[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 73 (Thursday, April 16, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19162-19166]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-10131]



Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 73 / Thursday, April 16, 1998 / 
Notices

[[Page 19162]]



DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-4353-N-01]


Notice Inviting Applications: Second Round Designation of Fifteen 
Urban Empowerment Zones

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and 
Development, HUD.

ACTION: Notice inviting applications.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 authorizes the Secretary to 
designate 15 Round II Urban Empowerment Zones. This Notice invites 
applications for designation of nominated areas as Empowerment Zones. 
The designation of the new Empowerment Zones will be made in accordance 
with the designation process described in this Notice. The new Urban 
Empowerment Zones will receive between $130 million and $230 million in 
tax-exempt bond authority to create economic opportunity for area 
residents and businesses.

APPLICATION DUE DATE: Completed applications (one original and 2 
copies) must be submitted no later than October 9, 1998. See below for 
specific procedures governing the form of application submission (e.g., 
mailed application, express mail, overnight delivery). No facsimile 
(FAX) applications will be accepted for consideration by HUD.
    Delivered Applications. Completed applications (one original and 
two copies) must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m. eastern time, on 
October 9, 1998. Up until 5:00 p.m. on the deadline date, completed 
applications will be accepted at the address and room number specified 
below.
    Mailed Applications. Applications will be considered timely if 
postmarked on or before October 9, 1998 and received by HUD 
Headquarters on or before October 19, 1998, at the address and room 
number specified below.
    Applications Sent by Overnight Delivery. Overnight delivery items 
will be considered filed on time if received on or before October 9, 
1998, or, as long as the application review process has not been 
completed, upon submission of documentary evidence acceptable to HUD, 
in its sole discretion, that they were placed in transit with the 
overnight delivery service on or before October 8, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Address for submitting applications. Completed applications 
(one original and two copies) should be submitted to: the Office of 
Community Planning and Development, c/o Processing and Control Unit, 
Room 7255, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street, 
SW, Washington, DC 20410, by mail or hand delivery.
    For Application and Other Materials. For a copy of all EZ Round II 
publications, including the Application Guide, Nomination Forms, the 
interim rule (24 CFR part 598, published elsewhere in this issue of the 
Federal Register), and the ``Guidelines for Use of EZ/EC SSBG Funds'' 
(which is also provided as an appendix to the interim rule), please 
call the Community Connections Information Clearinghouse at (800) 998-
9999. The Round II publications are also available on the HUD web site: 
http://www.hud.gov/ezeclist.html. Requests for application materials 
should be made immediately to insure sufficient time for application 
preparation. Hearing- or speech-impaired persons should use the Federal 
Information Relay Service telephone number, (800) 877-8339, to obtain 
application materials.
    The Round II publications consist of:

--Round II Interim Rule;
--Application Guide for Empowerment Zones Round II (Application Guide);
--Nomination Forms for a Federal Empowerment Zone (Nomination Forms) 
(form HUD 40003);
--Strategic Planning Guide;
--Performance Measurement System Guide;
--Federal Programs Guide;
--IRS Publication 954, ``Tax Incentives for Empowerment Zones and Other 
Distressed Communities.''

    A series of application workshops will be held in several locations 
around the country during the months of April and May. Information 
about the workshops will be disseminated in several ways, including the 
HUD web site, by facsimile, by mail, and by calling the Community 
Connections Information Clearinghouse at (800) 998-9999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: For technical questions, contact Elaine 
Braverman, Empowerment Zone/Enterprise Community Initiative, Office of 
Community Planning and Development, Department of Housing and Urban 
Development, 451 Seventh Street, SW, Room 7130, Washington, DC 20410, 
(202) 708-6339. Hearing- or speech-impaired individuals may call (800) 
877-8339 (the Federal Information Relay Service-TTY).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Summary

A. Purpose and Authority

    The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 (the Act) authorizes the Secretary 
to designate 15 new Urban Empowerment Zones. The new Urban Empowerment 
Zones will receive between $130 million and $230 million in tax-exempt 
bond authority to create economic opportunity for area residents and 
businesses. The Act makes several changes with respect to satisfying 
poverty rate criteria. It permits Zones to identify noncontiguous 
parcels that are ``developable sites'' that can be used for commercial 
and industrial purposes, which need not satisfy the poverty rate and 
size criteria applicable to other noncontiguous sites; eliminates the 
requirement that some of the tracts have at least 35 percent poverty; 
and makes it slightly more difficult for census tracts with small 
populations to meet the poverty criteria. Alaska and Hawaii are now 
eligible for Empowerment Zone designation and the Act permits Indian 
reservations to be included in an area nominated as an Urban or Rural 
Empowerment Zone.

