Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments Program-Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 Inflation Factors for Public Housing Agency (PHA) Renewal Funding, 24215-24216 [2012-9692]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 78 / Monday, April 23, 2012 / Notices 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: Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance—Technical Submission. Description of the need for the information and proposed use: Information to be used to obtain more detailed technical information not contained in the original Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Grant Application. Agency form number: HUD–40090– 3a. Members of affected public: Applicants that are successful in the Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Grant competition. Estimation of the total number of hours needed to prepare the information collection including number of respondents, frequency of response, and hours of response: 500 responses, per annum (500 x 1 form), nine hours to prepare HUD–20090–3a, 4,500 hours total reporting. Status of the proposed information collection: Revision of currently approved package 2506–0183. Authority: Section 3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended. Dated: April 17, 2012. ´ Yolanda Chavez, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Grant Programs. [FR Doc. 2012–9690 Filed 4–20–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4210–67–P DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT [Docket No. FR–5618–N–01] Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments Program—Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 Inflation Factors for Public Housing Agency (PHA) Renewal Funding Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research, HUD. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The FY 2012 HUD Appropriations Act requires that HUD apply ‘‘an inflation factor as established by the Secretary, by notice published in the Federal Register’’ to adjust FY 2012 renewal funding for the tenant-based rental assistance voucher program or housing choice voucher (HCV) program of each PHA. For FY 2011 and FY 2010, rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:11 Apr 20, 2012 Jkt 226001 renewal funding was based on annual adjustment factors (AAFs) and HUD published separate Renewal Funding AAFs for this purpose. The Renewal Funding AAFs, based only on Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for rents and utilities, have been replaced by inflation factors that incorporate additional economic indices to measure the expected change in the per unit cost (PUC) for the HCV program. DATES: Effective Date: April 23, 2012. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael S. Dennis, Director, Housing Voucher Programs, Office of Public Housing and Voucher Programs, Office of Public and Indian Housing, telephone number 202–708–1380; or Geoffrey Newton, Economist, Economic and Market Analysis Division, Office of Policy Development and Research, telephone number 202–402–6058, for technical information regarding the development of the schedules for specific areas or the methods used for calculating the inflation factors, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW., Washington, DC 20410. Hearing- or speech-impaired persons may contact the Federal Relay Service at 800–877– 8339 (TTY). (Other than the ‘‘800’’ TTY number, the above-listed telephone numbers are not toll free.) SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background Tables showing Renewal Funding Inflation Factors will be available electronically from the HUD data information page at: https:// www.huduser.org/huduser/datasets/rfif/ FY2012/FY2012_IF_Table.pdf. In prior years, the Department of Housing and Urban Development has been using Renewal Funding AAFs based on Consumer Price Index data published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on ‘‘rent of primary residence’’ and ‘‘fuels and utilities’’ as the inflation factor to calculate the renewal funding for each PHA. During this period, HUD has undertaken several projects to better understand the drivers of the annual change in housing subsidy costs for the tenant-based voucher program. The Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2012 (Title II, of Division C, Public Law 112–55, approved November 18, 2011) provides that the HUD Secretary shall, for the calendar year 2012 funding cycle, provide renewal funding for each public housing agency (PHA) based on validated voucher management system (VMS) leasing and cost data for the prior calendar year and by applying an inflation factor as established by the PO 00000 Frm 00052 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 24215 Secretary, by notice published in the Federal Register. This Notice provides the inflation factors (that were announced to PHAs on March, 1, 2012) and describes the methodology for calculating them. II. Methodology The Department has focused on measuring the change in average PUC as captured in HUD’s administrative data in VMS. In order to predict the likely path of PUC over time, HUD has implemented a model that uses several economic indices that capture key components of the economic climate and assist in explaining the changes in PUC. These economic components are the seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate (lagged twelve months) and the Consumer Price Index from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the ‘‘wages and salaries’’ component of personal income from the National Income and Product Accounts from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. This model subsequently forecasts the expected annual change in average PUC from FY 2011 to FY 2012 for the voucher program on a national basis by incorporating comparable economic variables from the Administration’s economic assumptions. For reference, these economic assumptions are described in the FY 2012 Mid-Session Review. The inflation factor for an individual geographic area is based on the change in the area’s Fair Market Rent (FMR) between FY 2011 and FY 2012. These changes in FMR are then scaled such that the voucher-weighted average of all individual area inflation factors is equal to the expected annual change in national PUC from FY 2011 to FY 2012, and also such that no area has a negative factor. HUD subsequently applies these calculated individual area inflation factors to eligible renewal funding for each PHA based on VMS leasing and cost data for the prior calendar year. For the CY 2012 PHA HCV allocation that was announced on March, 1, 2012, HUD used 1.71 percent as the annual change in PUC. When calculated using more recent VMS data through December of 2011 and actual performance of economic indices through the December of 2011, HUD expects this annual change in PUC to be lower. III. The Use of Inflation Factors The inflation factors have been developed to account for relative differences in the PUC of vouchers so that HCV funds can be allocated among PHAs. HUD will continue to update the current model with available data in order to assess the expected annual change in