56622 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 178 / Friday, September 13, 2013 / Proposed Rules 

Environmental Impact Statement 

Scoping Process Summary Report,’’ 

dated March 2013 (ADAMS Accession 

No. ML13060A128). 

The NRC prepared the DGEIS to 

satisfy its National Environmental 

Policy Act (NEPA) obligations regarding 

the impacts of continued storage of 

spent nuclear fuel after the end of a 

reactor’s licensed life for operation and 

to support proposed amendments to the 

Waste Confidence rule. The objective of 

the Waste Confidence DGEIS is to 

examine the potential environmental 

impacts that could occur as a result of 

the continued storage of spent nuclear 

fuel at at-reactor and away-from-reactor 

sites until a repository is available. For 

the resource areas considered, the 

DGEIS provides generic impact 

determinations that would be applicable 

to a wide range of existing and potential 

future spent fuel storage sites. While 

some site-specific information is used in 

developing the generic impact 

determinations, the Waste Confidence 

DGEIS does not replace the NEPA 

analysis associated with any individual 

site licensing action. 

The DGEIS is intended to improve the 

efficiency of the NRC’s licensing 

processes by (1) providing a generic 

evaluation of the environmental impacts 

that may occur as a result of continuing 

to store spent fuel after the end of a 

reactor’s licensed life for operation and 

prior to disposal in a repository, and (2) 

providing the regulatory basis for the 

NRC’s proposed amendments to its 

regulations in part 51 of Title 10 of the 

Code of Federal Regulations. 

Concurrently with this document, the 

NRC is publishing a proposed rule, 

‘‘Waste Confidence—Continued Storage 

of Spent Nuclear Fuel’’ (RIN 3150–AJ20; 

NRC–2012–0246), in the Proposed Rules 

section of this issue of the Federal 

Register. The proposed rule would 

revise the NRC’s generic determination 

on the environmental impacts of the 

continued storage of spent nuclear fuel 

beyond a reactor’s licensed life for 

operation and prior to ultimate disposal. 

III. Public Meetings 

The NRC staff plans to hold the 

following public meetings during the 

public comment period to present an 

overview of the DGEIS and proposed 

Waste Confidence rule and to accept 

public comments on the documents. 

• October 1, 2013: NRC Headquarters, 

One White Flint North, First Floor 

Commission Hearing Room, 11555 

Rockville Pike, Maryland 20852. 

• October 3, 2013: Crowne Plaza 

Denver International Airport 

Convention Center, 15500 East 40th 

Avenue, Denver, Colorado 80239. 

• October 7, 2013: Courtyard by 

Marriott, 1605 Calle Joaquin Road, San 

Luis Obispo, California 93405. 

• October 9, 2013: Sheraton Carlsbad 

Resort & Spa, 5480 Grand Pacific Drive, 

Carlsbad, California 92008. 

• October 15, 2013: Hilton Garden 

Inn Toledo Perrysburg, 6165 Levis 

Commons Boulevard, Perrysburg, Ohio 

43551. 

• October 17, 2013: Minneapolis 

Marriott Southwest, 5801 Opus 

Parkway, Minnetonka, Minnesota 

55343. 

• October 28, 2013: Radisson Hotel & 

Suites Chelmsford-Lowell, 10 

Independence Drive, Chelmsford, 

Massachusetts 01824. 

• October 30, 2013: Westchester 

Marriott, 670 White Plains Road, 

Tarrytown, New York 10591. 

• November 4, 2013: Hilton Charlotte 

University Place, 8629 J.M. Keynes 

Drive, Charlotte, North Carolina 28262. 

• November 6, 2013: Hyatt Regency 

Orlando International Airport, 9300 Jeff 

Fuqua Boulevard, Orlando, Florida 

32827. 

• November 14, 2013: NRC 

Headquarters, One White Flint North, 

First Floor Commission Hearing Room, 

11555 Rockville Pike, Maryland 20852. 

• In addition to the meetings listed, 

the NRC staff intends to hold a meeting 

during the comment period in Illinois. 

Although the exact date and venue have 

yet to be arranged, the NRC staff will 

provide this information well in 

advance of the meeting. 

The ten regional public meetings will 

start at 7:00 p.m. local time and will 

continue until 10:00 p.m. The two NRC 

headquarters meetings will start at 2:00 

p.m. Eastern Time and will continue 

until 5:00 p.m. Additionally, NRC staff 

will host informal discussions during an 

open house 1 hour prior to the start of 

each meeting. Open houses will start at 

6:00 p.m. local time for regional 

meetings and 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time for 

the NRC Headquarters meetings. 

