2011-14109. Notice of Proposed Information Collection, Comment Request; Application for HealthyHomes and Lead Hazard Control Grant Programs and Quality Assurance Plans

AGENCY:

Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

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: April 15, 2011 .

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: Reports Liaison Officer, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW., Washington, DC 20410, Room 9120 or the number for the Federal Information Relay Service (1-800-877-8339).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jeffrey Simpkins, Technical Assistance Specialist, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street, SW., Room 8236, Washington, DC 20410; e-mail [e-mail], or telephone [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Department will submit 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 affected 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.

After the award of grants, HUD's Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control requires its Healthy Homes Demonstration, Healthy Homes Technical Studies grantees, and Lead Technical Studies grantees which are conducting research or significant evaluation activities, to submit a Quality Assurance Plan (QAP) to the Office for approval before they initiate data collection. This requirement also applies to Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control contractors who conduct such research or evaluation activities. This requirement has been established because quality assurance procedures ensure the accuracy and validity of data. The use of quality assurance plan templates helps to ensure that quality assurance activities are well planned and thorough, and standardizes the formatting of the plans, which aids both the respondents in plan development and HUD staff in their review. The use of different templates for technical studies and demonstration projects was designed to reduce respondent burden by requiring more detailed information only for the technical studies (research) projects, consistent with their more rigorous quality assurance requirements.

Title of Proposal: Application for Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control Grant Programs and Quality Assurance Plans.

OMB Control Number, if applicable: 2539-0015.

Description of the need for the information and proposed use: This information collection is required in conjunction with the issuance of Notices of Funding Availability for approximately $150,000,000 for Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control Programs that are authorized under Title X of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992, Public Law 102-550, section 1011, and other legislation.

Agency form numbers, if applicable: HUD 96008, 96012, 96013, 960014, 96015, and standard grant forms.

Estimation of the total numbers of hours needed to prepare the information collection including number of respondents, frequency of response, and hours of response: Number of respondents: 330; frequency of responses: 1; hours per response:25; burden hours: 8250.

Status of the proposed information collection: This is a revision of a currently approved collection.

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

Dated: June 2, 2011.

Jon L. Gant,

Director, Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control.