PUC and intends to update E:\FR\FM\23APN1.SGM 23APN1 24216 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 78 / Monday, April 23, 2012 / Notices Funding inflation factors listed next ‘‘Hawaii,’’ in Appendix A which is based on the CPI survey for the Honolulu metropolitan area. The Pacific Islands use the West Region Renewal Funding inflation factor. IV. Geographic Areas Inflation factors based on PUC forecasts are produced for all Class A CPI cities (CPI cities with a population of 1.5 million or more) and for the four Census Regions. They are applied to core-based statistical areas (CBSAs), as defined by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), according to how much of the CBSA is covered by the CPI city-survey. If more than 75 percent of the CBSA is covered by the CPI citysurvey, the inflation factor that is based on that CPI survey is applied to the whole CBSA and to any HUD-defined metropolitan area, called ‘‘HUD Metro FMR Area’’ (HMFA), within that CBSA. If the CBSA is not covered by a CPI citysurvey, the CBSA uses the relevant regional CPI factor. Almost all nonmetropolitan counties use regional CPI factors. For areas assigned the Census Region CPI factor, both metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas receive the same factor. The tables showing the Renewal Funding Inflation Factors available electronically from the HUD data information page list the inflation factors for the four Census Regions first, followed by an alphabetical listing of each metropolitan area, beginning with Akron, OH, MSA. The inflation factors use the same OMB metropolitan area definitions, as revised by HUD, that are used in the FY 2012 FMRs. rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES the methodology for future funding estimates. HUD is also continuing to review and refine the methodology, especially for area differences in the factors, which will be described in future inflation factor notices. VI. Environmental Impact V. Area Definitions To make certain that they are referencing the correct inflation factors, PHAs should refer to the Area Definitions Table on the following Web page: https://www.huduser.org/huduser/ datasets/rfif/FY2012/ FY2012_AreaDef.pdf. The Area Definitions Table lists areas in alphabetical order by state, and the associated Census Region is shown next to each state name. If the area where a unit is located is not separately listed, the inflation factor for the Census Region that includes that area is used. In the six New England states, the listings are for counties or parts of counties as defined by towns or cities. Any location in these states that are not specifically listed should use the Northeast Census Region inflation factor. Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands use the South Region inflation factors. All areas in Hawaii use the Renewal VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:11 Apr 20, 2012 Jkt 226001 This Notice involves a statutorily required establishment of a rate or cost determination which does not constitute a development decision affecting the physical condition of specific project areas or building sites. Accordingly, under 24 CFR 50.19(c)(6), this Notice is categorically excluded from environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321). Dated: April 13, 2012. Raphael W. Bostic, Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research. [FR Doc. 2012–9692 Filed 4–20–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4210–67–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R1–ES–2012–N090; FXES11130100000F5–123–FF01E00000] Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Recovery Permit Application Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments. AGENCY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to comment on the following application for a recovery permit to conduct enhancement of survival activities with an endangered species. The Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), prohibits certain activities with endangered species unless a Federal permit allows such activity. The Act also requires that we invite public comment before issuing such permits. DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by May 23, 2012. ADDRESSES: Endangered Species Program Manager, Ecological Services, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Regional Office, 911 NE 11th Avenue, Portland, OR 97232–4181. Please refer to the permit number for the application when submitting comments. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colleen Henson, Fish and Wildlife Biologist, at the above address or by SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00053 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 telephone (503–231–2071) or fax (503– 231–6243). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background The Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) prohibits certain activities with endangered and threatened species unless a Federal permit allows such activity. Along with our implementing regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR part 17, the Act provides for certain permits, and requires that we invite public comment before issuing these permits. A permit granted by us under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Act authorizes the permittee to conduct activities (including take or interstate commerce) with U.S. endangered or threatened species for scientific purposes or to enhance the propagation or survival of the affected species. Our regulations implementing section 10(a)(1)(A) for these permits are found at 50 CFR 17.22 for endangered wildlife species, 50 CFR 17.32 for threatened wildlife species, 50 CFR 17.62 for endangered plant species, and 50 CFR 17.72 for threatened plant species. Application Available for Review and Comment We invite local, State, and Federal agencies, and the public to comment on the following application. Please refer to the appropriate permit number for the application when submitting comments. Documents and other information submitted with this application are available for review by request from the Endangered Species Program Manager at the address listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice, subject to the requirements of the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a) and the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552). Permit Number: TE–210255. Applicant: Ryan Sylvester, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Libby, Montana. The permittee requests an amendment to an existing scientific research permit to take (tag, conduct adult and juvenile telemetry, determine sex and maturity, and possible use of egg mats and larval sampling) the Kootenai River population of the white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) in conjunction with research in the State of Montana, for the purpose of enhancing the species’ survival. The original permit was announced in a notice that published in the Federal Register on April 22, 2009 (74 FR 18396). Public Availability of Comments All comments and materials we receive in response to this request will E:\FR\FM\23APN1.SGM 23APN1