The public meetings will be 

transcribed and will include: (1) A 

presentation of the contents of the 

DGEIS and proposed Waste Confidence 

rule; and (2) the opportunity for 

interested government agencies, 

organizations, and individuals to 

provide comments on the DGEIS and 

proposed rule. No oral comments on the 

DGEIS or proposed rule will be accepted 

during the open house sessions. To be 

considered, oral comments must be 

presented during the transcribed portion 

of the public meeting. Written 

comments can be submitted to NRC staff 

at any time during the public meetings. 

Persons interested in attending or 

presenting oral comments at any of the 

12 public meetings are encouraged to 

pre-register. Persons may pre-register to 

attend or present oral comments by 

calling 301–287–9392 or by emailing 

WCRegistration@nrc.gov no later than 3 

days prior to the meeting. Members of 

the public may also register to provide 

oral comments in-person at each 

meeting. Individual oral comments may 

be limited by the time available, 

depending on the number of persons 

who register. If special equipment or 

accommodations are needed to attend or 

present information at a public meeting, 

the need should be brought to the NRC’s 

attention no later than 10 days prior to 

the meeting to provide the NRC staff 

adequate notice to determine whether 

the request can be accommodated. 

To maximize public participation, the 

NRC headquarters meetings on October 

1, 2013, and November 14, 2013, will be 

Web-streamed via the NRC’s public Web 

site. See the NRC’s Live Meeting 

Webcast page to participate: http://

video.nrc.gov/. The NRC headquarters 

meetings will also feature a moderated 

teleconference line so remote attendees 

will have the opportunity to present oral 

comments. To receive the 

teleconference number and passcode, 

call 301–287–9392 or email 

WCRegistration@nrc.gov. Meeting 

agendas and participation details will be 

available on the NRC’s Waste 

Confidence Public Involvement Web 

site at http://www.nrc.gov/waste/spentfuel-storage/wcd/pub-involve.html and 

on the NRC’s Public Meeting Schedule 

Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/publicinvolve/public-meetings/index.cfm no 

later than 10 days prior to the meetings. 

Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 30th day 

of August 2013. 

For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. 

Keith I. McConnell, 

Director, Waste Confidence Directorate, Office 

of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards. 

[FR Doc. 2013–21715 Filed 9–12–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 7590–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2007–0051; Directorate 

Identifier 2007–NE–37–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Continental 

Motors, Inc. Reciprocating Engines 

With Superior Air Parts, Inc. (SAP) 

Cylinder Assemblies Installed 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 178 / Friday, September 13, 2013 / Proposed Rules 56623 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to supersede an 

existing airworthiness directive (AD) 

that applies to certain Continental 

Motors, Inc. (CMI) IO–520, TSIO–520, 

and IO–550 series reciprocating engines, 

with certain replacement parts 

manufacturer approval (PMA) SAP 

investment cast cylinder assemblies 

installed. The existing AD currently 

requires initial and repetitive 

inspections and compression tests to 

detect cracks in those cylinders. Since 

we issued that AD, we became aware of 

additional engines that need to be added 

to the applicability. We are proposing 

this AD to prevent the separation of the 

cylinder head, damage to the engine, 

and damage to the airplane. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by November 12, 

2013. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, 

using the procedures found in 14 CFR 

11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following 

methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Fax: 202–493–2251. 

• Mail: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 

Washington, DC 20590. 

• Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail 

address above between 9 a.m. and 5 

p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. 

For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Continental Motors, 

Inc., 2039 Broad St., Mobile, AL 36615; 

phone: 251–438–3411; Web site: http:// 

www.continentalmotors.aero/Support_

Materials/Publications/Service_

Bulletins/. You may view this service 

information at the FAA, Engine & 

Propeller Directorate, 12 New England 

Executive Park, Burlington, MA. For 

information on the availability of this 

material at the FAA, call 781–238–7125. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the Internet at http://

www.regulations.gov; or in person at the 

Docket Management Facility between 9 

a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 

Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD 

docket contains this proposed AD, the 

regulatory evaluation, any comments 

received, and other information. The 

street address for the Docket Office 

(phone: 800–647–5527) is in the 

ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 

available in the AD docket shortly after 

receipt. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Peter W. Hakala, Aerospace Engineer, 

Special Certification Office, FAA, 

Rotorcraft Directorate, 2601 Meacham 

Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76193; phone: 

817–222–5145; fax: 817–222–5785; 

email: peter.w.hakala@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to send any written 

relevant data, views, or arguments about 

this proposed AD. Send your comments 

to an address listed under the 

ADDRESSES section. Include ‘‘Docket No. 