B. Available Resources

    The tax benefits that apply to the Round II EZs are the following: 
tax-exempt bond financing, welfare-to-work tax credit, work opportunity 
tax credit, environmental cleanup cost deduction (``brownfields'' tax 
incentive), and up to $20,000 of additional section 179 (accelerated 
depreciation) expensing. The first round of Empowerment Zone and 
Enterprise Community designations made in 1994 featured grants from the 
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to States for the 
designated Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities. While similar 
grant funds have not been authorized for the Round II EZs, HUD 
anticipates that funding may become available for Round II Urban 
Empowerment Zones in Fiscal Year 1999. Should EZ/EC SSBG funds become 
available before the application deadline of October 9, 1998, the 
Department will issue a notice of the amount of such funds available to 
each zone. (Note: If the EZ/EC SSBG funds are made available, an 
environmental review for all activities proposed to be funded with EZ/
EC SSBG funds and are not excluded under 24 CFR 50.19(b) will be 
performed, as required by applicable law.)

C. Uses of Funds

    General guidelines concerning uses of EZ/EC SSBG funds are included 
in the Appendix to the Interim rule published elsewhere in this issue 
of the Federal

[[Page 19163]]

Register and on the Internet at the following address: <a href="http://
aspe.os.dhhs.gov/progsys/HHSguide.htm">http://
aspe.os.dhhs.gov/progsys/HHSguide.htm</a>. Applicants are encouraged to 
review the guidelines and ensure that all proposed projects to be 
financed with the anticipated grant funds conform to them.

II. Application Preparation

A. Notice of Intent to Participate

    Applicants should submit a Notice of Intent to Participate form as 
early as possible. The Notice should be submitted on the form provided 
in the Nomination Forms publication. Submission of the Notice of Intent 
to Participate is not mandatory, but it will ensure that an applicant 
receives updated information. The Notice of Intent to Participate may 
be mailed, or submitted by facsimile (FAX). The address for submitting 
the Notice of Intent to Participate is: U.S. Department of Housing and 
Urban Development, Ms. Elaine Braverman, EZ/EC Team, Room 7130, 451 
Seventh St., SW, Washington, DC. 20410. The facsimile number is (202) 
401-7615.

B. Application Requirements

    1. The application must include an original and two copies of the 
items listed below. To facilitate review, please submit applications in 
such a form that they can be taken apart. Loose leaf binders are 
preferable.
    2. The application submitted on behalf of a nominated urban area 
shall include:
    a. Nomination Form Parts I through IV, including the required 
certifications and written assurances;
    b. A strategic plan which meets the requirements of the Interim 
rule, including the content specified in Sec. 598.215 of the rule; and
    c. 1990 census maps showing:
    (i) The boundaries of the local government(s); and
    (ii) The boundaries of the nominated area, including developable 
sites, if any.
    3. Preferably, the Strategic Plan will contain no more than 150 
pages.
    4. The application should contain only the necessary documentation. 
Appendices or additional information extraneous to evaluation 
components will not be reviewed. Examples of such extraneous 
information include: meeting sign-in sheets, and copies of applications 
for other funds.

C. Strategic Plan Requirements

    The Strategic Plan shall conform to the requirements set forth in 
Sec. 598.215 of the Interim rule, and the criteria stated in this 
Notice. Requirements set forth in the interim rule will be used in the 
evaluation process.

III. Designation Process

A. General

    HUD will accept for processing those nominations meeting the 
submission deadline stated in this Notice, and the Eligibility 
Requirements listed in Subpart B of the Interim Rule. Nominating 
procedures are described in Subpart C of the Interim rule.

B. Exceptions

    The Secretary may waive a non-statutory provision of the Interim 
Rule for good cause where it is determined that the application of the 
provision would result in undue hardship to the applicant.