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[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 78 (Monday, April 23, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24215-24216]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-9692]


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

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-5618-N-01]


Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments Program--Fiscal Year (FY) 
2012 Inflation Factors for Public Housing Agency (PHA) Renewal Funding

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and 
Research, HUD.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The FY 2012 HUD Appropriations Act requires that HUD apply 
``an inflation factor as established by the Secretary, by notice 
published in the Federal Register'' to adjust FY 2012 renewal funding 
for the tenant-based rental assistance voucher program or housing 
choice voucher (HCV) program of each PHA. For FY 2011 and FY 2010, 
renewal funding was based on annual adjustment factors (AAFs) and HUD 
published separate Renewal Funding AAFs for this purpose. The Renewal 
Funding AAFs, based only on Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for rents 
and utilities, have been replaced by inflation factors that incorporate 
additional economic indices to measure the expected change in the per 
unit cost (PUC) for the HCV program.

DATES: Effective Date: April 23, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael S. Dennis, Director, Housing 
Voucher Programs, Office of Public Housing and Voucher Programs, Office 
of Public and Indian Housing, telephone number 202-708-1380; or 
Geoffrey Newton, Economist, Economic and Market Analysis Division, 
Office of Policy Development and Research, telephone number 202-402-
6058, for technical information regarding the development of the 
schedules for specific areas or the methods used for calculating the 
inflation factors, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th 
Street SW., Washington, DC 20410. Hearing- or speech-impaired persons 
may contact the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339 (TTY). (Other 
than the ``800'' TTY number, the above-listed telephone numbers are not 
toll free.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    Tables showing Renewal Funding Inflation Factors will be available 
electronically from the HUD data information page at: https://www.huduser.org/huduser/datasets/rfif/FY2012/FY2012_IF_Table.pdf.
    In prior years, the Department of Housing and Urban Development has 
been using Renewal Funding AAFs based on Consumer Price Index data 
published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on ``rent of primary 
residence'' and ``fuels and utilities'' as the inflation factor to 
calculate the renewal funding for each PHA. During this period, HUD has 
undertaken several projects to better understand the drivers of the 
annual change in housing subsidy costs for the tenant-based voucher 
program. The Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 
2012 (Title II, of Division C, Public Law 112-55, approved November 18, 
2011) provides that the HUD Secretary shall, for the calendar year 2012 
funding cycle, provide renewal funding for each public housing agency 
(PHA) based on validated voucher management system (VMS) leasing and 
cost data for the prior calendar year and by applying an inflation 
factor as established by the Secretary, by notice published in the 
Federal Register. This Notice provides the inflation factors (that were 
announced to PHAs on March, 1, 2012) and describes the methodology for 
calculating them.

