[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 82 (Friday, April 26, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18544-18545]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-10321]



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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Housing Service


Notice of Request for Extension of a Currently Approved 
Information Collection

AGENCY: Rural Housing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Proposed collection; comments request.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the Rural Housing Service (RHS) intention to request 
an extension for a currently approved information collection in support 
of the program for the Housing Preservation Grant Program.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by June 25, 1996 to be 
assured of consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sue M. Harris-Green, Senior Loan 
Specialist, RHS, U.S. Department of Agriculture, AG BOX 0781, 
Washington, D.C. 20250, Telephone (202) 720-1606.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: RHS/Housing Preservation Grant Program.
    OMB Number: 0575-0115.
    Expiration Date of Approval: July 31, 1996.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The primary purpose of the Housing Preservation Grant 
Program is to repair or rehabilitate individual housing, rental 
properties, or co-ops owned or occupied by very low- and low-income 
rural persons. Grantees will provide eligible homeowners, owners of 
rental properties, and owners of co-ops with financial assistance 
through loans, grants, interest reduction payments or other comparable 
financial assistance for necessary repairs and rehabilitation of 
dwellings to bring them up to code or minimum property standards.
    These grants were established by Public Law 98-181, the Housing 
Urban-Rural Recovery Act of 1983, which amended the Housing Act of 1979 
(Pub.

[[Page 18545]]

L. 93-383) by adding section 533, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 2490(m), Housing 
Preservation Grants (HPG). In addition, the Secretary of Agriculture 
has authority to prescribe rules and regulations to implement HPG and 
other programs under 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1480(j).
    Section 533(d) is prescriptive about the information applicants are 
to submit to RHS as part of their application and in the assessments 
and criteria RHS is to use in selecting grantees. An applicant is to 
submit a ``statement of activity'' describing its proposed program, 
including the specific activities it will undertake, and its schedule. 
RHS is required in turn to evaluate proposals on a set of prescribed 
criteria, for which the applicant will also have to provide 
information, such as: (1) very low- and low-income persons proposed to 
be served by the repair and rehabilitation activities; (2) 
participation by other public and private organizations to leverage 
funds and lower the cost to the HPG program; (3) the area to be served 
in terms of population size and need; (4) cost data to assure greatest 
degree of assistance at lowest cost; (5) administrative costs 
projected; and (6) administrative capacity of the applicant to carry 
out the program. The information collected will be the minimum required 
by law and by the necessity for RHS to assure that it funds responsible 
grantees proposing feasible projects in areas of greatest need. Most 
data are taken from a localized area, although some are derived from 
census reports of city, county and Federal governments showing 
population and housing characteristics.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average .96 hour per response.
    Respondents: A public body or a public or private nonprofit 
corporation.
    Estimated number of respondents: 1,850
    Estimated number of responses per respondent: 6.5.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 11,614 hours.
    Copies of this information collection can be obtained from the 
Director, Regulations and Paperwork Management Division at (202) 720-
9725.
    Comments: Comments are invited on: (a) 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; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of 
the burden of the proposed collection of information including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance 
the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; 
and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments may be 
sent to Director, Regulations and Paperwork Management Division, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, RECD, Ag Box 0743, 14th and Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250. All responses to this notice will be 
summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments 
will also become a matter of public record.

    Dated: April 17, 1996.
Maureen Kennedy,
Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
[FR Doc. 96-10321 Filed 4-25-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-07-U