82_FR_51099 82 FR 50888 - Notice of Certain Operating Cost Adjustment Factors for 2018

82 FR 50888 - Notice of Certain Operating Cost Adjustment Factors for 2018

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 211 (November 2, 2017)

Page Range50888-50890
FR Document2017-23901

This notice establishes operating cost adjustment factors (OCAFs) for project-based rental assistance contracts issued under Section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 and renewed under the Multifamily Assisted Housing Reform and Affordability Act of 1997 (MAHRA) with an anniversary date on or after February 11, 2018. OCAFs are annual factors used primarily to adjust the rents for contracts renewed under section 515 or section 524 of MAHRA. OCAFs are distinct from, and do not apply to the same properties as Annual Adjustment Factors (AAFs). AAFs are used to adjust contract rents for units assisted in certain Section 8 housing assistance payment programs during the initial (i.e., pre-renewal) term of the HAP contract and for all units in the Project-Based Certificate program.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 211 (Thursday, November 2, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 211 (Thursday, November 2, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50888-50890]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-23901]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-6044-N-01]


Notice of Certain Operating Cost Adjustment Factors for 2018

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Housing--Federal Housing 
Commissioner, HUD.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice establishes operating cost adjustment factors 
(OCAFs) for project-based rental assistance contracts issued under 
Section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 and renewed under 
the Multifamily Assisted Housing Reform and Affordability Act of 1997 
(MAHRA) with an anniversary date on or after February 11, 2018. OCAFs 
are annual factors used primarily to adjust the rents for contracts 
renewed under section 515 or section 524 of MAHRA. OCAFs are distinct 
from, and do not apply to the same properties as Annual Adjustment 
Factors (AAFs). AAFs are used to adjust contract rents for units 
assisted in certain Section 8 housing assistance payment programs 
during the initial (i.e., pre-renewal) term of the HAP contract and for 
all units in the Project-Based Certificate program.

DATES: Applicable: February 11, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carisa L. Janis, Program Analyst, 
Office of Asset Management and Portfolio Oversight, Department of 
Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW., Washington, DC 
20410; telephone number 202-402-2487 (this is not a toll-free number). 
Hearing- or speech-impaired individuals may access this number through 
TTY by calling the toll-free Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. OCAFs

    Section 514(e)(2) and section 524(c)(1) of MAHRA (42 U.S.C. 1437f 
note) require HUD to establish guidelines for the development of OCAFs 
for rent

[[Page 50889]]