C. Application Review

    A threshold review will be conducted to ensure the application 
requirements in Section II(B) of this Notice are satisfied, and the 
applicant meets the eligibility requirements listed below. Applications 
determined eligible will receive a technical review under the rating 
factors described in Section IV of this Notice. Specific maximum point 
scores for each rating factor are listed in Section IV. Applications 
will be evaluated against the rating factors, then placed in rank 
order. Evaluation and ranking of applications will be made relative to 
other applications received.
    To review and rate applications, the Department may establish 
panels including employees of other Federal agencies to obtain certain 
expertise and outside points of view.
1. Eligibility Requirements
    a. To be considered for designation, a nominated urban area, with 
the exception of areas described below in the Special Rules, must meet 
all of the eligibility requirements of Sec. 598.100.
    The only sources of census data that will be used in determining 
the eligibility of an area are: the 1990 Decennial Census, and 
information published by the Bureau of Census and the Bureau of Labor 
Statistics. The boundary of an urban area nominated for designation as 
an Empowerment Zone must coincide with the boundaries of census tracts. 
Census tract means a census tract as the term is used by the Bureau of 
the Census, or, if and only if census tracts are not defined for the 
area, a block numbering area.
    b. A nominated urban area, with the exception of areas described 
below in the Special Rules, must demonstrate poverty, unemployment and 
general distress, as described in Sec. 598.110. In addition, each 
nominated area must satisfy the specific poverty rate criteria in 
Sec. 598.115.
    c. Special Rules.
    (i) A nominated area in Alaska or Hawaii is deemed to satisfy the 
criteria of distress, size, and poverty rate detailed in 
Sec. 598.100(b), (c), (d), and (f), and Sec. 598.110 if, for each 
census tract or block numbering area within the nominated area, 20 
percent or more of the families have income that is 50 percent or less 
of the statewide median family income (as determined under section 143 
of the Internal Revenue Code).
    (ii) An area within an Indian reservation (as defined in section 
168(j)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code) may be included in an area 
nominated as an Empowerment Zone by State and local governments. An 
area completely within an Indian reservation may be nominated by the 
reservation governing body, and in that case, the area is treated as if 
it also were nominated by a State and a local government. Where two or 
more governing bodies have joint jurisdiction over an Indian 
reservation, the nomination of a reservation area must be a joint 
nomination.
    (iii) Any urban area nominated by an Economic Development 
Corporation chartered by the State in which it is located or by the 
District of Columbia shall be treated as nominated by a State and a 
local government.
2. Technical Review
    a. General. The technical review will evaluate the quality of the 
application against the following rating factors:
    (i) Quality of the Strategic Plan; and
    (ii) Quality of the Commitments made in connection with the 
Strategic Plan.
    The criteria against which HUD will measure these factors, and the 
maximum points that will be awarded for each factor are described below 
in Section IV. An application may receive up to 100 total points.
    b. Corrections to Deficient Applications. HUD will notify an 
applicant in writing, or by FAX, of any technical deficiencies in the 
application, and HUD will maintain a log of such communications.
    The notification will specify the date by which HUD must receive 
the applicant's correction of all technical deficiencies, which shall 
be within 14 calendar days from the date of HUD's notification. If the 
fourteenth day falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, the correction 
must be received by HUD on the next business day. The date and time of 
receipt of corrections by HUD shall be determined in the same way as 
the receipt of the application.

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    Technical deficiencies relate to items that:
    (i) Are not necessary for HUD review under the rating factors; and
    (ii) Would not improve the substantive quality of the proposal. 
Examples of technical deficiencies would be a failure to submit proper 
certifications or failure to submit an application containing an 
original signature by an authorized official.
    If any of the items identified in HUD's written notification of 
technical deficiencies are not corrected and submitted within the 
correction period, the application will be ineligible for further 
consideration.
    c. Clarification of Application and Request for Additional 
Information. The Department may contact an applicant to obtain 
clarification of the terms of an applicant's application. Clarification 
may include, for example, a request for information to ensure HUD 
understanding of the terms of an applicant's application. In obtaining 
clarifying information, the Department may contact an applicant 
telephonically or in person. The Department will conduct all requests 
for clarification from an applicant according to uniform procedures and 
will document all requests.
    In addition, the Department reserves the right to conduct 
independent site inspections of proposed EZ/EC sites to accurately rate 
and rank an applicant's application under the selection criteria 
provided in this Notice. Should HUD decide to conduct site visits, it 
will visit sites according to uniform procedures. The Department will 
document site visit findings.
    HUD employees involved in the review of applications and the making 
of designation decisions will refrain from providing advance 
information to any person (other than an authorized employee of HUD) 
concerning designation decisions, or from otherwise giving any 
applicant an unfair competitive advantage.

