SW., Room 4176, Washington, DC 20410; telephone [phone] (this is not a toll-free number) or e-mail Ms. Deitzer at [e-mail] for a copy of the proposed form and other available information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Steve Johnson, Director, Entitlement Communities Division, Office of Block Grant Assistance, 451 7th Street, SW., Room 7282, Washington, DC 20410; telephone [phone] (this is not a toll-free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Department is submitting 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 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: Community Development Block Grant Entitlement Program.

OMB Control Number, if applicable: 2506-0077.

Description of the need for the information and proposed use: This request identifies the estimated reporting burden associated with information that CDBG entitlement grantees will report in IDIS for CDBG-assisted activities, recordkeeping requirements, and reporting requirements. Grantees are encouraged to update their accomplishments in IDIS on a quarterly basis. In addition, grantees are required to retain records necessary to document compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements, Executive Orders, applicable OMB Circulars, and determinations required to be made by grantees as a determination of eligibility. Grantees are required to prepare and submit their Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Reports, which demonstrate the progress grantees make in carrying out CDBG-assisted activities listed in their consolidated plans. This report is due to HUD 90 days after the end of the grantee's program year. The information required for any particular activity is generally based on the eligibility of the activity and which of the three national objectives (benefit low- and moderate-income persons; eliminate/prevent slums or blight; or meet an urgent need) the grantee has determined that the activity will address.

Agency form numbers, if applicable: Not applicable.

Members of affected public: Grant recipients (metropolitan cities and urban counties) participating in the CDBG Entitlement Program.

Estimation of the total numbers of hours needed to prepare the information collection including number of respondents, frequency of response, and hours of response: The estimated number of respondents is 1,145. The proposed frequency of the response to the collection is on an annual basis. The total estimated burden is 533,799 annual hours.

Status of the proposed information collection: This submission is a revision of a currently approved collection. The current OMB approval expires on February 28, 2009.

Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended.

Dated: December 16, 2008.

Nelson R. Bregon,

General Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development.