FAA–2007–0051; Directorate Identifier 

2007–NE–37–AD’’ at the beginning of 

your comments. We specifically invite 

comments on the overall regulatory, 

economic, environmental, and energy 

aspects of this proposed AD. We will 

consider all comments received by the 

closing date and may amend this 

proposed AD because of those 

comments. 

We will post all comments we 

receive, without change, to http://

www.regulations.gov, including any 

personal information you provide. We 

will also post a report summarizing each 

substantive verbal contact we receive 

about this proposed AD. 

Discussion 

On July 23, 2009, we issued AD 2009– 

16–03, Amendment 39–15986 (74 FR 

38896, August 5, 2009), for certain 

Teledyne Continental Motors 

reciprocating engines with certain 

replacement PMA part numbers (P/Ns) 

of SAP cylinder assemblies installed. 

That AD requires initial and repetitive 

inspections and compression tests to 

detect cracks in those cylinders, with 

more than 750 flight hours time-inservice. That AD resulted from reports 

of cracks in the area of the exhaust valve 

and separation of cylinder heads from 

the barrels of SAP cylinder assemblies 

with certain P/Ns. We issued that AD to 

prevent the separation of the cylinder 

head, damage to the engine, and damage 

to the airplane. 

Actions Since Existing AD Was Issued 

Since we issued AD 2009–16–03 (74 

FR 38896, August 5, 2009), we became 

aware of supplemental type certificates 

(STCs) that modify CMI 470 series 

engines to accept CMI 520 or 550 

cylinders. Those modified CMI 470 

series engines could also have the 

affected P/Ns SAP cylinders installed. 

Therefore, those additional engines may 

suffer from the same unsafe condition 

that AD 2009–16–03 addresses. 

We also changed the format for 

applicability from listing the affected 

models of CMI reciprocating engines in 

a table, to stating in a paragraph the 

affected reciprocating engine models. 

We made this change due to a comment 

that the AD was in error in listing the 

TSIO–520 engines, and that the 

applicability table did not list this 

model. The TSIO–520 model engines 

are, in fact, affected by the AD. 

Also, since we issued AD 2009–16–03 

(74 FR 38896, August 5, 2009), we 

became aware that determining the 

applicability of a cylinder might be 

difficult. We have added a paragraph to 

the proposed AD to clarify the 

identification of SAP cylinder 

assemblies. The paragraph expands 

what is in the existing AD by also 

looking for casting markings ‘‘CP’’ on 

the cylinder head. Operators can rely on 

the casting markings in determining if a 

cylinder assembly is affected, when the 

P/N on the bottom flange of the cylinder 

assembly is not visible. 

We also changed the cost of 

compliance because the estimated 

population of engines with the SAP 

investment cast cylinders was revised 

from 8,000 to 6,000. Superior reported 

that the total production of the 

investment cast cylinders was only 

34,487 cylinder assemblies. 

Relevant Service Information 

Continental Motors Aircraft Engine 

Service Information Letter SIL98–9B, 

Revision B, dated April 8, 2013, 

provides relevant service information 

for this AD. That service information 

also includes information concerning 

time-between-overhaul. 

FAA’s Determination 

We are proposing this AD because we 

evaluated all the relevant information 

and determined the unsafe condition 

described previously is likely to exist or 

develop in other products of the same 

type design. 

Proposed AD Requirements 

This proposed AD would expand the 

list of applicable engines in AD 2009– 

16–03 (74 FR 38896, August 5, 2009), to 

include the CMI 470 series reciprocating 

engines modified by STC to accept CMI 

520 or 550 cylinders, with certain 

replacement PMA SAP investment cast 

cylinder assemblies installed. This 

proposed AD would also clarify the 

identification of SAP cylinder 

assemblies. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

would affect 6,000 engines installed on 

airplanes of U.S. registry. We also 

estimate that it would take about 5 

hours to replace a cylinder, and 15 

hours per engine to inspect the 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
56624 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 178 / Friday, September 13, 2013 / Proposed Rules 

cylinders. The average labor rate is $85 

per hour. Required parts would cost 

about $1,200 per cylinder. We anticipate 

that 4,000 cylinders would require 

replacement. Based on these figures, we 

estimate the total cost of the proposed 

AD to U.S. operators to be $14,150,000. 

