80 FR 21751 - Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Coastal and Social Resiliency Initiatives for Tottenville Shoreline, Staten Island, NY
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 75 (April 20, 2015)
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 75 (April 20, 2015)
| Page Range | 21751-21754 | |
| FR Document | 2015-09007 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 75 (Monday, April 20, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 21751-21754] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-09007] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT [Docket No. FR-5866-N-01] Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Coastal and Social Resiliency Initiatives for Tottenville Shoreline, Staten Island, NY AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development, HUD. ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This provides notice that the State of New York, as the ``Responsible Entity,'' as that term is defined by 24 CFR 58.2(a)(7)(i), intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that will evaluate alternatives for increasing coastal and social resiliency along the Tottenville shoreline on the South Shore of Staten Island and help to avoid or minimize adverse impacts to the quality of the human environment (``Proposed Actions''). The State of New York is the Grantee of Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds appropriated by the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013 (Pub. L. 113-2, approved January 29, 2013) related to disaster relief, long-term recovery, restoration of infrastructure and housing, and economic revitalization in the most impacted and distressed areas resulting from a major disaster declared pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act of 1974 (Stafford Act) in calendar years 2011, 2012, and 2013. The Governor's Office of Storm Recovery (GOSR) implements the State's obligations under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) through duly authorized Certifying Officers. GOSR was formed under the auspices of the New York State Homes and Community Renewal's Housing Trust Fund Corporation (HTFC), a public benefit corporation and subsidiary of the New York State Housing Finance Agency. The EIS will satisfy the requirements of NEPA and the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA). This notice is in accordance with the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations at 40 CFR parts 1500-1508 and HUD regulations at 24 CFR part 58. Following a public scoping process, a Draft EIS will be prepared for the proposed actions described herein. Comments relating to the Draft Scope of Work for the EIS are requested and will be accepted by the contact person listed below. When the Draft EIS is completed, a notice will be sent to appropriate government agencies, individuals and groups known to have an interest in the Draft EIS and particularly in the environmental impact issues identified therein. Any person or agency interested in receiving notice and commenting on the Draft Scope of Work or Draft EIS should contact the person listed below no later than May 15, 2015. HUD has provided for assumption of its NEPA authority and responsibilities to New York State, as Responsible Entity, for the purposes of administering the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Program in New York State. Comments: Comments relating to the Draft Scope of Work for the EIS are requested and will be accepted by the contact person listed below until May 15, 2015. Comments will also be accepted at the scoping meeting described below on April 30, 2015. All interested agencies, tribes, groups, and persons are invited to submit written comments on the projects named in this notice and on the Draft Scope of Work for the EIS to the contact person listed below. All comments received before May 15, 2015 will be considered prior to the preparation and distribution of the Draft EIS. Commenters are asked to submit any information-related reports or other environmental studies planned or completed in the project area, major issues that the EIS should consider, recommended mitigation measures, and alternatives associated with the Proposed Actions. Federal, State and City agencies having jurisdiction by law, special expertise, or other special interest should report their interest and indicate their readiness to aid in the EIS effort as a ``Cooperating Agency.'' The following federal agencies have thus far expressed roles as cooperating agencies under NEPA: The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA- NMFS), and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel Greene, Deputy General Counsel and Certifying Officer, Governor's Office of Storm Recovery, 25 Beaver Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10004; email: nyscdbg_dr_er@nyshcr.org. Individuals may request a copy of the Draft Scope of Work by contacting Mr. Greene at this address or by visiting GOSR's Web site at www.StormRecovery.ny.gov/Environment. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: [[Page 21752]] A. Background The State of New York, acting through GOSR, and acting under authority of HUD's regulations at 24 CFR part 58, and in cooperation with other cooperating, involved, and interested agencies, will prepare an EIS to analyze potential impacts of certain alternatives to enhance coastal and social resiliency on the South Shore of Staten Island. The EIS will seek to avoid or minimize adverse impacts to the quality of the human environment. Staten Island is exposed to extreme wave action and coastal flooding during hurricane and nor'easter events due to its location at the mouth of the New York Bight, which funnels and increases the intensity of storm surge into New York Harbor, Raritan Bay, and the shoreline of Staten Island. The South Shore of Staten Island is particularly vulnerable to more continual and gradual coastal erosion and land loss. The overarching goal of the initiative is to reduce risk and coastal erosion along the shoreline in Tottenville by implementing strategies that would primarily address wave action, impacts of coastal flooding, and event-based (i.e., short-term/storm-related) and long- term shoreline erosion, while restoring and enhancing ecosystems and engaging with the community through educational programs and enhanced waterfront access. The EIS will look at several alternatives to achieve these objectives. B. Purpose and Need of the Proposed Action As described above, the South Shore of Staten Island is vulnerable to coastal erosion and land loss. Consistent with the New York City's Coastal Protection Initiatives and planning studies for the Tottenville area, the goal of the Proposed Actions is to reduce risk and coastal erosion along the shoreline in Tottenville, while enhancing ecosystems and shoreline accessibility and use. Specifically, the goals and objectives related to the Proposed Actions' purpose and need are listed below: Risk ReductionAttenuate wave energy. Address both event-based and long-term shoreline erosion/ preserve beach width. Address the impacts of coastal flooding. Ecological Enhancement Increasing diversity of aquatic habitats consistent with the Hudson-Raritan Estuary plan priorities (e.g., oyster reefs and fish and shellfish habitat). Social Resiliency Foster community education on coastal resiliency directly tied to and building off the structural components of this resiliency initiative. Increase physical and visual access to the water's edge. Enhance community stewardship of on-shore and in-water ecosystems. Increase access to recreational opportunities. C. Project Alternatives The EIS will discuss all of the alternatives that have been considered for analysis, identify those that have been eliminated from further consideration because they do not meet the stated purpose and need, and identify those that will be analyzed further. At this time, it is anticipated that the following alternatives will be analyzed: Alternative 1--No Action Alternative The No Action alternative assumes that no new structural risk reduction projects will be implemented in the project area and existing trends of dune replenishment would continue. This alternative also assumes that current trends with respect to coastal conditions at Tottenville--i.e., relating to erosion, wave action, ecosystems, and water quality--will continue. The No Action alternative also presumes that existing strategies to educate New Yorkers and the general public on the risks posed by climate change will remain the same in the study area. Alternative 2--The Layered Tottenville Shoreline Resiliency Strategy: Living Breakwaters and Tottenville Dune Projects (``Layered Strategy'') (Preferred Alternative) The Layered Strategy is the State's preferred alternative and it consists of the implementation of two individual projects that, if integrated as one initiative, may provide a better overall coastal projection and promote social resilience. These projects were developed through separate, but related, planning initiatives arising out of the Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts. If implemented together, the projects would be planned and designed as a single, integrated coastal resiliency strategy for this area. By providing two layers of coastal protection, these components, as further described below, will improve current shoreline erosion conditions, serve to further reduce wave action, provide for ecological enhancement and promote social resiliency. The individual components of the Layered Strategy are discussed below. Living Breakwaters Project (Rebuild-by-Design) New York State has been allocated $60 million of CDGB-DR program funds toward a total estimated project cost of $74 million to implement the below described project along the Tottenville shoreline of the South Shore of Staten Island. In-Water Components One of the key components of the Layered Strategy is the Breakwaters Project, an ecologically enhanced breakwater system that would reduce wave energy at the shoreline and prevent shoreline erosion. The proposed location of the breakwaters is expected to curtail shoreline erosion, which would support on-going efforts to replenish the protective beaches along the shore. The proposed breakwaters would span an approximately 13,000 linear foot stretch off the Tottenville shoreline of Staten Island and would be located and designed to optimize wave height reduction and reduce coastal erosion. Final siting considerations would include maximizing reductions in wave heights and shoreline erosion, avoiding or minimizing habitat displacement and navigational impacts, and identifying favorable geotechnical conditions. The proposed breakwater system would increase habitat diversity through the establishment of structural habitat, which is currently limited within Raritan Bay. The breakwaters would likely provide a combination of exposed, intertidal and subtidal reef habitat, and through the incorporation of ``reef streets'' (pockets of complexity within the structure) would further increase habitat diversity within Raritan Bay by providing shelter for juvenile fish, and increasing biological recruitment of filter-feeding organisms such as mussels and oysters, furthering opportunities for shellfish restoration within Raritan Bay. The breakwaters would also protect the proposed on-shore dune system described below. The draft operation and maintenance plan for the proposed breakwater system will be described in the EIS. On-Shore Community