2013-30813. 60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Exigent Health and Safety Deficiency Correction Certification

AGENCY:

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing, PIH, HUD.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

HUD is seeking approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the information collection described below. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, HUD is requesting comment from all interested parties on the proposed collection of information. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment.

DATES:

Comments Due Date: February 24, 2014.

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: Colette Pollard, Reports Management Officer, QDAM, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW., Room 4176, Washington, DC 20410-5000; telephone [phone] (this is not a toll-free number) or email at [e-mail] for a copy of the proposed forms or other available information. Persons with hearing or speech impairments may access this number through TTY by calling the toll-free Federal Relay Service at [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Arlette Mussington, Office of Policy, Programs and Legislative Initiatives, PIH, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW., (L'Enfant Plaza, Room 2206), Washington, DC 20410; telephone [phone], (this is not a toll-free number). Persons with hearing or speech impairments may access this number via TTY by calling the Federal Information Relay Service at [phone]. Copies of available documents submitted to OMB may be obtained from Ms. Mussington.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This notice informs the public that HUD is seeking approval from OMB for the information collection described in Section A.

A. Overview of Information Collection

Title of Information Collection: Exigent Health and Safety Deficiency Correction Certification.

OMB Approval Number: 2577-0241.

Type of Request: Extension of currently approved collection.

Form Number: None.

Description of the need for the information and 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. 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/remedy/act abate all EHS deficiencies within 24 hours. Using the electronic format, PHAs are to notify HUD 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/remedied/acted on to abate within the prescribed time frames (24 CFR part 902).

Respondents (i.e. affected public): Public Housing Agencies.

Information collection	Number of respondents	Frequency of response	Responses per annum	Burden hour per response	Annual burden hours	Hourly cost per response	Annual cost
Total	1134	1	1	0.31	346.29	$8.82	$10,000.86

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: December 17, 2013.

Merrie Nichols-Dixon,

Deputy Director, Office of Policy, Programs and Legislative Initiatives.