Authority for This Rulemaking 

Title 49 of the United States Code 

specifies the FAA’s authority to issue 

rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, 

Section 106, describes the authority of 

the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, 

Aviation Programs, describes in more 

detail the scope of the Agency’s 

authority. 

We are issuing this rulemaking under 

the authority described in Subtitle VII, 

Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701, 

‘‘General requirements.’’ Under that 

section, Congress charges the FAA with 

promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in 

air commerce by prescribing regulations 

for practices, methods, and procedures 

the Administrator finds necessary for 

safety in air commerce. This regulation 

is within the scope of that authority 

because it addresses an unsafe condition 

that is likely to exist or develop on 

products identified in this rulemaking 

action. 

Regulatory Findings 

We have determined that this 

proposed AD would not have federalism 

implications under Executive Order 

13132. This proposed AD would not 

have a substantial direct effect on the 

States, on the relationship between the 

national Government and the States, or 

on the distribution of power and 

responsibilities among the various 

levels of government. 

For the reasons discussed above, I 

certify that the proposed regulation: 

(1) Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory 

action’’ under Executive Order 12866, 

(2) Is not a ‘‘significant rule’’ under 

the DOT Regulatory Policies and 

Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 

1979), 

(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation 

in Alaska to the extent that it justifies 

making a regulatory distinction, and 

(4) Will not have a significant 

economic impact, positive or negative, 

on a substantial number of small entities 

under the criteria of the Regulatory 

Flexibility Act. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation 

safety, Incorporation by reference, 

Safety. 

The Proposed Amendment 

Accordingly, under the authority 

delegated to me by the Administrator, 

the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 

39 as follows: 

PART 39—AIRWORTHINESS 

DIRECTIVES 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 39 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

■ 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by 

removing airworthiness directive (AD) 

2009–16–03, Amendment 39–15986 (74 

FR 38896, August 5, 2009), and adding 

the following new AD: 

Continental Motors, Inc. (formerly Teledyne 

Continental Motors, Continental): 

Docket No. FAA–2007–0051; Directorate 

Identifier 2007–NE–37–AD. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

The FAA must receive comments on this 

AD action by November 12, 2013. 

(b) Affected ADs 

This AD supersedes AD 2009–16–03, 

Amendment 39–15986 (74 FR 38896, August 

5, 2009). 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to: 

(1) Continental Motors, Inc. (CMI) IO–520, 

TSIO–520, and IO–550 series reciprocating 

engines with replacement parts manufacturer 

approval (PMA) Superior Air Parts, Inc. 

(SAP) investment cast cylinder assemblies, 

part numbers (P/Ns) SA52000–A1, SA52000– 

A20P, SA52000–A21P, SA52000–A22P, 

SA52000–A23P, SA55000–A1, or SA55000– 

A20P, installed. 

(2) All other engine models approved for 

the use of CMI 520 and 550 cylinder 

assemblies such as the CMI 470 series 

engines when modified by Supplemental 

Type Certificate (STC), with SAP investment 

cast cylinder assemblies, P/Ns SA52000–A1, 

SA52000–A20P, SA52000–A21P, SA52000– 

A22P, SA52000–A23P, SA55000–A1, or 

SA55000–A20P, installed. 

(3) This AD applies to all serial numbers 

for the P/Ns listed in paragraphs (c)(1) and 

(c)(2) of this AD. 

(4) If no SAP replacement cylinders were 

installed during engine maintenance since 

the CMI engines were new, then this AD does 

not apply. 

(d) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by the need to add 

to the applicability all other engine models 

approved for the use of CMI 520 and 550 

cylinder assemblies such as the CMI 470 

series engines when modified by STC, with 

affected SAP investment cast cylinder 

assemblies installed. We are issuing this AD 

to prevent the separation of the cylinder 

head, damage to the engine, and damage to 

the airplane. 

(e) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(f) Identification of SAP Cylinder Assemblies 

Seeing the SAP cylinder assembly P/Ns 

referenced in paragraphs (c)(1) and (c)(2) of 

this AD may be difficult because the 

assembly P/Ns are stamped on the bottom 

cylinder flange. Therefore, you may review 

the engine maintenance records instead of 

the steps listed in paragraphs (f)(1) and (f)(2) 

of this AD, to see if the engine records 

identify the P/Ns of the cylinders installed. 

If the records do not identify the P/Ns of the 

cylinders installed, do the following: 

(1) Remove the valve cover from the 

cylinder assembly. 