D. Designation Announcements

    Designations will be made before January 1, 1999. The nominated 
urban areas designated as Empowerment Zones will be published in the 
Federal Register.

IV. Designation Factors

    In choosing among nominated areas eligible for designation, HUD 
will consider the following factors:
    <bullet> Quality of the Strategic Plan; and
    <bullet> Quality of the Commitments made in connection with the 
Strategic Plan.
    The following chart identifies the points that will be assigned to 
each rating factor. The criteria HUD will use to rate the applications 
on the factors follow the chart.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Maximum  
                       Rating factors                           points  
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quality of Strategic Plan (75 points):                                  
    1. Vision/Values.......................................           5 
    2. Community Assessment................................          10 
    3. Goals...............................................          10 
    4. Implementation Plan.................................          35 
        a. Projects/Programs...............................         (15)
        b. Tax Incentive Utilization Plan..................         (10)
        c. Governance Plan.................................          (7)
        d. Community Performance Assessment................          (3)
    5. Strategic Planning Process Documentation............          15 
                                                            ------------
            Quality of Strategic Plan Subtotal.............          75 
                                                            ============
Quality of Commitments Made in Connection With Strategic                
 Plan (25):                                                             
    1. Resources Leveraged.................................          10 
    2. Resource Commitments Documented.....................          15 
                                                            ------------
        Quality of Commitments Subtotal....................          25 
                                                            ============
            Total Points...................................         100 
------------------------------------------------------------------------

A. Quality of the Strategic Plan (Maximum Points: 75)

    The strategic plan must be developed in accordance with four key 
principles, described in Sec. 598.215: strategic vision for change, 
community-based partnerships, economic opportunity, and sustainable 
community development. The elements required in the strategic plan 
reflect the key principles. Innovation and creativity are encouraged in 
fulfilling all elements of the plan.
1. Vision and Values (Maximum Points: 5)
    This element is a consensus of what the community believes its 
future should be. The shared vision of the future should drive the 
development of the community's goals. The shared values that guided the 
creation of the vision should also be described. HUD will consider the 
extent to which this element:
    a. States a clear vision for the future;
    b. Develops the foundation upon which the goals are established and 
specific projects and programs are based;
    c. Demonstrates collaboration of the community's diverse 
stakeholders in arriving at its vision and values statement;
    d. Provides an effective vision for the community's long-term 
transformation; and
    e. Exhibits innovation and creativity.
2. Community Assessment (Maximum Points: 10)
    This element describes and assesses the existing conditions and 
trends in the community and the surrounding region. It examines 
strengths and assets, as well as issues and problems. In evaluating 
this element, HUD will consider the extent to which:
    a. The analysis of the strengths and opportunities of the area is 
balanced against the area's needs and problems;
    b. A variety of resources have been identified to address the needs 
and problems;
    c. The assessment demonstrates a grasp of the trends that will 
affect the community and the surrounding region over the period of the 
designation; and

