2013-12755. Notice of Submission of Proposed Information Collection to OMB; Energy and Performance Information Center

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. HUD is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal.

DATES:

Comments Due Date: July 1, 2013.

ADDRESSES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding this proposal. Comments should refer to the proposal by name and/or OMB approval Number (2577-0274) and should be sent to: HUD Desk Officer, Office of Management and Budget, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503; fax: [phone]. Email: [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Colette Pollard, Reports Management Officer, QDAM, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20410; email 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 HUD 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 Proposed: Energy and Performance Information Center.

OMB Approval Number: 2577-0274.

Form Numbers: None.

Description of the need for the information and proposed use: The Department has recognized the need for improving energy efficiency in affordable housing and has prioritized this in Agency Priority Goal # 4, Measure # 13. The Department pioneered its data collection in this area with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 in creating the Recovery Act Management Performance System (“RAMPS”). The data collected through the RAMPS gave the Department a more comprehensive dataset regarding energy efficient improvements than it had ever had previously. The EPIC data system builds upon the successes of the RAMPS and adds data collection for other areas. This form is to revise the collection to include other information. Some of this information is presently collected in paper form and will be collected electronically through the EPIC data system. The EPIC data system will gradually automate the collection of the five year plan and annual statement forms from grantees. These are required forms presently collected in hard copy on Forms 50075.1 and 50075.2 under collection OMB control number 2577-0226. These forms also collect data on the eventual, actual use of funds; this data will be gradually collected electronically through the EPIC data system as well. Electronic collection will enable the Department to aggregate information about the way grantees are using Federal funding. Additionally, PHA grantees will be able to submit Replacement Housing Factor fund plans, the mechanism by which PHAs are allowed to accumulate special funds received based on units removed from the inventory from year to year. This information is presently collected in hard copy at the field office level; the EPIC data system will automate and centralize this collection in order to streamline the process and improve transparency. Furthermore, the EPIC data system will be loaded with Physical Needs Assessment (“PNA”) data. This data being in the system coupled with the electronic planning process will streamline grantee planning. The EPIC data system will collect information about the Energy Performance Contract (“EPC”) process such as energy efficiency improvement financed under an EPC, and construction start and completion date. It will also collect the energy efficiency improvements information on the types previously captured through the RAMPS for Public Housing Capital Fund Recovery grants. As the Department moves to shrink its energy footprint in spite of rising energy costs, clear and comprehensive data on this process will be crucial to its success. Finally, the Department has prioritized in Agency Performance Goal # 2, Measure # 5 making housing more available for more families. In the light of the recent housing crisis, this goal has become simultaneously more challenging and more important. Tracking of the use of Federal funds paid through the Public Housing Capital Fund, the only Federal funding stream dedicated to the capital needs of the nation's last resort housing option, is crucial to understanding how the Department can properly and efficiently assist grantees in meeting this goal as well as assessing the Department's own progress. The EPIC data system will track development of public housing with Federal funds and through other means, including mixed-finance development.

	Number of respondents	Annual responses	×	Hours per response	Burden hours
Reporting Burden:	3,150	22.09		2.629	183,045

Total Estimated Burden Hours: 183,045.

Status: Revision of a currently approved collection.

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

Dated: May 22, 2013.

Colette Pollard,

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