(2) Look at the top of the cylinder head for 

the casting markings ‘‘AMCAST’’ or ‘‘CP’’. If 

a cylinder head has either of these markings, 

do the steps required by paragraphs (g) 

through (j) of this AD. 

(g) Initial Inspection of SAP Cylinder 

Assemblies 

For engines and cylinders listed in 

paragraphs (c)(1) and (c)(2) of this AD, with 

cylinders over 750 flight hours (FH) time-inservice (TIS) on the effective date of this AD, 

do the following initial inspection within 25 

FH TIS. 

(1) Inspect each cylinder head around the 

exhaust valve side for visual cracks or any 

signs of black combustion leakage. 

(2) Replace any cracked or leaking 

cylinders before further flight. 

(3) Perform a standard cylinder 

compression test. Guidance on standard 

cylinder compression tests can be found in 

Teledyne Continental Aircraft Engine Service 

Bulletin SB03–3, Differential Pressure Test 

and Borescope Inspection Procedures for 

Cylinders, dated March 28, 2003. 

(i) If the cylinder pressure gauge reads 

below 60 pounds per-square inch, determine 

if the unacceptable pressure is due to a 

cracked cylinder. 

(ii) To check the cylinder, apply a 2 

percent soapy water solution to the side of 

the leaking cylinder. 

(iii) If you see air bubbles, indicating air 

leakage, on the side of the cylinder head, or 

near the head-to-cylinder interface, replace 

the cylinder assembly before further flight. 

(h) Repetitive Inspections of SAP Cylinder 

Assemblies 

Thereafter, repeat the cylinder visual 

inspections and compression tests specified 

in paragraphs (g)(1) through (g)(3)(iii) of this 

AD, within every 50 FH time-since-last 

inspection until the cylinder reaches the TIS 

as listed in paragraph (i) of this AD. 

(i) Replacing SAP Cylinder Assemblies 

For installed cylinders, replace the affected 

SAP cylinders at the earliest of the following: 

(1) When the cylinder reaches the 

operating hours TIS between overhaul limits, 

specified in Continental Motors Aircraft 

Engine Service Information Letter SIL98–9B, 

Revision B, dated April 8, 2013; or 

(2) When the cylinder reaches 12 calendar 

years-since-installation. 

(j) Prohibition Against Installing Certain 

P/Ns of SAP Cylinder Assemblies 

After the effective date of this AD, do not 

install or reinstall after any removal, any SAP 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 178 / Friday, September 13, 2013 / Proposed Rules 56625 

investment cast cylinder assembly, P/Ns 

SA52000–A1, SA52000–A20P, SA52000– 

A21P, SA52000–A22P, SA52000–A23P, 

SA55000–A1, or SA55000–A20P, in any 

engine. 

(k) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

The Manager, Special Certification Office, 

may approve AMOCs to this AD. Use the 

procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19 to make 

your request. 

(l) Special Flight Permits 

Under 14 CFR Part 39.23, we will not 

approve special flight permits for this AD for 

engines that have failed the visual inspection 

or the 50 hour periodic cylinder assembly 

compression test required by this AD. 

(m) Related Information 

(1) For more information about this AD, 

contact Peter W. Hakala, Aerospace Engineer, 

Special Certification Office, FAA, Rotorcraft 

Directorate, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort 

Worth, TX 76193; phone: 817–222–5145; fax: 

817–222–5785; email: peter.w.hakala@

faa.gov. 

(2) For Teledyne Continental Aircraft 

Engine Service Bulletin SB03–3, dated March 

28, 2003, and Continental Motors Aircraft 

Engine Service Information Letter SIL98–9B, 

Revision B, dated April 8, 2013, contact 

Continental Motors, Inc., 2039 Broad St., 

Mobile, AL 36615; phone: 251–438–3411; 

Web site: http://

www.continentalmotors.aero/Support_

Materials/Publications/Service_Bulletins. 

(3) You may view this service information 

at the FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 

12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, 

MA. For information on the availability of 

this material at the FAA, call 781–238–7125. 

Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on 

September 3, 2013. 

Colleen M. D’Alessandro, 

Assistant Manager, Engine & Propeller 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2013–22273 Filed 9–12–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND 

URBAN DEVELOPMENT 

24 CFR Part 214 

[Docket No. FR 5339–P–01] 

RIN 2502–AI94 

Housing Counseling Program: New 

Certification Requirements 

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant 

Secretary for Housing—Federal Housing 

Commissioner, HUD. 