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    d. The analysis includes the identification of developable sites, 
as appropriate, and an assessment of the opportunities available within 
these developable sites.
3. Goals (Maximum Points: 10)
    This element describes the comprehensive set of goals to be 
achieved over the 10-year program period, along with the strategies 
that will be used. In evaluating this element, HUD will consider the 
extent to which:
    a. The goals serve as the framework for specific strategies;
    b. The strategies proposed to achieve the strategic plan goals have 
been effectively described, and demonstrate the link between the goals 
and proposed projects and programs; and
    c. The goals are designed to move the community toward its desired 
future.
4. Implementation Plan (Maximum Points: 35)
    This element contains a detailed plan of how the community will 
implement its strategic plan. The components of the Implementation Plan 
are: Projects and Programs, Tax Incentive Utilization Plan, and a 
Governance Plan. These components must provide detailed information for 
the first 2 years of designation. However, applicants also must provide 
a general description of all activities that are proposed for the 10-
year designation period and a description of how all EZ/EC SSBG funds, 
if available, will be used.
    a. Projects and Programs (maximum points: 15). This element 
describes the specific projects and programs to be implemented during 
the first two years of the designation. Timelines and budgets must be 
provided for the 2-year plan. HUD will evaluate this component 
considering the extent to which:
    (i) The narrative clearly outlines the specific projects and 
programs that will be implemented, including use of any developable 
sites, and demonstrates that the projects and programs will result in 
the achievement of the community's goals;
    (ii) Proposed timelines for implementing identified projects and 
programs are appropriate for the 2-year plan;
    (iii) The lead implementing entities are identified;
    (iv) Innovative partnerships that ensure maximum community 
participation and project sustainability are identified;
    (v) Proposed budgets are identified for each project or program, 
and costs and sources of funding are realistic;
    (vi) Baselines and proposed measurable outputs are provided; and
    (vii) The component exhibits innovation and creativity.
    b. Tax Incentive Utilization Plan (maximum points: 10). This 
element addresses a significant aspect of the EZ initiative--the use of 
the business tax incentives available to designated Empowerment Zones 
to support economic revitalization. If the applicant includes 
developable sites, this element must include a statement of how 
developable sites will maximize the use of tax incentives. In 
evaluating this element, HUD will consider the extent to which the 
plan:
    (i) Provides an effective strategy for integrating the new business 
tax incentives into the nominated area's business development efforts. 
The Round II business tax incentives include: Tax-Exempt Bond 
Financing, Increased Section 179 Deduction, Welfare-to-Work Credit, 
Environmental Cleanup Cost Deduction (i.e. ``Brownfields Tax 
Incentive''), and the Work Opportunity Tax Credit. For a description of 
the tax incentives see IRS Publication 954, ``Tax Incentives for 
Empowerment Zones and Other Distressed Communities.''
    (ii) Addresses the involvement of all appropriate segments of the 
community and the extent to which their participation will maximize the 
use of the business tax incentives;
    (iii) Provides a realistic strategy for marketing the incentives; 
and
    (iv) Exhibits innovation and creativity.
    c. Governance Plan (Maximum Points: 7). This element describes how 
the strategic plan will be implemented. HUD will evaluate the extent to 
which:
    (i) The proposed lead implementing entity, has or will have, the 
legal status and authority to receive and administer Federal funds;
    (ii) The Governance Plan demonstrates that both the lead 
implementing entity and other key organizations participating in the 
implementation of the strategic plan have the capacity to implement the 
plan;
    (iii) The proposed composition of governance boards, advisory 
boards, commissions or similar bodies that will manage strategic plan 
implementation is representative of the EZ area. The representation of 
residents and businesses, and the method of selecting members of such 
boards should provide a clear picture of the use of partnerships;
    (iv) The relationships between the governance structure created and 
local governments, and other major community or regional organizations, 
such as a metropolitan planning organization, will strengthen the 
implementation of the strategic plan;
    (v) The Governance Plan includes methods by which stakeholders 
within the Zone will be kept informed about Zone activities and 
progress in implementing the strategic plan, including an explanation 
of how the Governance Board will conduct its meetings in accordance 
with applicable open meetings acts. The community should utilize modern 
communication techniques and incorporate the Internet in order to 
enhance the communication and access to information among all 
stakeholders and participants;
    (vi) The Governance Plan will ensure continuing community and 
grassroots participation in the implementation of the strategic plan 
and the governance of the Zone's activities; and
    (vii) The plan exhibits innovation and creativity.
    d. Community Performance Assessment (maximum points: 3). This 
element examines the methods the community will use to assess its own 
performance in implementing the strategic plan, and the process it will 
use to continually review the plan and amend it as appropriate. In 
evaluating community performance assessment, HUD will consider:
    (i) The process the applicant will use to periodically evaluate its 
performance;
    (ii) The process the applicant will use to modify its strategic 
plan based on the results obtained in (i);
    (iii) The participation of stakeholders in (i) and (ii) above.
5. Strategic Planning Process Documentation (Maximum Points: 15)
    This element provides a description of the process the community 
used to select the boundaries of the proposed Empowerment Zone, 
including any developable sites, and the process used to prepare the 
strategic plan. In evaluating this element, HUD will consider the 
extent to which the documentation:
    a. Fully explains how the community participated in choosing the 
area, including any developable sites; and how the area ultimately 
nominated was selected over other areas considered;
    b. Indicates the specific groups, organizations, and individuals 
that participated in the production of the plan, describes the history 
of these groups in the community, and describes their role in creating 
the plan;
    c. Explains how participants were selected and provides evidence 
that the participants, taken as a whole, broadly represent the racial, 
cultural, gender and economic diversity of the community; and

[[Page 19166]]

    d. Identifies two or three topics addressed in the plan that caused 
the most serious disagreements among participants, and a description of 
how those disagreements were resolved.

