Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Comment Request Affordable Communities Award

AGENCY:

Office of the Chief Information Officer, HUD.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The proposed information collection requirement described below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Department is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal.

DATES:

Comments due: November 8, 2004.

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: Wayne Eddins, AYO, Reports Management Officer, Department or Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street, SW., L'Enfant Plaza Building, Room 800a, Washington, DC 20410; fax: 202-708-3135; e-mail Wayne_Eddins@HUD.gov .

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Wayne Eddins, AYO, Reports Management Officer, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street, SW., L'Enfant Plaza Building, Washington, DC 20410; e-mail Wayne_Eddins@HUD.gov; telephone (202) 708-2374 Ext. 8072; Fax: (202) 708-3135 (this is not a toll-free number) for copies of the proposed forms and other available information.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Department will submit the proposed information collection to OMB for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended).

This Notice is soliciting comments from members of the public and affecting agencies concerning the proposed collection of information to: (1) Evaluate 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) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) 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.

This Notice also lists the following information:

Title of Proposal: HUD's Affordable Community Award.

OMB Control Number, if applicable: 2501-0020.

Description of the need for the information and proposed use: HUD's Affordable Communities Award is designed to present an additional incentive to states, local, and tribal governments to become active in removing barriers to affordable housing to the extent feasible. The information collected from the applicants will be used to select the award winners. The information will also provide the initiative with examples of how regulatory barriers are removed and affordable housing is made possible or increased in communities throughout America.

Agency form numbers, if applicable: none.

Estimation of the total number of hours needed to prepare the information collection including number of respondents, frequency of response, and hours of response: An estimation of the total numbers of hours needed to prepare the information collection is 2,400, number of respondents is 300, frequency of response is “on occasion,” and the hours per response is 8 hours.

Status of the proposed information collection: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Authority: Section 3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended.