Indian HOME Program

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

24 CFR Part 954

[Docket No. FR-3567-F-02]

RIN 2577-AB35

Indian HOME Program

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian

Housing, HUD.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This rule adopts as final the interim rule for the Indian HOME

Program at 24 CFR part 954, published on June 21, 1996.

EFFECTIVE DATE: December 1, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bruce Knott, Office of Native American

[[Page 58906]]

Programs, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 1999 Broadway,

Suite 3390, Denver, CO; telephone (303) 675-1600 (voice) or 1-800-877-

8339 (TTY for speech or hearing impaired individuals). These are not

toll-free numbers.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Paperwork Burden

The information collection requirements contained in Secs. 954.106,

954.505, 954.506, 954.507 of this rule have been approved by the Office

of Management and Budget in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act

of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), and assigned OMB control number 2577-

0191. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not

required to respond to, a collection of information unless the

collection displays a valid control number.

II. Background

On June 21, 1996, at 61 FR 32292, HUD published an interim rule to

move the Indian HOME Program from 24 CFR part 92 to part 954. The

interim rule also included clarifications and simplifications intended

to facilitate the use of the rule by interested parties, increase

similarity with the Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG)

program, and simplify administration of Native American Tribal

Programs.

Comments were solicited on the interim rule for a period of 60

days. No public comments were received, and HUD has determined to

promulgate the June 21, 1996 interim rule without any changes as a

final rule. Although section 505 of the Native American Housing

Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (NAHASDA) (Pub. L. 104-

330, approved October 26, 1996) ends the Indian HOME Program in Fiscal

Year (FY) 1998, which begins on October 1, 1997, this final rule is

being issued to provide for the administration of any Indian HOME funds

and Indian HOME-assisted projects that will continue beyond the date

when new funding under the program will no longer be made available.

III. Findings and Certifications

Regulatory Flexibility Act--Impact on Small Entities

The Secretary, in accordance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5

U.S.C. 605(b)), has reviewed this rule before publication and by

approving it certifies that this rule does not have a significant

economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The rule

promulgates as final the interim rule revisions to the existing Indian

HOME program under which Indian tribes receive grant assistance from

HUD to increase the number of housing opportunities for low-income and

very low-income people. HUD does not anticipate a significant economic

impact on small entities since Indian tribes will continue to carry out

their Indian HOME program activities as they now do.

Environmental Review

At the time of publication of the interim rule, a Finding of No

Significant Impact with respect to the environment was made in

accordance with HUD regulations in 24 CFR part 50 that implement

section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42

U.S.C. 4332). The interim rule is adopted by this final rule without

significant change. Accordingly, the initial Finding of No Significant

Impact remains applicable, and is available for public inspection

between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. weekdays in the office of the Rules

Docket Clerk at the above address.

Executive Order 13045, Protection of Children From Environmental Health

Risks and Safety Risks

This rule will not pose an environmental health risk or safety risk

on children.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

The Secretary has reviewed this rule before publication and by

approving it certifies, in accordance with the Unfunded Mandates Reform

Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1532), that this rule does not impose a Federal

mandate that will result in the expenditure by state, local, and tribal

governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of $100

million or more in any one year.

The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number for the HOME

Program is 14.239.

List of Subjects in 24 CFR Part 954

Grant programs--housing and community development, Manufactured

homes, Rent subsidies, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

Accordingly, for the reasons stated in the preamble, title 24 of

the Code of Federal Regulations is amended by adopting the interim rule

published in the Federal Register on June 21, 1996 (61 FR 32292) as

final without change.

Dated: October 22, 1997.

Kevin Emanuel Marchman,

Acting Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing.

[FR Doc. 97-28855 Filed 10-30-97; 8:45 am]

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