Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Comment Request, Third Round Designation of Seven Urban Empowerment Zones

AGENCY:

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development, 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 Date: December 27, 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: Shelia Jones, Reports Liaison Officer, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street, SW., Room 7232, Washington, DC 20410.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Judith Mize, (202) 709-6339 (this is not a toll-free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Department is submitting 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: Third Round Designation of Seven Urban Empowerment Zones.

OMB Control Number, if applicable: 2506-0148.

Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use: The statutes require HUD to review periodically the progress of designated urban communities (Rounds I, II and III) in carrying out their implementation programs and achieving the goals of their strategic plans.

Agency Form Numbers, if applicable: N/A.

Estimation of the total numbers of hours needed to prepare the Information collection including number of respondents, frequency of response, and hours of response.

An estimation of the total number of hours needed to prepare the information collection is 3,207, number of respondents is 82, frequency of response is 3, and the hours per response on an average is 39.

Status of the Proposed Information Collection: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. chapter 35, as amended.