Notice2024-12288
30-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: HUD Environmental Review Online System (HEROS) OMB Control No.: 2506-0202
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
June 5, 2024
Issuing agencies
Housing and Urban Development Department
Abstract
HUD is seeking approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the information collection described below. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, HUD is requesting comment from all interested parties on the proposed collection of information. The purpose of this notice is to allow for an additional 30 days of public comment.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 109 (Wednesday, June 5, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 109 (Wednesday, June 5, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48185-48187]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-12288]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
[Docket No. FR-7080-N-24]
30-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: HUD
Environmental Review Online System (HEROS) OMB Control No.: 2506-0202
AGENCY: Office of Policy Development and Research, HUD.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: HUD is seeking approval from the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) for the information collection described below. In
accordance with the
[[Page 48186]]
Paperwork Reduction Act, HUD is requesting comment from all interested
parties on the proposed collection of information. The purpose of this
notice is to allow for an additional 30 days of public comment.
DATES: Comments Due Date: July 5, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding
this proposal. Written comments and recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of
this notice to <a href="http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a>. Find this particular
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function. Interested
persons are also invited to submit comments regarding this proposal and
comments should refer to the proposal by name and/or OMB Control Number
and should be sent to: Colette Pollard, Clearance Officer, REE,
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW, Room
8210, Washington, DC 20410-5000; email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#db8bbaabbea9acb4a9b089bebfaeb8afb2b4b59ab8af94bdbdb2b8be9bb3aebff5bcb4ad"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1f4f7e6f7a6d68706d744d7a7b6a7c6b7670715e7c6b507979767c7a5f776a7b31787069">[email protected]</span></a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colette Pollard, Reports Management
Officer, REE, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 7th Street
SW, Room 8210, Washington, DC 20410; email Colette Pollard at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5615393a332222337806393a3a372432163e233278313920"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="acefc3c0c9d8d8c982fcc3c0c0cddec8ecc4d9c882cbc3da">[email protected]</span></a> or telephone 202-402-3400. This is not a toll-
free number. This is not a toll-free number. HUD welcomes and is
prepared to receive calls from individuals who are deaf or hard of
hearing, as well as individuals with speech or communication
disabilities. To learn more about how to make an accessible telephone
call, please visit <a href="https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/telecommunications-relay-service-trs">https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/telecommunications-relay-service-trs</a>
Copies of available documents submitted to OMB may be obtained from
Ms. Pollard.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice informs the public that HUD is
seeking approval from OMB for the information collection described in
Section A.
The Federal Register notice that solicited public comment on the
information collection for a period of 60 days was published on
February 28, 2024 at 89 FR 14676.
A. Overview of Information Collection
Title of Information Collection: HUD Environmental Review Online
System (HEROS).
OMB Approval Number: 2506-0202.
Type of Request: Extension of currently approved collection.
Form Number: HUD 4755.
Description of the need for the information and proposed use: 24
CFR part 58, ``Environmental Review Procedures for Entities Assuming
HUD Environmental Responsibilities'' requires Responsible Entities
(including States, units of general local government, Indian tribes,
territories, and Alaska native villages) receiving HUD assistance or
carrying out environmental reviews for recipients to maintain a written
environmental review record for all projects receiving HUD funding that
is subject to Part 58 documenting compliance with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the regulations of the Council on
Environmental Quality, related federal environmental laws, executive
orders, and authorities, and Part 58 procedure. Various laws that
authorize this procedure are listed in 24 CFR 58.1(b). 24 CFR part 50,
``Protection and Enhancement of Environmental Quality,'' implements
procedures for HUD to perform environmental reviews for projects where
Part 58 procedures are not permitted by law. Under Part 50, HUD staff
complete the environmental review records, but they may use any
information supplied by an applicant or contractor, provided HUD
independently evaluates the information and is responsible for its
accuracy and prepares the environmental finding. HEROS allows users to
complete, store, and submit their environmental review records and
documents online. HEROS is currently optional for Responsible Entities
and many other non-HUD users, who may continue to use paper-based
environmental review formats or provide information to HUD staff for
the staff to input into HEROS; however, it is mandatory for some non-
HUD users, such as those subject to the FHA Multifamily Accelerated
Processing Guide (MAP Guide).
This information collection also contains a new form, HEROS Access
Form. The HEROS Access Form is required for respondents to obtain
access to HEROS. It is an electronic form that is hosted by the company
DocuSign on their website. HUD uses the information collected in the
HEROS Access Form to approve requests for access to HEROS. Respondents
fill out the form with relevant information, which is then passed on to
a HUD staff member who assists in creating a new HEROS user account for
the respondent.
Respondents: The respondents are state, local, and tribal
governments receiving HUD funding who are required to complete
environmental reviews as well as sub-recipients, applicants, and third-
party providers who submit information to be used in the completion of
environmental review records. The specific data has been broken down
into two data sets: data on the HEROS system itself (``HEROS''), and
data on the HEROS Access Form which is required to gain access to
HEROS.
HEROS
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Hourly cost
Information collection Number of Frequency of Responses per Burden hour per Annual burden per response Annual cost
respondents response annum response hours \1\
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Exempt/CENST reviews......... 500 34.75.............. 17,376 0.75.............. 13,032 $39.630 $205,312.500
Reviews that convert to 500 12.35.............. 6,147 2................. 12,294 39.630 292,000.000
exempt.
CEST/EA reviews.............. 250 11.34.............. 2,834 4................. 11,336 39.630 102,200.000
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Total.................... 500 varies............. 26,357 varies............ 36,662 39.630 1,452,915.06
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HEROS Access Form
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Number of Frequency of Responses per Burden hour Annual burden Hourly cost
Information collection respondents response annum per response hours per response Annual cost
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HEROS Access Form HUD 4755.............. 2,870 1.05 3,013 .10 301.3 $39.63 $11,940.52
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Total............................... 2,870 1.05 3,013 .10 301.3 39.63 11,940.52
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Note: Average hours per response varies substantially depending on level of review. Reviews that are exempt or Categorically Excluded Not Subject To the
related laws and authorities (CENST) take roughly 45 minutes to complete. Reviews that are Categorically Excluded Subject To the related laws (CEST)
or require an Environmental Assessment (EA) take an average of 4 hours to complete. Some CEST reviews ``convert to exempt,'' and require roughly 2
hours to complete.
HUD grants \1\ cover all eligible costs including staff work.
Hourly cost per response based on hourly mean wage of urban planners
working for local government (Bureau of Labor Statistics, <a href="https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes193051.htm">https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes193051.htm</a>). This would apply only to those
receiving HUD grants, and not to those receiving other forms of HUD
assistance, such as lenders under FHA programs.
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\1\ Caveat to the monetary costs for HEROS: HUD grants cover all
eligible costs, including staff work for grant recipients, so for
HUD grants (as opposed to other forms of HUD assistance, such as
FHA-backed multifamily mortgages) the monetary costs are typically
$0 for all environmental review types.
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B. Solicitation of Public Comment
This notice is soliciting comments from members of the public and
affected parties concerning the collection of information described in
Section A on the following:
(1) 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) The accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the
proposed collection of information;
(3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and
(4) Ways to 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.
(5) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on
those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection
techniques or other forms of information technology.
HUD encourages interested parties to submit comment in response to
these questions.
C. Authority
Section 3507 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C.
Chapter 35.
Colette Pollard,
Department Reports Management Officer, Office of Policy Development and
Research, Chief Data Officer.
[FR Doc. 2024-12288 Filed 6-4-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P
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