E9-13632. Notice of Submission of Proposed Information Collection to OMB; Emergency Comment Request; 2009 American Housing Survey-New Orleans Metropolitan Sample

AGENCY:

Office of the Chief Information Officer, HUD.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed information collection.

SUMMARY:

The proposed information collection requirement described below has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for emergency review and approval, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Department is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal.

DATES:

Comments Due Date: June 24, 2009.

ADDRESSES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding this proposal. Comments must be received within fourteen (14) days from the date of this Notice. Comments should refer to the proposal by name and/or OMB approval number and should be sent to: Ms. Kimberly P. Nelson, HUD Desk Officer, Office of Management and Budget, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20502; e-mail: [e-mail]; fax: [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Lillian Deitzer, Reports Management Officer, QDAM, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20410; e-mail: [e-mail]; telephone [phone]. This is not a toll-free number. Copies of available documents should be submitted to OMB and may be obtained from Ms. Deitzer.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This notice informs the public that the Department of Housing and Urban Development 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 Proposal: 2009 American Housing Survey—New Orleans Metropolitan Sample.

Description of Information Collection: This is a new information collection. The Department of Housing and Urban Development is seeking emergency review of the Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements associated with the 2009 American Housing Survey—New Orleans Metropolitan Sample. This document provides notice that this emergency request is necessary at this time because it is essential to provide a periodic measure of the size and composition of the housing inventory for the select New Orleans metropolitan area. In addition, the New Orleans sample will provide information about people who rebuilt or rehabilitated their homes as a result of Hurricane Katrina, or are still in the process of renovating their homes; people who were living in New Orleans pre-Katrina, but who have moved to a different address in the New Orleans metro; and property that existed pre-Katrina, but has not been restored or where a person is living in a trailer on a lot. Title 12, United States Code, Sections 1701Z-1, 1701Z-2(g), and 1710Z-10a mandates the collection of this information. The 2009 American Housing Survey New Orleans Metropolitan sample is similar to previous American Housing Surveys (AHS) in that it collects data on subjects such as the amount and types of changes in the inventory, the physical condition of the inventory, the characteristics of the occupants, the persons eligible for and beneficiaries of assisted housing by race and ethnicity, and the number and characteristics of vacancies. Policy analysts, program managers, budget analysts, and Congressional staff use AHS data to advise executive and legislative branches about housing conditions and the suitability of public policy initiatives. Academic researchers and private organizations also use AHS data in efforts of specific interest and concern to their respective communities. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) needs the AHS data for two important uses.

1. With the data, policy analysts can monitor the interaction among housing needs, demand and supply, as well as changes in housing conditions and costs, to aid in the development of housing policies and the design of housing programs appropriate for different target groups, such as first-time home buyers and the elderly.

2. With the data, HUD can evaluate, monitor, and design HUD programs to improve efficiency and effectiveness.

OMB Control Number: 2528-Pending.

Agency Form Numbers: Computerized Versions of AHS-2161, AHS-22/62 and AHS-23/63.

Members of the Affected Public: Households.

Estimation of the total numbers of hours needed to prepare the information collection including number of responses, frequency of responses, and hours of responses: The number of respondents is 5,400 and the number of responses is 4,644. The estimated total number of burden hours needed to prepare the information collection is 3,654; the frequency of response is once.

Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.

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

Dated: June 3, 2009.

Lillian Deitzer,

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