HUD Environmental Review Online System (HEROS) Announcement of OMB Approval Number: Environmental Compliance-Recordkeeping Requirements, 43059-43060 [2014-17466]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 142 / Thursday, July 24, 2014 / Notices committee, as listed in the section below. Associated briefing materials that will be discussed at the meeting will be available at www.dhs.gov/nstac for review as of August 1, 2014. Comments must be submitted in writing no later than August 22, 2014, and must be identified by docket number DHS– 2014–0032. Comments may be submitted by one of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting written comments. • Email: NSTAC@hq.dhs.gov. Include the docket number in the subject line of the email message. • Fax: 703–235–5962. • Mail: Designated Federal Officer, Stakeholder Engagement and Critical Infrastructure Resilience Division, National Protection and Programs Directorate, Department of Homeland Security, 245 Murray Lane, Mail Stop 0615, Arlington, VA, 20598–0615. Instructions: All submissions received must include the words ‘‘Department of Homeland Security’’ and the docket number for this action. Comments received will be posted without alteration at www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. Docket: For access to the docket and comments received by the NSTAC, go to www.regulations.gov and enter docket number DHS–2014–0032. A public comment period will be held during the conference call on Wednesday, August 13, 2014, from 2:45 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Speakers who wish to participate in the public comment period must register in advance no later than Friday, August 8, 2014, at 5:00 p.m. by emailing Sandy Benevides at Sandra.Benevides@hq.dhs.gov. Speakers are requested to limit their comments to three minutes and will speak in order of registration. Please note that the public comment period may end before the time indicated, following the last request for comments. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Helen Jackson, NSTAC Designated Federal Officer, Department of Homeland Security, telephone (703) 235–5321 or Helen.Jackson@dhs.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice of this meeting is given under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. The NSTAC advises the President on matters related to national security and emergency preparedness (NS/EP) telecommunications policy. Agenda: The NSTAC members will discuss the status of two current studies. emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:03 Jul 23, 2014 Jkt 232001 The first study to be discussed is regarding the needs, benefits, and operational efficacy of a national Information and Communications Technology mobilization capability in the face of a cyber-related event of national significance. The second study to be discussed is examining the cybersecurity implications of the Internet of Things as it relates to national security and emergency preparedness. Additionally, in coordination with senior leaders from the White House and DHS, the members will discuss potential study topics. Dated: July 18, 2014. Helen Jackson, Designated Federal Officer for the NSTAC. [FR Doc. 2014–17427 Filed 7–23–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 9110–9P–P DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT [Docket No. FR–5616–N–02] HUD Environmental Review Online System (HEROS) Announcement of OMB Approval Number: Environmental Compliance—Recordkeeping Requirements Office of the Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development, HUD. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: This notice announces that the HUD Environmental Review Online System (HEROS) has completed the notice and comment processes and review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act, and that OMB has assigned a control number to this system, and the system is available for use. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Danielle Schopp, Director, Office of Environment and Energy, Office of Community Planning and Development, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW., Room 7250, Washington, DC 20410; telephone number 202–402–4442 (this is not a tollfree number). Persons with hearing or speech impairments may access this number through TTY by calling the tollfree Federal Relay Service at 800–877– 8339. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: I. Background HUD’s Office of Environment and Energy in the Office of Community Planning and Development has developed HEROS, an online system for documenting and managing PO 00000 Frm 00041 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 43059 environmental reviews. HEROS covers all levels of environmental reviews required for projects covered by HUD’s regulations in 24 CFR part 50 and part 58 and includes on-screen guidance for completing HUD environmental reviews. HEROS increases transparency of environmental reviews by posting them on the OneCPD Resource Exchange for public review.1 Environmental assessments and many categorically excluded projects completed through HEROS are posted online during public comment periods or archived for a year after completion.2 On December 27, 2013, at 78 FR 78998, and consistent with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), HUD published for public comment, for a period of 60 days, a notice advising of the proposed establishment of HEROS. In the December 27, 2013, notice, HUD advised that its regulations in 24 CFR part 58, ‘‘Environmental Review Procedures for Entities Assuming HUD Environmental Responsibilities’’ requires units of general local government receiving HUD assistance to maintain a written environmental review record for all projects receiving HUD funding 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. (The various laws that authorize this procedure are listed in 24 CFR 58.1(b).) In the December 27, 2013, notice, HUD also advised that its 24 CFR part 50, ‘‘Protection and Enhancement of Environmental Quality,’’ implements procedures for HUD to perform environmental reviews for projects where review under part 58 is not permitted by law. Under the regulations in 24 CFR 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. There is no required format for applicants and contractors to submit required information, but HEROS would allow these parties to submit environmental information to HUD staff through the system as well. HUD staff will then use HEROS to complete the environmental review record. 1 OneCPD can be found at https:// www.onecpd.info/. 