83 FR 42137 - 30-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Energy and Performance Information Center (EPIC)

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 161 (August 20, 2018)

HUD 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 30 days of public comment.

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 161 (Monday, August 20, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 42137]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-17916]



[[Page 42137]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-7001-N-45]


30-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Energy and 
Performance Information Center (EPIC)

AGENCY: Office of the Chief Information Officer, HUD.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: HUD 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 30 days of public comment.

DATES: Comments Due Date: September 19, 2018.

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 [email protected], or 
telephone 202-402-3400. This is not a toll-free number. Person 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 April 
19, 2018 83 FR 17424.

A. Overview of Information Collection

    Title of Information Collection: Energy and Performance Information 
Center (EPIC).
    OMB Approved Number: 2577-0274.
    Type of Request: Revision of currently approved collection.
    Form Number: N/A--all information collected electronically.
    Description of the need for the information and proposed use: The 
EPIC data system automates the previous paper collection of the five-
year plan and annual statement forms from grantees. These are required 
forms were collected in hard copy on Forms HUD 50075.1 and HUD 50075.2 
under collection OMB control number 2577-0157. These forms also collect 
data on the eventual, actual use of funds; this data will be gradually 
collected electronically through the EPIC data system as well. 
Electronic collection will enable the Department to aggregate 
information about the way grantees are using Federal funding. 
Additionally, PHA grantees will be able to submit Replacement Housing 
Factor fund plans, the mechanism by which PHAs are allowed to 
accumulate special funds received based on units removed from the 
inventory from year to year. This information is presently collected in 
hard copy at the field office level; the EPIC data system will automate 
and centralize this collection in order to streamline the process and 
improve transparency. Furthermore, the EPIC data system will be loaded 
with Physical Needs Assessment (``PNA'') data. This data being in the 
system coupled with the electronic planning process will streamline 
grantee planning. The EPIC data system will collect information about 
the Energy Performance Contract (``EPC'') process, including the energy 
efficiency improvements. As the Department moves to shrink its energy 
footprint in spite of rising energy costs, clear and comprehensive data 
on this process will be crucial to its success. Tracking of the use of 
Federal funds paid through the Public Housing Capital Fund, the only 
Federal funding stream dedicated to the capital needs of the nation's 
last resort housing option, is crucial to understanding how the 
Department can properly and efficiently assist grantees in meeting this 
goal as well as assessing the Department's own progress. The EPIC data 
system will track development of public housing with Federal funds and 
through other means, including mixed-finance development.
    Respondents (i.e., affected public): Members of Affected Public: 
State, Local or Local Governments and Non-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,950.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 22,149.78.
    Frequency of Response: 7.5084.
    Average Hours per Response: 1.83724.
    Total Estimated Burdens: 40,694.46 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: August 8, 2018.
Colette Pollard,
Department Reports Management Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018-17916 Filed 8-17-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4210-67-P