adjustments. Sections 524(a)(4)(C)(i), 524(b)(1)(A), and 524(b)(3)(A) 
of MAHRA, all of which prescribe the use of the OCAF in the calculation 
of renewal rents, contain similar language. HUD has therefore used a 
single methodology for establishing OCAFs, which varies from State to 
State.
    MAHRA gives HUD broad discretion in setting OCAFs, referring, for 
example, in sections 524(a)(4)(C)(i), 524(b)(1)(A), 524(b)(3)(A) and 
524(c)(1) simply to ``an operating cost adjustment factor established 
by the Secretary.'' The sole limitation to this grant of authority is a 
specific requirement in each of the foregoing provisions that 
application of an OCAF ``shall not result in a negative adjustment.'' 
Contract rents are adjusted by applying the OCAF to that portion of the 
rent attributable to operating expenses exclusive of debt service.
    The OCAFs provided in this notice are applicable to eligible 
projects having a contract anniversary date of February 11, 2018 or 
after and were calculated using the same method as those published in 
HUD's 2017 OCAF notice originally published on October 5, 2016 (81 FR 
69073) and amended and republished on December 27, 2016 (81 FR 95162). 
Specifically, OCAFs are calculated as the sum of weighted average cost 
changes for wages, employee benefits, property taxes, insurance, 
supplies and equipment, fuel oil, electricity, natural gas, and water/
sewer/trash using publicly available indices. The weights used in the 
OCAF calculations for each of the nine cost component groupings are set 
using current percentages attributable to each of the nine expense 
categories. These weights are calculated in the same manner as in the 
December 27, 2016, notice. Average expense proportions were calculated 
using three years of audited Annual Financial Statements from projects 
covered by OCAFs. The expenditure percentages for these nine categories 
have been found to be very stable over time, but using three years of 
data increases their stability. The nine cost component weights were 
calculated at the state level, which is the lowest level of 
geographical aggregation with enough projects to permit statistical 
analysis. These data were not available for the Western Pacific 
Islands, so data for Hawaii were used as the best available indicator 
of OCAFs for these areas.
    The best current price data sources for the nine cost categories 
were used in calculating annual change factors. State-level data for 
fuel oil, electricity, and natural gas from Department of Energy 
surveys are relatively current and continue to be used. Data on changes 
in employee benefits, insurance, property taxes, and water/sewer/trash 
costs are only available at the national level. The data sources for 
the nine cost indicators selected used were as follows:
     Labor Costs: First quarter, 2017 Bureau of Labor 
Statistics (BLS) ECI, Private Industry Wages and Salaries, All Workers 
(Series ID CIU2020000000000I) at the national level and Private 
Industry Benefits, All Workers (Series ID CIU2030000000000I) at the 
national level.
     Property Taxes: Census Quarterly Summary of State and 
Local Government Tax Revenue--Table 1 http://www2.census.gov/govs/qtax/20162017/q1t1.xls http://www2.census.gov/govs/qtax/2017/q1t1.xls. 12-
month property taxes are computed as the total of four quarters of tax 
receipts for the period from April through March. Total 12-month taxes 
are then divided by the number of occupied housing units to arrive at 
average 12-month tax per housing unit. The number of occupied housing 
units is taken from the estimates program at the Bureau of the Census. 
http://www.census.gov/housing/hvs/data/histtab8.xls.
     Goods, Supplies, Equipment: May 2016 to May 2017 Bureau of 
Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Price Index, All Items Less Food, 
Energy and Shelter (Series ID CUUR0000SA0L12E) at the national level.
     Insurance: May 2016 to May 2017 Bureau of Labor Statistic 
(BLS) Consumer Price Index, Tenants and Household Insurance Index 
(Series ID CUUR0000SEHD) at the national level.
     Fuel Oil: October 2016-March 2017 U.S. Weekly Heating Oil 
and Propane Prices report. Average weekly residential heating oil 
prices in cents per gallon excluding taxes for the period from October 
5, 2016 through March 28, 2017 are compared to the average from October 
13, 2015 through March 30, 2016. For the States with insufficient fuel 
oil consumption to have separate estimates, the relevant regional 
Petroleum Administration for Defense Districts (PADD) change between 
these two periods is used; if there is no regional PADD estimate, the 
U.S. change between these two periods is used. http://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pri_wfr_a_EPD2F_prs_dpgal_w.htm.
     Electricity: Energy Information Agency, February 2017 
``Electric Power Monthly'' report, Table 5.6.B. http://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.cfm?t=epmt_5_06_b.
     Natural Gas: Energy Information Agency, Natural Gas, 
Residential Energy Price, 2016-2017 annual prices in dollars per 1,000 
cubic feet at the state level. Due to EIA data quality standards 
several states were missing data for one or two months in 2016; in 
these cases, data for these missing months were estimated using data 
from the surrounding months in 2016 and the relationship between that 
same month and the surrounding months in 2015. http://www.eia.gov/dnav/ng/ng_pri_sum_a_EPG0_PRS_DMcf_a.htm.
     Water and Sewer: May 2016 to May 2017 Consumer Price 
Index, All Urban Consumers, Water and Sewer and Trash Collection 
Services (Series ID CUUR0000SEHG) at the national level.
    The sum of the nine cost component percentage weights equals 100 
percent of operating costs for purposes of OCAF calculations. To 
calculate the OCAFs, state-level cost component weights developed from 
AFS data are multiplied by the selected inflation factors. For 
instance, if wages in Virginia comprised 50 percent of total operating 
cost expenses and increased by 4 percent from 2017 to 2018 the wage 
increase component of the Virginia OCAF for 2018 would be 2.0 percent 
(50% * 4%). This 2.0 percent would then be added to the increases for 
the other eight expense categories to calculate the 2018 OCAF for 
Virginia. For states where the OCAF is less than 0 percent, the OCAF is 
floored at 0 percent. The OCAFs for 2018 are included as an Appendix to 
this Notice.

II. MAHRA OCAF Procedures

    Sections 514 and 515 of MAHRA, as amended, created the Mark-to-
Market program to reduce the cost of federal housing assistance, to 
enhance HUD's administration of such assistance, and to ensure the 
continued affordability of units in certain multifamily housing 
projects. Section 524 of MAHRA authorizes renewal of Section 8 project-
based assistance contracts for projects without restructuring plans 
under the Mark-to-Market program, including projects that are not 
eligible for a restructuring plan and those for which the owner does 
not request such a plan. Renewals must be at rents not exceeding 
comparable market rents except for certain projects. As an example, for 
Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation projects, other than single room 
occupancy projects (SROs) under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance 
Act (42 U.S.C. 11301 et seq.), that are eligible for renewal under 
section 524(b)(3) of MAHRA, the renewal rents are required to be set at 
the lesser of: (1) The existing rents under the expiring contract, as 
adjusted by the OCAF; (2) fair market rents (less any amounts allowed 
for tenant-purchased utilities); or (3) comparable market rents for the 
market area.