2 The HEROS Web page can be found at https:// www.onecpd.info/environmental-review/heros/. E:\FR\FM\24JYN1.SGM 24JYN1 emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES 43060 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 142 / Thursday, July 24, 2014 / Notices The December 27, 2013, notice advised that with the establishment of HEROS, users would be allowed to complete, store, and submit their environmental review records online. As stated in the December 27, 2013, notice, HUD’s intention is that HEROS will improve HUD’s environmental reviews in several ways. First, it replaces HUD’s many environmental review forms and requirements with one single format housed online with guidance integrated throughout to simplify the process and assist new employees in the preparation of their reviews. Second, it increases transparency and overall compliance with NEPA by posting many environmental review records online for public review through HEROS. Finally, storing recipients’ records in HEROS allows HUD to collect data on environmental compliance for the first time. On March 31, 2014, at 79 FR 18048, HUD published the 30-day notice for HEROS to complete the public comment process required by the PRA. With the completion of the PRA process for HEROS, OMB has assigned OMB control number 2506–0202 to HEROS. On February 27, 2014, at 79 FR 11045, HUD published a proposed rule entitled ‘‘Environmental Compliance Recordkeeping Requirements.’’ The proposed rule reiterated the various documents required to meet the environmental review requirements under the regulations in 24 CFR parts 50 and parts 58 (see 78 FR 11046) as was stated in the December 27, 2013, notice, and noted that, as a result of these regulations, a variety of documents are required to be completed by the entities complying with the environmental review requirements of these regulations. HUD noted that these various formats required to be completed under the regulations in 24 CFR parts 50 and 58 make it difficult for HUD and interested members of the public to assess compliance and prevents HUD from collecting reliable data. The February 27, 2014, proposed rule stated HUD’s intention to bring uniformity to the documentation required to reflect compliance with the regulations in 24 CFR parts 50 and 58. The proposed rule also stated that the established format would be established through the PRA notice-and-comment process. As noted above, HUD provided the opportunity for notice-and-comment through the December 27, 2013 60-day PRA notice and the March 31, 2014 30day PRA notice. With approval of HEROS under the PRA, use of HEROS provides for the uniformity and VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:03 Jul 23, 2014 Jkt 232001 transparency that HUD is seeking in its February 27, 2014, proposed rule. Date: July 21, 2014. Danielle Schopp, Director, Office of Environment and Energy. [FR Doc. 2014–17466 Filed 7–23–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4210–67–P DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT [Docket No. FR–5752–N–59] 30-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Quality Control Requirements for Direct Endorsement Lenders Office of the Chief Information Officer, HUD. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: HUD has submitted the proposed information collection requirement described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. The purpose of this notice is to allow for an additional 30 days of public comment. DATES: Comments Due Date: August 25, 2014. 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: HUD Desk Officer, Office of Management and Budget, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503; fax: 202–395–5806. Email: OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colette Pollard, Reports Management Officer, QDAM, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW., Washington, DC 20410; email Colette Pollard at Colette.Pollard@ hud.gov or telephone 202–402–3400. Persons with hearing or speech impairments may access this number through TTY by calling the toll-free Federal Relay Service at (800) 877–8339. This is not a toll-free number. Copies of available documents submitted to OMB may be obtained from Ms. Pollard. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice informs the public that HUD has submitted to OMB a request for approval of 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 26, 2014. SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00042 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 A. Overview of Information Collection Title of Information Collection: Quality Control Requirements for Direct Endorsement Lenders. OMB Approval Number: 2502–0600. Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection. Form Number: None. Description of the need for the information and proposed use: Under 24 CFR § 202.8(3), Direct Endorsement (DE) lenders which sponsor third-party originators (TPOs) are responsible to the Secretary for the actions of TPOs or mortgagees in originating loans or mortgages, unless applicable law or regulation requires specific knowledge on the part of the party to be held responsible. As a result, DE lenders are responsible for conducting quality control on TPO originations of FHAinsured mortgage loans, and ensuring that their quality control plans contain appropriate oversight provisions. This creates an information collection burden on DE lenders, since these institutions must conduct quality control on all loans they originate and underwrite. In addition, under 24 CFR § 203.255(c) and (e), HUD conducts both pre- and postendorsement reviews of loans submitted for FHA insurance by DE lenders. As part of those reviews, the Secretary is authorized to determine if there is any information indicating that any certification or required document is false, misleading, or constitutes fraud or misrepresentation on the part of any party, or that the mortgage fails to meet a statutory or regulatory requirement. In order to assist the Secretary with this directive, FHA requires that lenders self-report all findings of fraud and material misrepresentation, as well any material findings concerning the origination, underwriting, or servicing of the loan that the lender is unable to mitigate or otherwise resolve. The obligation to self-report these findings creates an additional information collection burden on DE lenders. In accordance with the requirements of 5 CFR § 1320.8(d), a Notice soliciting comments on this collection of information was initially published in the Federal Register on December 21, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 244, page 80066). At that time, FHA still allowed for loan correspondents to participate in its programs and had not yet transitioned to the use of TPOs. Therefore, FHA estimated information collection burdens based on the expected used of TPOs by DE lenders. Three years later, FHA has revised these estimates with real data, which has substantially reduced the information E:\FR\FM\24JYN1.SGM 24JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 142 (Thursday, July 24, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43059-43060]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-17466]


