[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 82 (Friday, April 26, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18544-18545]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-10321]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Housing Service
Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved
Information Collection
AGENCY: Rural Housing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Proposed collection; comments request.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces the Rural Housing Service (RHS) intention to request
an extension for a currently approved information collection in support
of the program for the Housing Preservation Grant Program.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by June 25, 1996 to be
assured of consideration.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sue M. Harris-Green, Senior Loan
Specialist, RHS, U.S. Department of Agriculture, AG BOX 0781,
Washington, D.C. 20250, Telephone (202) 720-1606.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: RHS/Housing Preservation Grant Program.
OMB Number: 0575-0115.
Expiration Date of Approval: July 31, 1996.
Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information
collection.
Abstract: The primary purpose of the Housing Preservation Grant
Program is to repair or rehabilitate individual housing, rental
properties, or co-ops owned or occupied by very low- and low-income
rural persons. Grantees will provide eligible homeowners, owners of
rental properties, and owners of co-ops with financial assistance
through loans, grants, interest reduction payments or other comparable
financial assistance for necessary repairs and rehabilitation of
dwellings to bring them up to code or minimum property standards.
These grants were established by Public Law 98-181, the Housing
Urban-Rural Recovery Act of 1983, which amended the Housing Act of 1979
(Pub.
[[Page 18545]]
L. 93-383) by adding section 533, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 2490(m), Housing
Preservation Grants (HPG). In addition, the Secretary of Agriculture
has authority to prescribe rules and regulations to implement HPG and
other programs under 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1480(j).
Section 533(d) is prescriptive about the information applicants are
to submit to RHS as part of their application and in the assessments
and criteria RHS is to use in selecting grantees. An applicant is to
submit a ``statement of activity'' describing its proposed program,
including the specific activities it will undertake, and its schedule.
RHS is required in turn to evaluate proposals on a set of prescribed
criteria, for which the applicant will also have to provide
information, such as: (1) very low- and low-income persons proposed to
be served by the repair and rehabilitation activities; (2)
participation by other public and private organizations to leverage
funds and lower the cost to the HPG program; (3) the area to be served
in terms of population size and need; (4) cost data to assure greatest
degree of assistance at lowest cost; (5) administrative costs
projected; and (6) administrative capacity of the applicant to carry
out the program. The information collected will be the minimum required
by law and by the necessity for RHS to assure that it funds responsible
grantees proposing feasible projects in areas of greatest need. Most
data are taken from a localized area, although some are derived from
census reports of city, county and Federal governments showing
population and housing characteristics.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average .96 hour per response.
Respondents: A public body or a public or private nonprofit
corporation.
Estimated number of respondents: 1,850
Estimated number of responses per respondent: 6.5.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 11,614 hours.
Copies of this information collection can be obtained from the
Director, Regulations and Paperwork Management Division at (202) 720-
9725.
Comments: Comments are invited on: (a) 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; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of
the burden of the proposed collection of information including the
validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance
the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected;
and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection
techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments may be
sent to Director, Regulations and Paperwork Management Division, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, RECD, Ag Box 0743, 14th and Independence
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250. All responses to this notice will be
summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments
will also become a matter of public record.
Dated: April 17, 1996.
Maureen Kennedy,
Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 96-10321 Filed 4-25-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-07-U