[[Page 50890]]

III. Findings and Certifications

Environmental Impact

    This notice sets forth rate determinations and related external 
administrative requirements and procedures that do not constitute a 
development decision affecting the physical condition of specific 
project areas or building sites. Accordingly, under 24 CFR 50.19(c)(6), 
this notice is categorically excluded from environmental review under 
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321).

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This notice does not impact the information collection requirements 
already submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520). In 
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, an agency may not conduct 
or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of 
information unless the collection displays a currently valid OMB 
control number.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number

    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number for this program 
is 14.195.

    Dated: October 27, 2017.
Dana T. Wade,
General Deputy, Assistant Secretary for Housing.

APPENDIX

Operating Cost Adjustment Factors for 2018

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            State                              OCAF  (%)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama......................................................        2.3
Alaska.......................................................        2.9
Arizona......................................................        2.0
Arkansas.....................................................        2.2
California...................................................        2.4
Colorado.....................................................        1.9
Connecticut..................................................        2.2
Delaware.....................................................        2.1
District of Columbia.........................................        2.0
Florida......................................................        2.1
Georgia......................................................        2.2
Hawaii.......................................................        0.9
Idaho........................................................        2.4
Illinois.....................................................        2.2
Indiana......................................................        2.1
Iowa.........................................................        2.5
Kansas.......................................................        2.4
Kentucky.....................................................        2.1
Louisiana....................................................        2.1
Maine........................................................        1.6
Maryland.....................................................        2.3
Massachusetts................................................        1.9
Michigan.....................................................        2.2
Minnesota....................................................        2.2
Mississippi..................................................        2.0
Missouri.....................................................        1.8
Montana......................................................        1.9
Nebraska.....................................................        2.2
Nevada.......................................................        1.8
New Hampshire................................................        2.0
New Jersey...................................................        2.4
New Mexico...................................................        1.7
New York.....................................................        2.0
North Carolina...............................................        2.1
North Dakota.................................................        2.5
Ohio.........................................................        1.9
Oklahoma.....................................................        2.1
Oregon.......................................................        2.3
Pacific Islands..............................................        0.9
Pennsylvania.................................................        2.1
Puerto Rico..................................................        2.0
Rhode Island.................................................        1.9
South Carolina...............................................        2.3
South Dakota.................................................        2.4
Tennessee....................................................        2.2
Texas........................................................        2.2
Utah.........................................................        2.2
Vermont......................................................        2.2
Virgin Islands...............................................        2.0
Virginia.....................................................        2.1
Washington...................................................        2.3
West Virginia................................................        2.8
Wisconsin....................................................        2.3
Wyoming......................................................        2.1
U.S..........................................................        2.2
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[FR Doc. 2017-23901 Filed 11-1-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4210-67-P



                                                    50888                      Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 211 / Thursday, November 2, 2017 / Notices