=======================================================================
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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-5616-N-02]


HUD Environmental Review Online System (HEROS) Announcement of 
OMB Approval Number: Environmental Compliance--Recordkeeping 
Requirements

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

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: This notice announces that the HUD Environmental Review Online 
System (HEROS) has completed the notice and comment processes and 
review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act, and that OMB has assigned a control number to 
this system, and the system is available for use.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Danielle Schopp, Director, Office of 
Environment and Energy, Office of Community Planning and Development, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW., Room 
7250, Washington, DC 20410; telephone number 202-402-4442 (this is not 
a toll-free number). Persons with hearing or speech impairments may 
access this number through TTY by calling the toll-free Federal Relay 
Service at 800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    HUD's Office of Environment and Energy in the Office of Community 
Planning and Development has developed HEROS, an online system for 
documenting and managing environmental reviews. HEROS covers all levels 
of environmental reviews required for projects covered by HUD's 
regulations in 24 CFR part 50 and part 58 and includes on-screen 
guidance for completing HUD environmental reviews. HEROS increases 
transparency of environmental reviews by posting them on the OneCPD 
Resource Exchange for public review.\1\ Environmental assessments and 
many categorically excluded projects completed through HEROS are posted 
online during public comment periods or archived for a year after 
completion.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ OneCPD can be found at https://www.onecpd.info/.
    \2\ The HEROS Web page can be found at https://www.onecpd.info/environmental-review/heros/.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On December 27, 2013, at 78 FR 78998, and consistent with the 
Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), HUD published for public comment, for a 
period of 60 days, a notice advising of the proposed establishment of 
HEROS.
    In the December 27, 2013, notice, HUD advised that its regulations 
in 24 CFR part 58, ``Environmental Review Procedures for Entities 
Assuming HUD Environmental Responsibilities'' requires units of general 
local government receiving HUD assistance to maintain a written 
environmental review record for all projects receiving HUD funding 
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. (The various laws that authorize this procedure 
are listed in 24 CFR 58.1(b).)
    In the December 27, 2013, notice, HUD also advised that its 24 CFR 
part 50, ``Protection and Enhancement of Environmental Quality,'' 
implements procedures for HUD to perform environmental reviews for 
projects where review under part 58 is not permitted by law. Under the 
regulations in 24 CFR 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. There is no required format for applicants and 
contractors to submit required information, but HEROS would allow these 
parties to submit environmental information to HUD staff through the 
system as well. HUD staff will then use HEROS to complete the 
environmental review record.

[[Page 43060]]

    The December 27, 2013, notice advised that with the establishment 
of HEROS, users would be allowed to complete, store, and submit their 
environmental review records online.
    As stated in the December 27, 2013, notice, HUD's intention is that 
HEROS will improve HUD's environmental reviews in several ways. First, 
it replaces HUD's many environmental review forms and requirements with 
one single format housed online with guidance integrated throughout to 
simplify the process and assist new employees in the preparation of 
their reviews. Second, it increases transparency and overall compliance 
with NEPA by posting many environmental review records online for 
public review through HEROS. Finally, storing recipients' records in 
HEROS allows HUD to collect data on environmental compliance for the 
first time.
    On March 31, 2014, at 79 FR 18048, HUD published the 30-day notice 
for HEROS to complete the public comment process required by the PRA. 
With the completion of the PRA process for HEROS, OMB has assigned OMB 
control number 2506-0202 to HEROS.
    On February 27, 2014, at 79 FR 11045, HUD published a proposed rule 
entitled ``Environmental Compliance Recordkeeping Requirements.'' The 
proposed rule reiterated the various documents required to meet the 
environmental review requirements under the regulations in 24 CFR parts 
50 and parts 58 (see 78 FR 11046) as was stated in the December 27, 
2013, notice, and noted that, as a result of these regulations, a 
variety of documents are required to be completed by the entities 
complying with the environmental review requirements of these 
regulations. HUD noted that these various formats required to be 
completed under the regulations in 24 CFR parts 50 and 58 make it 
difficult for HUD and interested members of the public to assess 
compliance and prevents HUD from collecting reliable data.
    The February 27, 2014, proposed rule stated HUD's intention to 
bring uniformity to the documentation required to reflect compliance 
with the regulations in 24 CFR parts 50 and 58. The proposed rule also 
stated that the established format would be established through the PRA 
notice-and-comment process. As noted above, HUD provided the 
opportunity for notice-and-comment through the December 27, 2013 60-day 
PRA notice and the March 31, 2014 30-day PRA notice. With approval of 
HEROS under the PRA, use of HEROS provides for the uniformity and 
transparency that HUD is seeking in its February 27, 2014, proposed 
rule.

    Date: July 21, 2014.
Danielle Schopp,
Director, Office of Environment and Energy.
[FR Doc. 2014-17466 Filed 7-23-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P
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