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

AGENCY:

Office of the Chief Information Officer, HUD.

ACTION:

Notice.

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: September 16, 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: OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov.

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 Colette.Pollard@hud.gov 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 April 4, 2016 at 81 FR 19234.

A. Overview of Information Collection

Title of Information Collection: Energy and Performance Information Center (EPIC).

OMB Approval Number: 2577-0274.

Type of Request: Revision of currently approved collection.

Form Number: None—all information collected electronically.

Description of the need for the information and proposed use: The Department has recognized the need for improving energy efficiency in affordable housing and has prioritized this in Agency Priority Goal #4, Measure #13. The energy efficiency data collected through EPIC gives the Department a more comprehensive dataset regarding energy efficiency. The EPIC data system will gradually automate the collection of the five year plan and annual statement forms from grantees. These are required forms presently collected in hard copy on Forms HUD 50075.1 and HUD 50075.2 under collection OMB control number 2577-0226. 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. Finally, the Department has prioritized in Agency Performance Goal #2, Measure #5 making housing more available for more families. In the light of the recent housing crisis, this goal has become simultaneously more challenging and more important. 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: 3,150.

Estimated Number of Responses: 31,800 annual responses.

Frequency of Response: 1.

Average Hours per Response: 2.19.

Total Estimated Burdens: 69,645 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.