Notice of Proposed Information Collection for Public Comment

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR 4263-N-76]

Notice of Proposed Information Collection for Public Comment

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and

Development, HUD.

ACTION: Notice.

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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: March 31, 1998.

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: Reports Liaison Officer, Shelia

E. Jones, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451--7th Street,

SW, Room 7230, Washington, DC 20410.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Paul Webster at (202) 708-1871 ext. 4563 (this is not a toll-free

number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department will submit 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).

The Notice is soliciting comments from members of the public and

affected 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: The Economic Development Iniative (EDI) Grants

Program.

OMB Control Number, if applicable: 2506-1053.

Description of the need for the information and proposed use: The

information collection is required to assist HUD in selecting

applicants to receive EDI grant funds and to document program

compliance. Information to be collected for application submission is

specified in the NOFA. The information collected is essential in order

to rate and rank proposals, in keeping with the statutory provisions,

and in order to determine the eligibility of applicants and proposed

activities. The selection criteria are as required by the Act, and may

include additional criteria if the Secretary deems necessary. After the

Congressional notification of grant awards are made, recipients are

required to follow applicable Federal CDBG (see OMB No. 2506-0077) and

Section 108 loan guarantee requirements (see OMB No. 2506-0123).

Information which is required to satisfy the record keeping

requirements of these programs will be collected and maintained.

Information collected will be used to drawdown funds and prepare annual

performance reports. HUD may monitor grantee records to periodically

verify compliance.

Agency form numbers, if applicable: SF424.

Members of affected public: Eligible applicants are Community

Development Block Grant (CDBG) entitlement units of general local

government, and non-entitlement units of general local government which

are eligible to receive Section 108 loan guarantees under 24 CFR

570.702. Eligible expenses are those authorized under 24 CFR 570.703 of

the Community Development Block Grant program.

Estimation of the total numbers of hours needed to prepare the

information collection including number of respondents, frequency of

response, and hours of response:

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Burden hours

Collection requirement Annual frequency Number of per Total burden

respondents respondent hours

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Application.................. One-time......................... 150 40 6,000

LOCCS Access................. Each week (52)................... 60 1 3,120

Record keeping and reporting. Each week (52)................... 60 1 3,120

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Total Burden............. ................................. .............. .............. 12,240

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Status of the proposed information collection: Current approval

expired on December 21, 1996.

Authority: Section 3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,

44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended.

Dated: January 23, 1998.

Saul N. Ramirez, Jr.,

Assistant Secretary of Community Planning and Development.

[FR Doc. 98-2267 Filed 1-29-98; 8:45 am]

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