Water Hub/Landscape Elements With the goal of promoting social resiliency, a proposed community Water Hub would provide a place for access to the waterfront, orientation, education, information, restoration, gathering and equipment storage. In particular, the [[Page 21753]] Water Hub programming would include classrooms and labs, engaging schools in waterfront education, oyster restoration and reef building, and cultivating long-term estuary stewardship. The educational programming for the Water Hub will directly tie in to the in-water components, as well as to any shoreline resiliency component. In addition to ecological engagement, the Water Hub facilities and programs are intended to educate residents on the risks and benefits of living in the coastal environment and build awareness and preparedness within the community. The Tottenville Water Hub may also include other elements, such as recreation lounges, exhibition space, a local restaurant, maintenance-related storage space and offices, bird watching stations and nature observation decks. The Water Hub would potentially be located on the waterfront within or near Conference House Park, although alternate locations will be considered during the EIS process. Siting considerations would include access to existing infrastructure, Coastal Erosion Hazard Area (CEHA) sensitivity, coastal construction permitting, archaeological sensitivity, proximity to the breakwater system, proximity to local schools and public transportation, and neighborhood traffic patterns and parking. The draft operation and maintenance plan for the proposed Water Hub will be described in the EIS. The Breakwaters Project would also include several on-shore and near-shore landscape elements in the area of the Water Hub, including living shorelines (high and low marsh), oyster revetments, maritime forest and dune plantings. Tottenville Dune Project (NY Rising Community Reconstruction Program) New York State proposes to use approximately $6,350,000 of HUD CDBG-DR program funds to implement the below-described dune system with plantings along the Tottenville shoreline from approximately Brighton Street to Joline Avenue. The Dune Project is intended to protect against coastal flooding and wave action, complementing the Breakwaters Project and furthering the goal of risk reduction in Tottenville. The Tottenville Dune Project is proposed as a hardened dune system that would consist of constructed dunes having a stone core with a sand cap, and is the primary shoreline component of the layered approach to risk reduction in Tottenville. Once constructed, the dunes would be planted with appropriate vegetation, which through root growth, will serve to stabilize the dunes to withstand wind and water erosion while promoting enlargement of the dunes by accretion. The proposed dune system would be located along the Tottenville shoreline from approximately Brighton Street to Joline Avenue. Temporary dunes, constructed by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYCDPR) as interim protective measures post-Sandy, are currently in place from approximately Brighton Street to Sprague Avenue. These temporary dunes would be replaced with the larger, hardened dune system. New dunes would also be constructed from Sprague Avenue to Joline Avenue. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible access points to the beach would also be constructed along the new dune system and would be considered and designed in tandem with the Water Hub and living shoreline project components. Designing the dunes in conjunction with the breakwaters may enable design modifications of the dunes (such as, reduced height) that would enhance the need for shoreline accessibility. The draft operation and maintenance plan for the proposed dune system will be described in the EIS. Alternative 3--Breakwaters Without a Dune System This alternative will evaluate conditions with the proposed breakwaters in place (including the on-shore community Water Hub and landscape elements), but without a proposed long-term dune system between Brighton Avenue and Joline Avenue. Alternative 4--Dune System Without Breakwaters This alternative will evaluate conditions with the proposed long- term dune system in place, but without the proposed breakwaters, Water Hub, or on-shore landscape elements. Other Alternatives Other alternatives may be developed in consultation with the United States Army Corp of Engineers, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration--National Marine Fisheries Service, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the New York State Department of State, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, New York City Department of Parks and Recreation and other involved agencies during the EIS preparation process, as well as in response to suggestions made by project stakeholders and the general public during the EIS scoping process. Notably, GOSR intends for the alternatives analysis to fulfill the requirements for a permit under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. These may include non-structural coastal resilience strategies, but only to the extent that they meet the purposes and need for both enhanced shoreline protection and increased social resiliency. The alternatives may also include coastal resiliency strategies proposed by other governmental stakeholders, to the extent that these strategies are made available to GOSR during development of the Draft EIS. Additionally, alternatives may also include alternate designs or sizes of both the dune and breakwaters. D. Need for the EIS The actions proposed herein may constitute an action significantly affecting the quality of the environment and an EIS will be prepared on this project in accordance with NEPA. Responses