                                                    withdrawal of a retaining element, such                   Name of Committee: National Heart, Lung,            MD 20892, 301–594–4952, liuy@
                                                    as a guidewire, to secure the closure                   and Blood Institute Special Emphasis Panel;           exchange.nih.gov.
                                                    device to the wall.                                     National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute—            (Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance
                                                      Potential Commercial Applications:                    Factor VIII Immune Response (U54).                    Program Nos. 93.846, Arthritis,
                                                                                                              Date: November 30–December 1, 2017.                 Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research,
                                                    Endovascular interventions.                               Time: 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
                                                      Inventors: Toby Rogers, Merdim                                                                              National Institutes of Health, HHS)
                                                                                                              Agenda: To review and evaluate grant
                                                    Sonmez, Robert Lederman, Ozgur                          applications.                                           Dated: October 30, 2017.
                                                    Kocaturk, (NHLBI).                                        Place: Crowne Plaza Hotel, 1480 Crystal             Sylvia L. Neal,
                                                      Intellectual Property: HHS Reference                  Drive, Arlington, VA 22202.                           Program Analyst, Office of Federal Advisory
                                                    No. E–273–2015/0, U.S. Provisional                        Contact Person: William J. Johnson, Ph.D.,          Committee Policy.
                                                    Patent Application 62/236,734 filed                     Scientific Review Officer, Office of Scientific       [FR Doc. 2017–23864 Filed 11–1–17; 8:45 am]
                                                    October 2, 2015, International Patent                   Review/DERA, National Heart, Lung, and
                                                                                                                                                                  BILLING CODE 4140–01–P
                                                    Application PCT/US2016/054961 filed                     Blood Institute, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room
                                                    September 30, 2016.                                     7178, Bethesda, MD 20892–7924, 301–827–
                                                      Licensing Contact: Michael                            7938, johnsonwj@nhlbi.nih.gov.
                                                    Shmilovich, Esq, CLP; 301–435–5019;                     (Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance             DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
                                                    shmilovm@nih.gov.                                       Program Nos. 93.233, National Center for              URBAN DEVELOPMENT
                                                                                                            Sleep Disorders Research; 93.837, Heart and
                                                      Dated: October 23, 2017.                              Vascular Diseases Research; 93.838, Lung              [Docket No. FR–6044–N–01]
                                                    Michael Shmilovich,                                     Diseases Research; 93.839, Blood Diseases
                                                                                                            and Resources Research, National Institutes           Notice of Certain Operating Cost
                                                    Senior Licensing and Patenting Manager,
                                                                                                            of Health, HHS)                                       Adjustment Factors for 2018
                                                    National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute,
                                                    Office of Technology Transfer and                         Dated: October 27, 2017.                            AGENCY:  Office of the Assistant
                                                    Development.                                                                                                  Secretary for Housing—Federal Housing
                                                                                                            Michelle Trout,
                                                    [FR Doc. 2017–23863 Filed 11–1–17; 8:45 am]                                                                   Commissioner, HUD.
                                                                                                            Program Analyst, Office of Federal Advisory
                                                    BILLING CODE 4140–01–P                                  Committee Policy.                                     ACTION: Notice.
                                                                                                            [FR Doc. 2017–23819 Filed 11–1–17; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                                                                                  SUMMARY:     This notice establishes
                                                                                                            BILLING CODE 4140–01–P
                                                    DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND                                                                                      operating cost adjustment factors
                                                    HUMAN SERVICES                                                                                                (OCAFs) for project-based rental
                                                                                                            DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND                              assistance contracts issued under
                                                    National Institutes of Health                                                                                 Section 8 of the United States Housing
                                                                                                            HUMAN SERVICES
                                                                                                                                                                  Act of 1937 and renewed under the
                                                    National Heart, Lung, and Blood
                                                                                                            National Institutes of Health                         Multifamily Assisted Housing Reform
                                                    Institute; Notice of Closed Meetings
                                                                                                                                                                  and Affordability Act of 1997 (MAHRA)
                                                      Pursuant to section 10(d) of the                      National Institute of Arthritis and                   with an anniversary date on or after
                                                    Federal Advisory Committee Act, as                      Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases;                    February 11, 2018. OCAFs are annual
                                                    amended, notice is hereby given of the                  Notice of Closed Meeting                              factors used primarily to adjust the rents
                                                    NHLBI Special Emphasis Panel                                                                                  for contracts renewed under section 515
                                                                                                              Pursuant to section 10(d) of the
                                                    meetings.                                                                                                     or section 524 of MAHRA. OCAFs are
                                                      The meetings will be closed to the                    Federal Advisory Committee Act, as
                                                                                                                                                                  distinct from, and do not apply to the
                                                    public in accordance with the                           amended, notice is hereby given of the
                                                                                                                                                                  same properties as Annual Adjustment
                                                    provisions set forth in sections                        following meeting.
                                                                                                              The meeting will be closed to the                   Factors (AAFs). AAFs are used to adjust
                                                    552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6), Title 5 U.S.C.,                                                                    contract rents for units assisted in
                                                                                                            public in accordance with the
                                                    as amended. The grant applications and                                                                        certain Section 8 housing assistance
                                                                                                            provisions set forth in sections
                                                    the discussions could disclose                                                                                payment programs during the initial
                                                                                                            552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6), Title 5 U.S.C.,
                                                    confidential trade secrets or commercial                                                                      (i.e., pre-renewal) term of the HAP
                                                                                                            as amended. The grant applications and
                                                    property such as patentable material,                                                                         contract and for all units in the Project-
                                                                                                            the discussions could disclose
                                                    and personal information concerning                                                                           Based Certificate program.
                                                                                                            confidential trade secrets or commercial
                                                    individuals associated with the grant                                                                         DATES: Applicable: February 11, 2018.
                                                                                                            property such as patentable material,
                                                    applications, the disclosure of which                                                                         FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                                                                            and personal information concerning
                                                    would constitute a clearly unwarranted                                                                        Carisa L. Janis, Program Analyst, Office
                                                                                                            individuals associated with the grant
                                                    invasion of personal privacy.                                                                                 of Asset Management and Portfolio
                                                                                                            applications, the disclosure of which
                                                      Name of Committee: National Heart, Lung,              would constitute a clearly unwarranted                Oversight, Department of Housing and
                                                    and Blood Institute Special Emphasis Panel;             invasion of personal privacy.                         Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW.,
                                                    T32: Institutional Training to Promote                                                                        Washington, DC 20410; telephone
                                                    Diversity.                                                Name of Committee: National Institute of
                                                      Date: November 30, 2017.                              Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin                number 202–402–2487 (this is not a toll-
                                                      Time: 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.                        Diseases Special Emphasis Panel; NIAMS                free number). Hearing- or speech-
                                                      Agenda: To review and evaluate grant                  Ancillary Studies Review Meeting.                     impaired individuals may access this
                                                    applications.                                             Date: November 15, 2017.                            number through TTY by calling the toll-
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES




