7 Day FR Notice

Billing Code: XXXX

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-XXXX-N-XX]

Notice of Proposed Information Collection to OMB:

Emergency Comment Request

Emergency Waivers Reporting

AGENCY: Public and Indian Housing

ACTION: Notice of OMB emergency approval of information collection

SUMMARY: The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved HUD’s submission of an information collection described below, Emergency Waivers Reporting (EWR)following HUD’s request for emergency processing. Given the emergency approval, HUD is soliciting public comments on Emergency Waivers Reporting (EWR) after having obtained approval.

DATES: Comments Due Date: [Insert Date 7 Days after the date of publication.]

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding this proposal. Comments must be received within 7 days from the date of this Notice. Comments should refer to EWR by name and should be sent to: Colette Pollard, Reports Management Officer, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street, SW, Room 4176, Washington, DC 20410-5000; telephone 202-402-3400 (this is not a toll-free number) or email at Colette.Pollard@hud.gov 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 (800) 877-8339.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colette Pollard, Reports Management Officer, QDAM, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20410; e-mail Colette Pollard at Colette.Pollard@hud.gov or telephone 202-402-3400. Persons with hearing or speech impairments may access this number through TTY by calling the toll-free Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. 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 the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has submitted to OMB, for emergency processing, a proposed information collection request (ICR) as described below.

A. Overview of Information Collection

Title of Information Collection: Emergency Waivers Reporting

OMB Approval Number: 2577-XXXX (new request)

Type of Request: New collection.

Form Numbers: New collection with three associated forms to be numbered.

Description of the need for the information and proposed use:

In response to the national COVID-19 emergency, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) was enacted on March 27, 2020. The Act gives the Department the ability to waive regulatory and statutory provisions that apply to Public Housing Agencies (PHAs). Specifically, the CARES Act allows the Secretary of HUD to “waive, or specify alternative requirements for, any provision of any statute or regulation (except for requirements related to fair housing, nondiscrimination, labor standards, and the environment)….upon a finding by the Secretary that any such waivers or alternative requirements are necessary for the safe and effective administration of these funds… to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus.”

HUD issued a notice detailing the waivers available in response to the COVID-19 crisis, posted on April 10, 2020, as PIH Notice 2020-05. This notice states: PHAs are required to keep written documentation that record which waivers the PHA applied to their programs(s) and the effective dates.

In response to presidentially declared Major Disaster Declarations (MDDs), FR-6050-N-04 is: Relief from HUD Public Housing and Section 8 Requirements Available During CY2020 and CY2021 to Public Housing Agencies to Assist with Recovery and Relief Efforts. This notice lists the specific waivers and relief options available for use by PHAs.

No respondent is mandated to use a waiver but use of the waivers is encouraged by HUD in

response to specific emergencies to reduce burdens and administrative requirements. The notice

announcing the availability of waivers becomes the checklist which respondents use to note

responses as to which waivers they elected to use and their start date.

Respondents: Public Housing Agencies (PHAs).

Estimation of Burden Hours:

Information Collection	Number of Respondents	Frequency of Response	Responses Per Annum	Burden Hour Per Response	Annual Burden Hours	Hourly Cost	Total Annual Cost
COVID	3800	1	3800	1	3800	36.86	140,068
MDD	300	1	300	1	300	36.86	11,058
Future Emergencies	1000	1	1000	1	1000	36.86	36,860
TOTAL	5,100						187,986

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 the use of appropriate automated collection techniques and permitting electronic submission of responses.

HUD encourages interested parties to submit comment in response to these questions.

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

Date: _________________

_______________________________________________

Colette Pollard, Department Reports Management Officer

Office of the Chief Information Officer

[FR-XXXX-N-01]