to this notice will be used to: (1) Determine significant environmental issues, (2) assist in developing a range of alternatives to be considered, (3) identify issues that the EIS should address, and (4) identify agencies and other parties that will participate in the EIS process and the basis for their involvement. E. Scoping A public EIS scoping meeting will be held on April 30, 2015 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at CYO-MIV Community Center, 6541 Hylan Blvd., Staten Island, NY 10309. The public meeting site will be accessible to the mobility-impaired. Interpreter services will be available for the hearing or visually impaired upon advance request. The EIS scoping meetings will provide an opportunity for the public to learn more about the Proposed Actions and provide input to the environmental process. At the meetings, an overview of the Proposed Actions, including the preferred Layered Strategy alternative, will be presented and members of the public will be invited to comment on the scope of work for the environmental analyses in the EIS. Written comments and testimony concerning the scope of the EIS will be accepted at these meetings. In accordance with 40 CFR 1501.7; affected Federal, State, and local agencies, any affected Indian tribes, and other interested parties will be sent a scoping notice. In accordance with 24 CFR 58.59, the scoping meetings will be preceded by a notice of public meeting published in the local news media at least 15 days before the hearing date. [[Page 21754]] F. Probable Environmental Effects The following subject areas will be analyzed in the combined EIS for probable environmental effects: Land Use, Zoning, and Public Policy; Socioeconomic Conditions; Environmental Justice; Cultural Resources; Visual Character; Shadows; Natural Resources; Water and Sewer Infrastructure; Transportation; Air Quality; Greenhouse Gases and Climate Change; Noise; Construction; Public Health; Neighborhood Character; and Cumulative Effects. Questions may be directed to the individual named in this notice under the heading FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Date: April 15, 2015. Clifford Taffet, General Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development. [FR Doc. 2015-09007 Filed 4-17-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4210-67-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 75 / Monday, April 20, 2015 / Notices 21751
Procurement Officer, Office of Policy, DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND a notice will be sent to appropriate
Systems and Risk Management, Office URBAN DEVELOPMENT government agencies, individuals and
of the Chief Procurement Officer, groups known to have an interest in the
[Docket No. FR–5866–N–01]
Department of Housing and Urban Draft EIS and particularly in the
Development, 451 7th Street SW., Notice of Intent To Prepare an environmental impact issues identified
Washington, DC 20410; telephone Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) therein. Any person or agency interested
number 202–708–0294 or Lawrence E. for Coastal and Social Resiliency in receiving notice and commenting on
Chambers, Director, Risk Management Initiatives for Tottenville Shoreline, the Draft Scope of Work or Draft EIS
and Compliance Unit, Policy, Systems Staten Island, NY should contact the person listed below
and Risk Management, Department of no later than May 15, 2015. HUD has
AGENCY: Office of the Assistant provided for assumption of its NEPA
Housing and Urban Development, 451 Secretary for Community Planning and
7th St. SW., Washington, DC 20410, authority and responsibilities to New
Development, HUD. York State, as Responsible Entity, for
telephone number: 202–402–6716 (these ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an
are not toll-free numbers) and fax the purposes of administering the
EIS. Community Development Block Grant
number 202–708–8912. Persons with
hearing or speech impairments may SUMMARY: This provides notice that the Disaster Recovery Program in New York
State of New York, as the ‘‘Responsible State.
access Mr. Chambers’ telephone number
by calling the toll-free Federal Relay Entity,’’ as that term is defined by 24 Comments: Comments relating to the
Service at 800–877–8339. CFR 58.2(a)(7)(i), intends to prepare an Draft Scope of Work for the EIS are
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) requested and will be accepted by the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In that will evaluate alternatives for contact person listed below until May
accordance with section 743 of Division increasing coastal and social resiliency 15, 2015. Comments will also be
C of the Consolidated Appropriations along the Tottenville shoreline on the accepted at the scoping meeting
Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111–117, approved South Shore of Staten Island and help described below on April 30, 2015. All
December 16, 2009, 123 Stat. 3034, at to avoid or minimize adverse impacts to interested agencies, tribes, groups, and
123 Stat. 3216), HUD is publishing this the quality of the human environment persons are invited to submit written
notice to advise the public of service (‘‘Proposed Actions’’). The State of New comments on the projects named in this
contract inventories that were awarded York is the Grantee of Community notice and on the Draft Scope of Work
in FY 2013. The inventories are Development Block Grant Disaster for the EIS to the contact person listed
organized by function and are reviewed Recovery (CDBG–DR) funds below. All comments received before
by HUD to better understand how appropriated by the Disaster Relief May 15, 2015 will be considered prior
contracted services are used to support Appropriations Act, 2013 (Pub. L. 113– to the preparation and distribution of
