81 FR 15545 - 30-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) Program Reporting

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 56 (March 23, 2016)

HUD has submitted the proposed information collection requirement described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. The purpose of this notice is to allow for an additional 30 days of public comment.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 56 (Wednesday, March 23, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15545-15546]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-06596]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-5909-N-18]


30-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Indian Housing 
Block Grant (IHBG) Program Reporting

AGENCY: Office of the Chief Information Officer, HUD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: HUD has submitted the proposed information collection 
requirement described below to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) for review, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. The 
purpose of this notice is to allow for an additional 30 days of public 
comment.

DATES: Comments Due Date: April 22, 2016.

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: HUD Desk Officer, Office of 
Management and Budget, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 
20503; fax: 202-395-5806. Email: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colette Pollard, Reports Management 
Officer, QMAC, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th 
Street SW., Washington, DC 20410; email Colette Pollard at 
[email protected] or telephone 202-402-3400. This is not a toll-
free number. Persons with hearing or speech impairments may access this 
number through TTY by calling the toll-free Federal Relay Service at 
(800) 877-8339.
    Copies of available documents submitted to OMB may be obtained from 
Ms. Pollard.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice informs the public that HUD is 
seeking approval from OMB for the information collection described in 
Section A.
    The Federal Register notice that solicited public comment on the 
information collection for a period of 60 days was published on January 
06. 2016.

A. Overview of Information Collection

    Title of Information Collection: Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) 
Program Reporting.
    OMB Approval Number: 2577-0218.
    Type of Request: Extension of currently approved collection.
    Form Number: HUD-52737, HUD-4117, HUD-4119; HUD-52736-A and HUD-
52736-B.
    Description of the need for the information and proposed use: The 
information collected will allow HUD to accurately audit the program. 
The purpose of this notice is to solicit public comment on a Word 
version of HUD-52737, Indian Housing Plan/Annual Performance Report 
(IHP/APR), and two additional, automated versions of form: An Excel 
version and a version on HUD's Energy and Performance Information 
Center (EPIC) Web site. All three versions of the form request exactly 
the same information, but have different burdens due to the automated 
capabilities of the Excel and EPIC versions. These automated 
enhancements make the Excel and EPIC versions easier and faster to 
complete than the Word version. Respondents may elect to complete and 
submit to HUD either the Word, Excel, or EPIC versions; however, the 
Excel and EPIC versions are preferred because of their automated 
capabilities and reduced burden. The Native American Housing Assistance 
and Self Determination Act (NAHASDA) requires recipients (tribes and 
tribally designated housing entities) to submit specific information 
that is necessary for the implementation and evaluation of low income 
housing programs using Indian Housing Block Grant funds (IHBG). 
Recipients of IHBG funds are required to submit the IHP/

[[Page 15546]]

APR annually. In addition to the IHP/APR, each year recipients may 
submit a Formula Response Form (HUD-4117), Formula Challenge Form (HUD-
4119), and Depository Agreements (HUD-52736-A and B). Indian tribes, 
Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, or tribally designated housing 
entities that receive IHBG funds are required annually to submit HUD-
52737 that consists of two component: The Indian Housing Plan (IHP) 
component and the Annual Performance Report (APR) component. The IHP is 
required by Section 102 of the Native American Housing Assistance and 
Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA) and describes the eligible IHBG-
funded, affordable housing activities the recipient plans to conduct 
for the benefit of low and moderate income tribal members and 
identifies the intended outcomes and outputs for the upcoming 12-month 
year. The recipient submits the IHP at least 75 days prior to the 
beginning of its 12-month program year. HUD conducts a limited review 
of the IHP to determine that the planned activities are in compliance 
with NAHASDA requirements, as defined at 24 CFR part 1000. At the end 
of the 12-month period, the recipient submits the APR that is required 
by Section 404 of NAHASDA and describes (1) the use of grant funds 
during the prior 12-month period; (2) the actual outcomes and outputs 
achieved; (3) program accomplishments; and (4) jobs supported by IHBG-
funded activities. HUD uses the information in the APR to review the 
recipient's progress in implementing the IHP, verify whether the 
activities are eligible and to determine if the recipient has the 
capacity to continue implementing the activities described in the IHP 
in a timely manner. The information in the APR also will be used to 
provide Congress, stakeholders, and other interested parties with 
information on how the IHBG funds are being used to meet affordable 
housing needs within Native American communities. The IHP/APR is 
currently available in a Word version, an Excel version, and a version 
on HUD's Energy and Performance Information Center (EPIC) Web site. All 
three versions of the IHP/APR request the same information and a 
recipient may elect to submit to HUD either the Word, Excel, or EPIC 
versions; however, the Excel and EPIC versions are preferred because of 
their automated capabilities and reduced burden. Participants in the 
IHBG program are responsible for notifying HUD of changes to the 
Formula Current Assisted Stock (FCAS) component of the IHBG formula. 
HUD is notified of changes in the FCAS through a Formula Response Form 
(HUD-4117), as defined at 24 CFR 1000.302. A tribe, Tribally Designated 
Housing Entities (TDHE), or HUD may challenge the data from the U.S. 
Decennial Census or provide an alternative source of data by submitting 
the Guidelines for Challenging U.S. Decennial Census Data Document Form 
(HUD-4119). Census challenges are due March 30th of each fiscal year, 
as defined at 24 CFR 1000.336. This information collection is required 
of participants in the IHBG program to demonstrate compliance with 
eligibility and other requirements of NAHASDA; provision of correction 
or challenge documentation of the formula calculation; and provision of 
data for HUD's annual report to Congress. The information gathered will 
be used to allocate funds under the IHBG program. The quality assurance 
of data reported is a very important issue in maintaining HUD's 
databases used to monitor participant's proposed plans, 
accomplishments, determine program compliance, and to ensure fair and 
equitable allocations. In some cases, the FCAS information addressing 
the conveyances and conversions of units has resulted in the recouping 
of funds. IHBG recipients have the option to invest IHBG funds in 
eligible instruments for up to five years with private bankers and/or 
brokers. At any time, a recipient may enter into a Depository Agreement 
with a banker (HUD-52736-A) and/or with the broker (HUD-52736-B).
    Respondents (i.e. affected public): Native American Tribes and 
Tribally Designated Housing Entities, Alaska Natives and Corporations, 
and Native Hawaiians.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 366.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 1,779.
    Frequency of Response: The IHP/APR is submitted twice a year and 
the Formula Correction and Formula Challenge forms are submitted once 
per year.
    Average Hours per Response: 60.
    Total Estimated Burdens: 48,211 hours.

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 through the use of appropriate 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses. HUD 
encourages interested parties to submit comment in response to these 
questions.

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

    Dated: March 17, 2016.
Colette Pollard,
Department Reports Management Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016-06596 Filed 3-22-16; 8:45 am]
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