II. Methodology

    The Department has focused on measuring the change in average PUC 
as captured in HUD's administrative data in VMS. In order to predict 
the likely path of PUC over time, HUD has implemented a model that uses 
several economic indices that capture key components of the economic 
climate and assist in explaining the changes in PUC. These economic 
components are the seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate (lagged twelve 
months) and the Consumer Price Index from the Bureau of Labor 
Statistics, and the ``wages and salaries'' component of personal income 
from the National Income and Product Accounts from the Bureau of 
Economic Analysis. This model subsequently forecasts the expected 
annual change in average PUC from FY 2011 to FY 2012 for the voucher 
program on a national basis by incorporating comparable economic 
variables from the Administration's economic assumptions. For 
reference, these economic assumptions are described in the FY 2012 Mid-
Session Review.
    The inflation factor for an individual geographic area is based on 
the change in the area's Fair Market Rent (FMR) between FY 2011 and FY 
2012. These changes in FMR are then scaled such that the voucher-
weighted average of all individual area inflation factors is equal to 
the expected annual change in national PUC from FY 2011 to FY 2012, and 
also such that no area has a negative factor. HUD subsequently applies 
these calculated individual area inflation factors to eligible renewal 
funding for each PHA based on VMS leasing and cost data for the prior 
calendar year. For the CY 2012 PHA HCV allocation that was announced on 
March, 1, 2012, HUD used 1.71 percent as the annual change in PUC. When 
calculated using more recent VMS data through December of 2011 and 
actual performance of economic indices through the December of 2011, 
HUD expects this annual change in PUC to be lower.

III. The Use of Inflation Factors

    The inflation factors have been developed to account for relative 
differences in the PUC of vouchers so that HCV funds can be allocated 
among PHAs. HUD will continue to update the current model with 
available data in order to assess the expected annual change in PUC and 
intends to update

[[Page 24216]]

the methodology for future funding estimates. HUD is also continuing to 
review and refine the methodology, especially for area differences in 
the factors, which will be described in future inflation factor 
notices.

IV. Geographic Areas

    Inflation factors based on PUC forecasts are produced for all Class 
A CPI cities (CPI cities with a population of 1.5 million or more) and 
for the four Census Regions. They are applied to core-based statistical 
areas (CBSAs), as defined by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), 
according to how much of the CBSA is covered by the CPI city-survey. If 
more than 75 percent of the CBSA is covered by the CPI city-survey, the 
inflation factor that is based on that CPI survey is applied to the 
whole CBSA and to any HUD-defined metropolitan area, called ``HUD Metro 
FMR Area'' (HMFA), within that CBSA. If the CBSA is not covered by a 
CPI city-survey, the CBSA uses the relevant regional CPI factor. Almost 
all non-metropolitan counties use regional CPI factors. For areas 
assigned the Census Region CPI factor, both metropolitan and non-
metropolitan areas receive the same factor.
    The tables showing the Renewal Funding Inflation Factors available 
electronically from the HUD data information page list the inflation 
factors for the four Census Regions first, followed by an alphabetical 
listing of each metropolitan area, beginning with Akron, OH, MSA. The 
inflation factors use the same OMB metropolitan area definitions, as 
revised by HUD, that are used in the FY 2012 FMRs.

V. Area Definitions

    To make certain that they are referencing the correct inflation 
factors, PHAs should refer to the Area Definitions Table on the 
following Web page: https://www.huduser.org/huduser/datasets/rfif/FY2012/FY2012_AreaDef.pdf. The Area Definitions Table lists areas in 
alphabetical order by state, and the associated Census Region is shown 
next to each state name. If the area where a unit is located is not 
separately listed, the inflation factor for the Census Region that 
includes that area is used. In the six New England states, the listings 
are for counties or parts of counties as defined by towns or cities. 
Any location in these states that are not specifically listed should 
use the Northeast Census Region inflation factor.
    Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands use the South Region inflation 
factors. All areas in Hawaii use the Renewal Funding inflation factors 
listed next ``Hawaii,'' in Appendix A which is based on the CPI survey 
for the Honolulu metropolitan area. The Pacific Islands use the West 
Region Renewal Funding inflation factor.

VI. Environmental Impact

    This Notice involves a statutorily required establishment of a rate 
or cost determination which does not constitute a development decision 
affecting the physical condition of specific project areas or building 
sites. Accordingly, under 24 CFR 50.19(c)(6), this Notice is 
categorically excluded from environmental review under the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321).

    Dated: April 13, 2012.
Raphael W. Bostic,
Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research.
[FR Doc. 2012-9692 Filed 4-20-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P
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