HUD’s primary mission, to insure HUD 2, approved January 29, 2013) related to the Draft EIS. Commenters are asked to
maintains an adequate workforce for disaster relief, long-term recovery, submit any information-related reports
restoration of infrastructure and or other environmental studies planned
operations and to research whether
housing, and economic revitalization in or completed in the project area, major
contractors were performing inherently
the most impacted and distressed areas issues that the EIS should consider,
governmental functions. resulting from a major disaster declared recommended mitigation measures, and
The inventory was developed in pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford alternatives associated with the
accordance with guidance issued on Disaster Relief and Emergency Proposed Actions. Federal, State and
November 5, 2010, by the Office of Assistance Act of 1974 (Stafford Act) in City agencies having jurisdiction by law,
Management and Budget’s Office calendar years 2011, 2012, and 2013. special expertise, or other special
Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP). The Governor’s Office of Storm
interest should report their interest and
OFPP’s guidance is available at https:// Recovery (GOSR) implements the State’s
indicate their readiness to aid in the EIS
www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/ obligations under the National
effort as a ‘‘Cooperating Agency.’’ The
omb/procurement/memo/service- Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
following federal agencies have thus far
contract-inventories-guidance- through duly authorized Certifying
expressed roles as cooperating agencies
11052010.pdf. Officers. GOSR was formed under the
under NEPA: The United States Army
auspices of the New York State Homes
HUD has posted its inventory and a Corps of Engineers (USACE), the
and Community Renewal’s Housing
summary of the inventory on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Trust Fund Corporation (HTFC), a
Department of Housing and Urban Administration’s National Marine
public benefit corporation and
Development’s homepage at the Fisheries Service (NOAA–NMFS), and
subsidiary of the New York State
following link: http://portal.hud.gov/ Housing Finance Agency. the United States Environmental
hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/ The EIS will satisfy the requirements Protection Agency (USEPA).
cpo/sci. of NEPA and the State Environmental FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dated: April 14, 2015. Quality Review Act (SEQRA). This Daniel Greene, Deputy General Counsel
notice is in accordance with the Council and Certifying Officer, Governor’s Office
Lisa D. Maguire,
on Environmental Quality (CEQ) of Storm Recovery, 25 Beaver Street, 5th
Assistant Chief Procurement Officer. regulations at 40 CFR parts 1500–1508 Floor, New York, NY 10004; email:
[FR Doc. 2015–08945 Filed 4–17–15; 8:45 am]
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
and HUD regulations at 24 CFR part 58. nyscdbg_dr_er@nyshcr.org. Individuals
BILLING CODE 4210–67–P Following a public scoping process, a may request a copy of the Draft Scope
Draft EIS will be prepared for the of Work by contacting Mr. Greene at this
proposed actions described herein. address or by visiting GOSR’s Web site
Comments relating to the Draft Scope of at www.StormRecovery.ny.gov/
Work for the EIS are requested and will Environment.
be accepted by the contact person listed
below. When the Draft EIS is completed, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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![21754 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 75 / Monday, April 20, 2015 / Notices
F. Probable Environmental Effects should refer to the above docket number Office of Public and Indian Housing,
The following subject areas will be and title and should contain the telephone number 202–402–4212; or
analyzed in the combined EIS for information specified in the ‘‘Request Peter B. Kahn, Director, Economic and
probable environmental effects: Land for Comments’’ section. There are two Market Analysis Division, Office of
Use, Zoning, and Public Policy; methods for submitting public Policy Development and Research,
Socioeconomic Conditions; comments. telephone number 202–402–2409, for
Environmental Justice; Cultural 1. Submission of Comments by Mail. technical information regarding the
Resources; Visual Character; Shadows; Comments may be submitted by mail to development of the schedules for
Natural Resources; Water and Sewer the Regulations Division, Office of specific areas or the methods used for
Infrastructure; Transportation; Air General Counsel, Department of calculating the inflation factors,
Quality; Greenhouse Gases and Climate Housing and Urban Development, 451 Department of Housing and Urban
Change; Noise; Construction; Public 7th Street SW., Room 10276, Development, 451 7th Street SW.,
Health; Neighborhood Character; and Washington, DC 20410–0500. Due to Washington, DC 20410. Hearing- or
Cumulative Effects. security measures at all federal agencies, speech-impaired persons may contact
Questions may be directed to the however, submission of comments by the Federal Relay Service at 800–877–
individual named in this notice under mail often results in delayed delivery. 8339 (TTY). (Other than the ‘‘800’’ TTY
the heading FOR FURTHER INFORMATION To ensure timely receipt of comments, number, the above-listed telephone
CONTACT. HUD recommends that comments numbers are not toll free.)
submitted by mail be submitted at least SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Date: April 15, 2015.
two weeks in advance of the public
Clifford Taffet, I. Background
comment deadline.