B. Quality of Commitments Made in Connection With the Strategic Plan 
(Maximum Points: 25)

    In Sec. 598.210 of the Interim rule, nominated areas are required 
to provide written assurances that the Strategic Plan will be 
implemented. In addition to the certification, it is essential that HUD 
is able to evaluate the breadth and quality of such commitments.
1. Resources Leveraged (Maximum Points: 10)
    In evaluating this element, HUD will consider the extent to which 
the applicant has leveraged resources, such as funding and/or in-kind 
services from governmental entities, business, faith-based 
organizations, non-profit organizations, foundations, educational 
institutions, and other entities to implement the strategic plan.
2. Resource Commitments Documented (Maximum Points: 15)
    The applicant must provide evidence of public and private sector 
commitments by including letters of commitment, memoranda of 
understanding or agreement, or other documentation indicating the 
nature of the participation and the financial and non-financial 
resources to be contributed. The letters or agreements must be signed 
by an official of the organization able to make such commitments.

V. Period of Designation

    The designation period will commence on the date of designation and 
will continue for 10 years, closing at the end of the 10th calendar 
year, except:
    1. When the nominating entities have specified an earlier date; or
    2. When the designation is revoked by the Secretary.

VI. Findings and Certifications

A. Information Collection Requirements

    The information collection requirements contained in this Notice 
have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget on an 
emergency basis through August 31, 1998 and assigned control number 
2506-0148. See the interim rule on ``Empowerment Zones: Rule for Second 
Round Designations'' published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal 
Register for additional information on this subject, including the 
opportunity to comment including information on the opportunity to 
comment on the burden of the information collections.

B. Catalog

    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program number assigned 
to this program is 14.244.

C. Environmental Impact

    A Finding of No Significant Impact with respect to the environment 
for this Notice has been made in accordance with HUD regulations at 24 
CFR part 50, which implement section 102(2)(C) of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969. The Finding of No Significant Impact 
is available for public inspection between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. 
weekdays in the Office of the Rules Docket Clerk, Office of the General 
Counsel, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Room 10276, 451 
Seventh Street, SW., Washington, D.C. 20410.

D. Federalism, Executive Order 12612

    The General Counsel, as the Designated Official under section 6(a) 
of Executive Order 12612, Federalism, has determined that the policies 
contained in this Notice will not have substantial direct effects on 
States or their political subdivisions, or on the relationship between 
the Federal Government and the States, or on the distribution of power 
and responsibilities among the various levels of government. As a 
result, the Notice is not subject to review under the Order.

E. Documentation and Public Access Policy

    (1) Documentation and public access requirements. HUD will ensure 
that documentation and other information regarding each application 
submitted pursuant to this Notice are sufficient to indicate the basis 
upon which assistance was provided or denied. This material, including 
any letters of support, will be made available for public inspection 
for a 5-year period beginning not less than 30 days after the award of 
the assistance. Material will be made available in accordance with the 
Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and HUD's implementing 
regulations in 24 CFR part 15.
    (2) Disclosures. HUD will make available to the public for 5 years 
all applicant disclosure reports (HUD Form 2880) submitted in 
connection with this Notice. Update reports (also Form 2880) will be 
made available along with the applicant disclosure reports, but in no 
case for a period less than 3 years. All reports--both applicant 
disclosures and updates--will be made available in accordance with the 
Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and HUD's implementing 
regulations at 24 CFR part 15.
    (3) Ethics Related Questions. Applicants or employees who have 
ethics related questions should contact the HUD Ethics Law Division at 
(202) 708-3815. (This is not a toll-free number.)

    Dated: April 10, 1998.
Saul N. Ramirez, Jr.,
Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development.
[FR Doc. 98-10131 Filed 4-14-98; 11:41 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-29-P