Notice of Extension of Time for Completion of Manufacturer Corrections Approved Under a Waiver of a Plan for Notification, 25413 [2016-09962]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 82 (Thursday, April 28, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 25413]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-09962]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-5943-N-01]


Notice of Extension of Time for Completion of Manufacturer 
Corrections Approved Under a Waiver of a Plan for Notification

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Housing--Federal Housing 
Commissioner, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

ACTION: Notice of extension of time.

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SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that HUD received a request 
from Champion Home Builders, Incorporated (Champion) for an extension 
of time to fully implement its plan to correct affected homes without 
implementation of a Plan of Notification. Certain manufactured homes 
built and sold by Champion contained certain Nortek furnace models with 
the potential for incorrect wiring of circuit breakers used for over-
current protection of the furnace. After reviewing Champion's request, 
HUD determined that Champion has shown good cause and granted its 
request for an extension. The requested extension is granted until May 
4, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pamela Beck Danner, Administrator, 
Office of Manufactured Housing Programs, Office of Housing Department 
of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW., Room 9166, 
Washington, DC 20410, telephone 202-708-6423 (this is not a toll-free 
number). Persons who have difficulty hearing or speaking may access 
this number via TTY by calling the toll-free Federal Relay Service at 
800-877-8339.

DATES: Effective Date: April 8, 2016.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Manufactured Housing 
Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5401-5426) 
(the Act) authorizes HUD to establish the Federal Manufactured Home 
Construction and Safety Standards (Construction and Safety Standards), 
codified in 24 CFR part 3280. Section 615 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 5414) 
requires that manufacturers of manufactured homes notify purchasers if 
the manufacturer determines, in good faith, that a defect exists or is 
likely to exist in more than one home manufactured by the manufacturer 
and the defect relates to the Construction and Safety Standards or 
constitutes an imminent safety hazard to the purchaser of the 
manufactured home. The notification shall also inform purchasers 
whether the defect is one that the manufacturer will have corrected at 
no cost or is one that must be corrected at the expense of the 
purchaser/owner. The manufacturer is responsible for notifying 
purchasers of the defect within a reasonable time after discovering the 
defect.
    HUD's procedural and enforcement provisions at 24 CFR part 3282, 
subpart I (Subpart I) implement these notification and correction 
requirements. If a manufacturer determines that it is responsible for 
providing notification under Sec.  3282.405 and correction under Sec.  
3282.406, the manufacturer must prepare a plan for notifying purchasers 
of the homes containing the defect pursuant to Sec. Sec.  3282.408 and 
3282.409. Notification of purchasers must be accomplished by certified 
mail or other more expeditious means that provides a receipt. 
Notification must be provided to each retailer or distributor to whom 
any manufactured home in the class of homes containing the defect was 
delivered, to the first purchaser of each manufactured home in the 
class of manufactured homes containing the defect, and to other persons 
who are a registered owners of a manufactured home in the class of 
homes containing the defect. The manufacturer must complete the 
implementation of the plan for notification and correction on or before 
the deadline approved by the State Administrative Agency or HUD. 
Pursuant to Sec.  3282.407(c), manufacturers may request a waiver of 
the notification requirements if, among other things, all affected 
homes have been identified and the manufacturer agrees to correct all 
affected homes within a specific time from the approval date.
    Under Sec.  3282.410(c), the manufacturer may request an extension 
of a previously established deadline if it shows good cause for the 
extension and HUD decides that the extension is justified and not 
contrary to the public interest. If the request for extension is 
approved, Sec.  3282.410(c) requires that HUD publish notice of the 
extension in the Federal Register.
    On December 25, 2015, Champion \1\ notified HUD and requested a 
waiver of notification for certain manufactured homes that contained 
furnaces with circuit breaker wiring labels that if followed, would 
result in incorrect electrical circuit completion. Specifically, the 
homes were installed with certain Nortek furnaces, which were 
subsequently voluntarily identified by Nortek as being affected by its 
labeling problem. HUD approved Champion's waiver request on January 4, 
2016, and subsequently approved an additional 30 days on March 4, 2016. 
On April 8, 2016, Champion submitted a request for an additional 
extension regarding the completion of corrections required, originally 
to be completed within HUD's waiver approval deadline (by April 4, 
2016). Pursuant to its waiver request, Champion stated that it was 
working with the furnace manufacturer (Nortek) to correct affected 
homes in the hands of consumers.
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    \1\ Information about Champion Homes can be found at https://www.championhomes.com.
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    Champion by letter dated April 8, 2016, requested an extension of 
30 days to complete the correction process. This notice advises that 
HUD, on April 8, 2016, concluded that Champion has shown good cause and 
that the extension is justified and not contrary to the public 
interest, and granted the requested extension until May 4, 2016. This 
extension permits Champion to continue its good faith efforts to 
correct affected homes at no cost to affected homeowners.

    Dated: April 25, 2016.
Pamela Beck Danner,
Administrator, Office of Manufactured Housing Programs.
[FR Doc. 2016-09962 Filed 4-27-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4210-67-P