                                                      Place: National Institutes of Health, 6701              Time: 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.                      free Federal Relay Service at 800–877–
                                                    Rockledge Drive, Suite 7189, Bethesda, MD                 Agenda: To review and evaluate grant                8339.
                                                    20892 (Telephone Conference Call).                      applications.
                                                                                                                                                                  SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                      Contact Person: Lindsay M. Garvin, Ph.D.,               Place: National Institute of Health/NIAMS,
                                                    Scientific Review Officer, Office of Scientific         6701 Democracy Blvd., Suite 824, Bethesda,            I. OCAFs
                                                    Review, National Heart, Lung, and Blood                 MD 20892 (Teleconference).
                                                    Institute, National Institutes of Health, 6701            Contact Person: Yin Liu, Ph.D., MD,                    Section 514(e)(2) and section 524(c)(1)
                                                    Rockledge Drive, Suite 7189, Bethesda, MD               Scientific Review Officer, Scientific Review          of MAHRA (42 U.S.C. 1437f note)
                                                    20892, 301–827–7911, lindsay.garvin@                    Branch, National Institute of Health/NIAMS,           require HUD to establish guidelines for
                                                    nih.gov.                                                6701 Democracy Blvd., Suite 824, Bethesda,            the development of OCAFs for rent


                                               VerDate Sep<11>2014   22:28 Nov 01, 2017   Jkt 244001   PO 00000   Frm 00034   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\02NON1.SGM   02NON1


                                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 211 / Thursday, November 2, 2017 / Notices                                             50889