General Deputy Assistant Secretary for 2. Electronic Submission of Tables showing Renewal Funding
Community Planning and Development. Comments. Interested persons may Inflation Factors will be available
[FR Doc. 2015–09007 Filed 4–17–15; 8:45 am] submit comments electronically through electronically from the HUD data
BILLING CODE 4210–67–P the Federal eRulemaking Portal at information page at: http://www.
http://www.regulations.gov. HUD huduser.org/portal/datasets/rfif/
strongly encourages commenters to FY2015/FY2015_RFIF_FMR_AREA_
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND submit comments electronically. REPORT.pdf.
URBAN DEVELOPMENT Electronic submission of comments Division K, Title II, Consolidated and
[Docket No. FR–5857–N–01] allows the commenter maximum time to Further Continuing Appropriations Act,
prepare and submit a comment, ensures 2015 requires that the HUD Secretary,
Section 8 Housing Assistance timely receipt by HUD, and enables for the calendar year 2015 funding
Payments Program—Fiscal Year (FY) HUD to make them immediately cycle, provide renewal funding for each
2015 Inflation Factors for Public available to the public. Comments public housing agency (PHA) based on
Housing Agency (PHA) Renewal submitted electronically through the validated voucher management system
Funding http://www.regulations.gov Web site can (VMS) leasing and cost data for the prior
be viewed by other commenters and calendar year and by applying an
AGENCY: Office of the Assistant inflation factor as established by the
Secretary for Policy Development and interested members of the public.
Commenters should follow instructions Secretary, by notice published in the
Research, HUD. Federal Register. This notice provides
provided on that site to submit
ACTION: Notice. the FY 2015 inflation factors and
comments electronically.
describes the methodology for
SUMMARY: The Consolidated Note: To receive consideration as public calculating them.
Appropriations Act, 2015 requires that comments, comments must be submitted
HUD apply ‘‘an inflation factor as through one of the two methods specified II. Methodology
established by the Secretary, by notice above. Again, all submissions must refer to
the docket number and title of the notice. The Department has focused on
published in the Federal Register’’ to measuring the change in average PUC as
adjust FY 2015 renewal funding for the No Facsimile Comments. Facsimile captured in HUD’s administrative data
Tenant-based Rental Assistance Program (FAX) comments are not acceptable. in VMS. In order to predict the likely
or Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Public Inspection of Comments. All path of PUC over time, HUD has
Program of each PHA. HUD began using comments and communications implemented a model that uses three
Renewal Funding Inflation Factors in submitted to HUD will be available, economic indices that capture key
FY 2012. These Renewal Funding without change, for public inspection components of the economic climate
Inflation Factors incorporate economic and copying between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. and assist in explaining the changes in
indices to measure the expected change weekdays at the above address. Due to PUC. These economic components are
in per unit costs (PUC) for the HCV security measures at the HUD the seasonally-adjusted unemployment
program. The methodology for FY 2015 Headquarters building, an advance rate (lagged twelve months), the
is similar to that used in FY 2014. appointment to review the public Consumer Price Index from the Bureau
DATES: Effective Date: April 20, 2015. comments must be scheduled by calling of Labor Statistics, and the ‘‘wages and
Comments Due Date: June 19, 2015. the Regulations Division at (202) 708– salaries’’ component of personal income
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are 3055 (this is not a toll-free number). from the National Income and Product
Copies of all comments submitted are
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
invited to submit comments on Accounts from the Bureau of Economic
potential improvements to HUD’s per available for inspection and Analysis. This model subsequently
unit cost (PUC) forecasting model to the downloading at http:// forecasts the expected annual change in
Office of the General Counsel, Rules www.regulations.gov. average PUC from Calendar Year (CY)
Docket Clerk, Department of Housing FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 2014 to CY 2015 for the voucher
and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Miguel A. Fontanez, Director, Housing program on a national basis by
Street SW., Room 10276, Washington, Voucher Financial Division, Office of incorporating comparable economic
DC 20410–0001. Communications Public Housing and Voucher Programs, variables from the Administration’s
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Document Created: 2018-02-21 10:12:40
Document Modified: 2018-02-21 10:12:40
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS. | |
| Dates | April 15, 2015. Clifford Taffet, General Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development. [FR Doc. 2015-09007 Filed 4-17-15; 8:45 am] | |
| Contact | Daniel Greene, Deputy General Counsel and Certifying Officer, Governor's Office of Storm Recovery, 25 Beaver Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10004; email: [email protected] Individuals may request a copy of the Draft Scope of Work by contacting | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 21751 |
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