ACTION: Proposed rule. 

SUMMARY: HUD’s Housing Counseling 

Program provides, through HUDapproved counseling agencies and state 

housing finance agencies, including 

their affiliates and branches, counseling 

to individuals seeking information 

about financing, maintaining, renting, or 

owning a home. The Dodd-Frank Wall 

Street Reform and Consumer Protection 

Act amended the housing counseling 

statute to improve the effectiveness of 

the program by, among other things, 

requiring that the entities and 

individual counselors be certified by 

HUD as competent to provide such 

services, and prohibiting distribution of 

grant funds to agencies found in 

violation of Federal election laws or 

who have employees found in violation 

of Federal election laws, and requiring 

the reimbursement of grant funds for 

misuse of funds. This proposed rule 

would revise HUD’s Housing 

Counseling Program regulations to 

adopt the new requirements applicable 

to counseling agencies and individual 

counselors, and the use of grant funds. 

DATES: Comment Due Date: November 

12, 2013. 

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are 

invited to submit comments regarding 

this proposed rule to the Regulations 

Division, Office of General Counsel, 

Department of Housing and Urban 

Development, 451 7th Street SW., Room 

10276, Washington, DC 20410–0500. 

Communications must refer to the above 

docket number and title. There are two 

methods for submitting public 

comments. All submissions must refer 

to the above docket number and title. 

1. Submission of Comments by Mail. 

Comments may be submitted by mail to 

the Regulations Division, Office of 

General Counsel, Department of 

Housing and Urban Development, 451 

7th Street SW., Room 10276, 

Washington, DC 20410–0500. 

2. Electronic Submission of 

Comments. Interested persons may 

submit comments electronically through 

the Federal eRulemaking Portal at 

www.regulations.gov. HUD strongly 

encourages commenters to submit 

comments electronically. Electronic 

submission of comments allows the 

commenter maximum time to prepare 

and submit a comment, ensures timely 

receipt by HUD, and enables HUD to 

make them immediately available to the 

public. Comments submitted 

electronically through the 

www.regulations.gov Web site can be 

viewed by other commenters and 

interested members of the public. 

Commenters should follow the 

instructions provided on that site to 

submit comments electronically. 

Note: To receive consideration as public 

comments, comments must be submitted 

through one of the two methods specified 

above. Again, all submissions must refer to 

the docket number and title of the rule. 

No Facsimile Comments. Facsimile 

(FAX) comments are not acceptable. 

Public Inspection of Public 

Comments. All properly submitted 

comments and communications 

submitted to HUD will be available for 

public inspection and copying between 

8 a.m. and 5 p.m., weekdays, at the 

above address. Due to security measures 

at the HUD Headquarters building, an 

appointment to review the public 

comments must be scheduled in 

advance by calling the Regulations 

Division at 202–708–3055 (this is not a 

toll-free number). Individuals with 

speech or hearing impairments may 

access this number via TTY by calling 

the Federal Relay Service at 800–877– 

8339. Copies of all comments submitted 

are available for inspection and 

downloading at www.regulations.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Ruth Roma ́n, Office of Housing 

Counseling, Office of Housing, 

Department of Housing and Urban 

Development, 1250 Maryland Avenue 

SW., Room P2206, Washington, DC 

20410–8000; telephone number 202– 

708–0317 (this is not a toll-free 

number). Persons with hearing or 

speech challenges may access this 

number through TTY by calling the tollfree Federal Relay Service at 800–877– 

8339. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background 

HUD’s Housing Counseling Program, 

established pursuant to section 106 of 

the Housing and Urban Development 

Act of 1968 (12 U.S.C. 1701x) (1968 

Act), authorizes HUD, through HUDapproved organizations and state 

housing finance agencies, and their 

branches and affiliates, to provide 

housing counseling services to potential 

homebuyers, homeowners, homeowners 

at risk of default, renters, and the 

homeless. Housing counseling services 

include assisting eligible homebuyers 

find and purchase affordable homes; 

helping renters locate and apply for 

affordable rental units; helping 

homeowners avoid foreclosure; helping 

renters avoid eviction; assisting the 

homeless in finding shelter; and 

reporting fair housing complaints and 

addressing housing problems. Section 

106 of the 1968 Act authorizes HUD to 

provide counseling directly or to enter 

into contracts with, or make grants to, 

eligible private or public organizations 

with special competence and knowledge 

in providing housing counseling to lowand moderate-income families. 

HUD’s regulations for the Housing 

Counseling Program were promulgated 


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