                                                    adjustments. Sections 524(a)(4)(C)(i),                  employee benefits, insurance, property                several states were missing data for one
                                                    524(b)(1)(A), and 524(b)(3)(A) of                       taxes, and water/sewer/trash costs are                or two months in 2016; in these cases,
                                                    MAHRA, all of which prescribe the use                   only available at the national level. The             data for these missing months were
                                                    of the OCAF in the calculation of                       data sources for the nine cost indicators             estimated using data from the
                                                    renewal rents, contain similar language.                selected used were as follows:                        surrounding months in 2016 and the
                                                    HUD has therefore used a single                            • Labor Costs: First quarter, 2017                 relationship between that same month
                                                    methodology for establishing OCAFs,                     Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) ECI,                 and the surrounding months in 2015.
                                                    which varies from State to State.                       Private Industry Wages and Salaries, All              http://www.eia.gov/dnav/ng/ng_pri_
                                                       MAHRA gives HUD broad discretion                     Workers (Series ID CIU2020000000000I)                 sum_a_EPG0_PRS_DMcf_a.htm.
                                                    in setting OCAFs, referring, for example,               at the national level and Private                        • Water and Sewer: May 2016 to May
                                                    in sections 524(a)(4)(C)(i), 524(b)(1)(A),              Industry Benefits, All Workers (Series                2017 Consumer Price Index, All Urban
                                                    524(b)(3)(A) and 524(c)(1) simply to ‘‘an               ID CIU2030000000000I) at the national                 Consumers, Water and Sewer and Trash
                                                    operating cost adjustment factor                        level.                                                Collection Services (Series ID
                                                    established by the Secretary.’’ The sole                   • Property Taxes: Census Quarterly                 CUUR0000SEHG) at the national level.
                                                    limitation to this grant of authority is a              Summary of State and Local                               The sum of the nine cost component
                                                    specific requirement in each of the                     Government Tax Revenue—Table 1                        percentage weights equals 100 percent
                                                    foregoing provisions that application of                http://www2.census.gov/govs/qtax/                     of operating costs for purposes of OCAF
                                                    an OCAF ‘‘shall not result in a negative                20162017/q1t1.xls http://www2.census.                 calculations. To calculate the OCAFs,
                                                    adjustment.’’ Contract rents are adjusted               gov/govs/qtax/2017/q1t1.xls. 12-month                 state-level cost component weights
                                                    by applying the OCAF to that portion of                 property taxes are computed as the total              developed from AFS data are multiplied
                                                    the rent attributable to operating                      of four quarters of tax receipts for the              by the selected inflation factors. For
                                                    expenses exclusive of debt service.                     period from April through March. Total                instance, if wages in Virginia comprised
                                                       The OCAFs provided in this notice                    12-month taxes are then divided by the                50 percent of total operating cost
                                                    are applicable to eligible projects having              number of occupied housing units to                   expenses and increased by 4 percent
                                                    a contract anniversary date of February                 arrive at average 12-month tax per                    from 2017 to 2018 the wage increase
                                                    11, 2018 or after and were calculated                   housing unit. The number of occupied                  component of the Virginia OCAF for
                                                    using the same method as those                          housing units is taken from the                       2018 would be 2.0 percent (50% * 4%).
                                                    published in HUD’s 2017 OCAF notice                     estimates program at the Bureau of the                This 2.0 percent would then be added
                                                    originally published on October 5, 2016                 Census. http://www.census.gov/                        to the increases for the other eight
                                                    (81 FR 69073) and amended and                           housing/hvs/data/histtab8.xls.                        expense categories to calculate the 2018
                                                    republished on December 27, 2016 (81                       • Goods, Supplies, Equipment: May                  OCAF for Virginia. For states where the
                                                    FR 95162). Specifically, OCAFs are                      2016 to May 2017 Bureau of Labor                      OCAF is less than 0 percent, the OCAF
                                                    calculated as the sum of weighted                       Statistics (BLS) Consumer Price Index,                is floored at 0 percent. The OCAFs for
                                                    average cost changes for wages,                         All Items Less Food, Energy and Shelter               2018 are included as an Appendix to
                                                    employee benefits, property taxes,                      (Series ID CUUR0000SA0L12E) at the                    this Notice.
                                                    insurance, supplies and equipment, fuel                 national level.
                                                                                                               • Insurance: May 2016 to May 2017                  II. MAHRA OCAF Procedures
                                                    oil, electricity, natural gas, and water/
                                                    sewer/trash using publicly available                    Bureau of Labor Statistic (BLS)                          Sections 514 and 515 of MAHRA, as
                                                    indices. The weights used in the OCAF                   Consumer Price Index, Tenants and                     amended, created the Mark-to-Market
                                                    calculations for each of the nine cost                  Household Insurance Index (Series ID                  program to reduce the cost of federal
                                                    component groupings are set using                       CUUR0000SEHD) at the national level.                  housing assistance, to enhance HUD’s
                                                    current percentages attributable to each                   • Fuel Oil: October 2016–March 2017                administration of such assistance, and
                                                    of the nine expense categories. These                   U.S. Weekly Heating Oil and Propane                   to ensure the continued affordability of
                                                    weights are calculated in the same                      Prices report. Average weekly                         units in certain multifamily housing
                                                    manner as in the December 27, 2016,                     residential heating oil prices in cents               projects. Section 524 of MAHRA
                                                    notice. Average expense proportions                     per gallon excluding taxes for the period             authorizes renewal of Section 8 project-
                                                    were calculated using three years of                    from October 5, 2016 through March 28,                based assistance contracts for projects
                                                    audited Annual Financial Statements                     2017 are compared to the average from                 without restructuring plans under the
                                                    from projects covered by OCAFs. The                     October 13, 2015 through March 30,                    Mark-to-Market program, including
                                                    expenditure percentages for these nine                  2016. For the States with insufficient                projects that are not eligible for a
                                                    categories have been found to be very                   fuel oil consumption to have separate                 restructuring plan and those for which
                                                    stable over time, but using three years                 estimates, the relevant regional                      the owner does not request such a plan.
                                                    of data increases their stability. The                  Petroleum Administration for Defense                  Renewals must be at rents not exceeding
                                                    nine cost component weights were                        Districts (PADD) change between these                 comparable market rents except for
                                                    calculated at the state level, which is the             two periods is used; if there is no                   certain projects. As an example, for
                                                    lowest level of geographical aggregation                regional PADD estimate, the U.S. change               Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation
                                                    with enough projects to permit                          between these two periods is used.                    projects, other than single room
                                                    statistical analysis. These data were not               http://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pri_                  occupancy projects (SROs) under the
                                                    available for the Western Pacific Islands,              wfr_a_EPD2F_prs_dpgal_w.htm.                          McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance
                                                    so data for Hawaii were used as the best                   • Electricity: Energy Information                  Act (42 U.S.C. 11301 et seq.), that are
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES




                                                    available indicator of OCAFs for these                  Agency, February 2017 ‘‘Electric Power                eligible for renewal under section
                                                    areas.                                                  Monthly’’ report, Table 5.6.B. http://                524(b)(3) of MAHRA, the renewal rents
                                                       The best current price data sources for              www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_                  are required to be set at the lesser of: (1)
                                                    the nine cost categories were used in                   table_grapher.cfm?t=epmt_5_06_b.                      The existing rents under the expiring
                                                    calculating annual change factors. State-                  • Natural Gas: Energy Information                  contract, as adjusted by the OCAF; (2)
                                                    level data for fuel oil, electricity, and               Agency, Natural Gas, Residential Energy               fair market rents (less any amounts
                                                    natural gas from Department of Energy                   Price, 2016–2017 annual prices in                     allowed for tenant-purchased utilities);
                                                    surveys are relatively current and                      dollars per 1,000 cubic feet at the state             or (3) comparable market rents for the
                                                    continue to be used. Data on changes in                 level. Due to EIA data quality standards              market area.


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                                                    50890                                Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 211 / Thursday, November 2, 2017 / Notices

                                                    III. Findings and Certifications                                                                                                OCAF       0131 in the subject line of your
                                                                                                                                               State                                 (%)       comments.
                                                    Environmental Impact
                                                                                                                                                                                               FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:      To
                                                      This notice sets forth rate                                         Montana ........................................               1.9
                                                                                                                          Nebraska ......................................                2.2   request additional information about
                                                    determinations and related external
                                                                                                                          Nevada .........................................               1.8   this ICR, contact Ms. Evangeline
                                                    administrative requirements and
                                                                                                                          New Hampshire ............................                     2.0   Campbell, (202) 513–7621.
                                                    procedures that do not constitute a
                                                                                                                          New Jersey ...................................                 2.4   SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In
                                                    development decision affecting the                                    New Mexico ..................................                  1.7
                                                    physical condition of specific project                                                                                                     accordance with the Paperwork
                                                                                                                          New York ......................................                2.0   Reduction Act of 1995, we provide the
                                                    areas or building sites. Accordingly,                                 North Carolina ..............................                  2.1
                                                    under 24 CFR 50.19(c)(6), this notice is                                                                                                   general public and other Federal
                                                                                                                          North Dakota ................................                  2.5
                                                    categorically excluded from                                           Ohio ..............................................            1.9   agencies with an opportunity to
                                                    environmental review under the                                        Oklahoma .....................................                 2.1   comment on new, proposed, revised,
                                                    National Environmental Policy Act of                                  Oregon ..........................................              2.3   and continuing collections of
                                                    1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321).                                                Pacific Islands ...............................                0.9   information. This helps us assess the
                                                                                                                          Pennsylvania ................................                  2.1   impact of our information collection
                                                    Paperwork Reduction Act                                               Puerto Rico ...................................                2.0   requirements and minimize the public’s
                                                      This notice does not impact the                                     Rhode Island ................................                  1.9   reporting burden. It also helps the
                                                                                                                          South Carolina ..............................                  2.3   public understand our information
                                                    information collection requirements                                   South Dakota ................................                  2.4
                                                    already submitted to the Office of                                                                                                         collection requirements and provide the
                                                                                                                          Tennessee ....................................                 2.2
                                                    Management and Budget (OMB) under                                     Texas ............................................             2.2   requested data in the desired format.
                                                    the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995                                   Utah ..............................................            2.2      We are soliciting comments on the
                                                    (44 U.S.C. 3501–3520). In accordance                                  Vermont ........................................               2.2   proposed ICR that is described below.
                                                    with the Paperwork Reduction Act, an                                  Virgin Islands ................................                2.0   We are especially interested in public
                                                    agency may not conduct or sponsor, and                                Virginia ..........................................            2.1   comment addressing the following
                                                    a person is not required to respond to,                               Washington ...................................                 2.3   issues: (1) Is the collection necessary to
                                                    a collection of information unless the                                West Virginia ................................                 2.8   the proper functions of the BIA; (2) will
                                                                                                                          Wisconsin .....................................                2.3   this information be processed and used
                                                    collection displays a currently valid                                 Wyoming .......................................                2.1
                                                    OMB control number.                                                                                                                        in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate
                                                                                                                          U.S. ...............................................           2.2
                                                                                                                                                                                               of burden accurate; (4) how might the
                                                    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance                                                                                                     BIA enhance the quality, utility, and
                                                                                                                          [FR Doc. 2017–23901 Filed 11–1–17; 8:45 am]
                                                    Number                                                                                                                                     clarity of the information to be
                                                                                                                          BILLING CODE 4210–67–P
                                                      The Catalog of Federal Domestic                                                                                                          collected; and (5) how might the BIA
                                                    Assistance Number for this program is                                                                                                      minimize the burden of this collection
                                                    14.195.                                                                                                                                    on the respondents, including through
                                                                                                                          DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR                                           the use of information technology.
                                                      Dated: October 27, 2017.
                                                    Dana T. Wade,
                                                                                                                                                                                                  Comments that you submit in
                                                                                                                          Bureau of Indian Affairs
                                                                                                                                                                                               response to this notice are a matter of
                                                    General Deputy, Assistant Secretary for
                                                    Housing.                                                              [189A2100DD/AAKC001030/                                              public record. We will include or
                                                                                                                          A0A501010.999900 253G; OMB Control                                   summarize each comment in our request
                                                    APPENDIX                                                              Number 1076–0131]                                                    to OMB to approve this ICR. Before
                                                    Operating Cost Adjustment Factors for 2018                                                                                                 including your address, phone number,
                                                                                                                          Agency Information Collection                                        email address, or other personal
                                                                                                             OCAF
                                                                                                                          Activities; Indian Child Welfare                                     identifying information in your
                                                                          State                                           Quarterly and Annual Report
                                                                                                              (%)                                                                              comment, you should be aware that
                                                                                                                          AGENCY:   Bureau of Indian Affairs,                                  your entire comment—including your
                                                    Alabama ........................................                2.3                                                                        personal identifying information—may
                                                    Alaska ...........................................              2.9   Interior.
                                                                                                                                                                                               be made publicly available at any time.
                                                    Arizona ..........................................              2.0   ACTION: Notice of information collection;
                                                    Arkansas .......................................                2.2                                                                        While you can ask us in your comment
                                                                                                                          request for comment.
                                                    California .......................................              2.4                                                                        to withhold your personal identifying
                                                    Colorado .......................................                1.9   SUMMARY:   In accordance with the                                    information from public review, we
                                                    Connecticut ...................................                 2.2   Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the                                 cannot guarantee that we will be able to
                                                    Delaware .......................................                2.1                                                                        do so.
                                                                                                                          Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is
                                                    District of Columbia ......................                     2.0                                                                           Abstract: The BIA is seeking to renew
                                                    Florida ...........................................             2.1   proposing to renew an information
                                                                                                                          collection.                                                          the information collection conducted
                                                    Georgia .........................................               2.2
                                                    Hawaii ...........................................              0.9
                                                                                                                                                                                               under 25 CFR 23, related to the Indian
                                                                                                                          DATES:  Interested persons are invited to                            Child Welfare Act (ICWA). BIA collects
                                                    Idaho .............................................             2.4   submit comments on or before January
                                                    Illinois ............................................           2.2                                                                        information using a consolidated
                                                    Indiana ..........................................              2.1
                                                                                                                          2, 2018.                                                             caseload form, which tribal ICWA
                                                    Iowa ..............................................             2.5   ADDRESSES: Send your comments on the                                 program directors fill out. BIA uses the
                                                                                                                          information collection request (ICR) by
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES




                                                    Kansas ..........................................               2.4                                                                        information to determine the extent of
                                                    Kentucky .......................................                2.1   mail to Ms. Evangeline Campbell, Chief,                              service needs in local Indian
                                                    Louisiana ......................................                2.1   Division of Human Services, Office of                                communities, assess ICWA program
                                                    Maine ............................................              1.6   Indian Services, Bureau of Indian                                    effectiveness, and provide date for the
                                                    Maryland .......................................                2.3
                                                    Massachusetts ..............................                    1.9
                                                                                                                          Affairs, 1849 C Street NW., MS–4513–                                 annual program budget justification.
                                                    Michigan .......................................                2.2   MIB, Washington, DC 20240; facsimile:                                The aggregated report is not considered
                                                    Minnesota .....................................                 2.2   (202) 208–5113; email:                                               confidential.
                                                    Mississippi ....................................                2.0   Evangeline.Campbell@bia.gov. Please                                     This form must completed by tribes
                                                    Missouri ........................................               1.8   reference OMB Control Number 1076–                                   that operate child protection programs.


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Document Created: 2017-11-02 02:41:39
Document Modified: 2017-11-02 02:41:39
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice.
DatesApplicable: February 11, 2018.
ContactCarisa L. Janis, Program Analyst, Office of Asset Management and Portfolio Oversight, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW., Washington, DC 20410; telephone number 202-402-2487 (this is not a toll-free number). Hearing- or speech-impaired individuals may access this number through TTY by calling the toll-free Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339.
FR Citation82 FR 50888 

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