Notice of Certain Operating Cost Adjustment Factors for 2017, 95162-95164 [2016-31206]

Download as PDF 95162 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 248 / Tuesday, December 27, 2016 / Notices extended for 18 months, from December 24, 2016, through June 24, 2018. F–1 nonimmigrant students granted employment authorization through the notice will continue to be deemed to be engaged in a ‘‘full course of study’’ for the duration of their employment authorization provided they satisfy the minimum course load requirement described in 80 FR 69237. See 8 CFR 214.2(f)(6)(i)(F). asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Who is covered under this action? This notice applies exclusively to F– 1 nonimmigrant students who meet all of the following conditions: (1) Are lawful citizens of Nepal; (2) Were lawfully present in the United States in F–1 nonimmigrant status on April 25, 2015, under section 101(a)(15)(F)(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(F)(i); (3) Are enrolled in a school that is Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)certified for enrollment of F–1 students; (4) Are currently maintaining F–1 status; and (5) Are experiencing severe economic hardship as a direct result of the damage caused by the earthquake in Nepal of April 25, 2015. This notice applies to both undergraduate and graduate students, as well as elementary school, middle school, and high school students. The notice, however, applies differently to elementary school, middle school, and high school students (see the discussion published at 80 FR 69239 in the question, ‘‘Does this notice apply to elementary school, middle school, and high school students in F–1 status?’’). F–1 students covered by this notice who transfer to other academic institutions that are SEVP-certified for enrollment of F–1 students remain eligible for the relief provided by means of this notice. Why is DHS taking this action? The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) took action to provide temporary relief to F–1 nonimmigrant students whose country of citizenship is Nepal and experienced severe economic hardship as a direct result of the earthquake in Nepal in April 2015. See 80 FR 69237. It enabled these F–1 students to obtain employment authorization, work an increased number of hours while school was in session, and reduce their course load while continuing to maintain their F–1 student status. Nepal continues to recover from the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck the country on April 25, 2015. The earthquake affected more than 8 million people in Nepal, approximately 25 percent to 33 percent of Nepal’s VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:45 Dec 23, 2016 Jkt 241001 population, and damaged critical infrastructure in the country. While conditions have improved in the past 18 months, blockades along the border with India and civil unrest have delayed Nepal’s reconstruction efforts. As of August 11, 2016, 12,189 F–1 students from Nepal were enrolled in courses in U.S. schools. Given the current conditions in Nepal, affected students whose primary means of financial support come from Nepal may need to be exempt from the normal student employment requirements to be able to continue their studies in the United States. The widespread disaster and delayed recovery in Nepal have made it unfeasible for many students to safely return to the country. Without employment authorization, these students may lack the means to meet basic living expenses. The United States is committed to continuing to assist the people of Nepal. DHS is therefore extending this employment authorization for F–1 nonimmigrant students whose country of citizenship is Nepal and who are continuing to experience severe economic hardship as a result of the earthquake in April 2015. How do I apply for an employment authorization under the circumstances of this notice? F–1 nonimmigrant students whose country of citizenship is Nepal who were lawfully present in the United States on April 25, 2015, and are experiencing severe economic hardship as a direct result of the earthquake may apply for employment authorization under the guidelines described in 80 FR 69237. This notice extends the time period during which such F–1 students may seek employment authorization due to the earthquake. It does not impose any new or additional policies or procedures beyond those listed in the original notice. All interested F–1 students should follow the instructions listed in the original notice. Jeh Charles Johnson, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2016–31158 Filed 12–23–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4410–10–P DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT [Docket No. FR–5971–N–02] Notice of Certain Operating Cost Adjustment Factors for 2017 Office of the Assistant Secretary for Housing—Federal Housing Commissioner, HUD. AGENCY: PO 00000 Frm 00065 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 ACTION: Notice. On October 5, 2016 at 81 FR 69073, HUD published a notice that established the operating cost adjustment factors (OCAFs) for projectbased rental assistance contracts issued under Section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 and renewed under the Multifamily Assisted Housing Reform and Affordability Act of 1997 (MAHRA) with an anniversary date on or after February 11, 2017. OCAFs are annual factors used primarily to adjust the rents for contracts renewed under section 515 or section 524 of MAHRA. The October 5, 2016, notice inadvertently stated, however, that the floor for the OCAF was one percent. The statutory floor is zero percent. As a result, today’s notice corrects the October 5, 2016, notice. For the convenience of the public, HUD is republishing the corrected notice in its entirety. The factors in the table have not changed. DATES: Effective Date: February 11, 2017. SUMMARY: Stan Houle, Program Analyst, Office of Asset Management and Portfolio Oversight, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW., Washington, DC 20410; telephone number 202–402–2572 (this is not a tollfree number). Hearing- or speechimpaired individuals may access this number through TTY by calling the tollfree Federal Relay Service at 800–877– 8339. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: I. OCAFs Section 514(e)(2) and section 524(c)(1) of MAHRA (42 U.S.C. 1437f note) require HUD to establish guidelines for the development of OCAFs for rent adjustments. Sections 524(a)(4)(C)(i), 524(b)(1)(A), and 524(b)(3)(A) of MAHRA, all of which prescribe the use of the OCAF in the calculation of renewal rents, contain similar language. HUD has therefore used a single methodology for establishing OCAFs, which vary from State to State. MAHRA gives HUD broad discretion in setting OCAFs, referring, for example, in sections 524(a)(4)(C)(i), 524(b)(1)(A), 524(b)(3)(A) and 524(c)(1) simply to ‘‘an operating cost adjustment factor established by the Secretary.’’ The sole limitation to this grant of authority is a specific requirement in each of the foregoing provisions that application of an OCAF ‘‘shall not result in a negative adjustment.’’ Contract rents are adjusted by applying the OCAF to that portion of E:\FR\FM\27DEN1.SGM 27DEN1 asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 248 / Tuesday, December 27, 2016 / Notices the rent attributable to operating expenses exclusive of debt service. The OCAFs provided in this notice are applicable to eligible projects having a contract anniversary date of February 11, 2016 or after and were calculated using the same method as those published in HUD’s 2016 OCAF notice published on October 13, 2015 (79 FR 59502). Specifically, OCAFs are calculated as the sum of weighted average cost changes for wages, employee benefits, property taxes, insurance, supplies and equipment, fuel oil, electricity, natural gas, and water/ sewer/trash using publicly available indices. The weights used in the OCAF calculations for each of the nine cost component groupings are set using current percentages attributable to each of the nine expense categories. These weights are calculated in the same manner as in the October 13, 2015, notice. Average expense proportions were calculated using three years of audited Annual Financial Statements from projects covered by OCAFs. The expenditure percentages for these nine categories have been found to be very stable over time, but using three years of data increases their stability. The nine cost component weights were calculated at the state level, which is the lowest level of geographical aggregation with enough projects to permit statistical analysis. These data were not available for the Western Pacific Islands, so data for Hawaii were used as the best available indicator of OCAFs for these areas. The best current price data sources for the nine cost categories were used in calculating annual change factors. Statelevel data for fuel oil, electricity, and natural gas from Department of Energy surveys are relatively current and continue to be used. Data on changes in employee benefits, insurance, property taxes, and water/sewer/trash costs are only available at the national level. The data sources for the nine cost indicators selected used were as follows: • Labor Costs: First quarter, 2016 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) ECI, Private Industry Wages and Salaries, All Workers (Series ID CIU2020000000000I) at the national level and Private Industry Benefits, All Workers (Series ID CIU2030000000000I) at the national level. • Property Taxes: Census Quarterly Summary of State and Local Government Tax Revenue—Table 1 https://www2.census.gov/govs/qtax/ 2016/q1t1.xls. 12-month property taxes are computed as the total of four quarters of tax receipts for the period from April through March. Total 12month taxes are then divided by the VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:45 Dec 23, 2016 Jkt 241001 number of occupied housing units to arrive at average 12-month tax per housing unit. The number of occupied housing units is taken from the estimates program at the Bureau of the Census. https://www.census.gov/ housing/hvs/data/histtab8.xls. • Goods, Supplies, Equipment: May 2015 to May 2016 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Price Index, All Items Less Food, Energy and Shelter (Series ID CUUR0000SA0L12E) at the national level. • Insurance: May 2015 to May 2016 Bureau of Labor Statistic (BLS) Consumer Price Index, Tenants and Household Insurance Index (Series ID CUUR0000SEHD) at the national level. • Fuel Oil: October 2015–March 2016 U.S. Weekly Heating Oil and Propane Prices report. Average weekly residential heating oil prices in cents per gallon excluding taxes for the period from October 5, 2015 through March 28, 2016 are compared to the average from October 13, 2014 through March 30, 2015. For the States with insufficient fuel oil consumption to have separate estimates, the relevant regional Petroleum Administration for Defense Districts (PADD) change between these two periods is used; if there is no regional PADD estimate, the U.S. change between these two periods is used. https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pri_ wfr_a_EPD2F_prs_dpgal_w.htm. • Electricity: Energy Information Agency, February 2016 ‘‘Electric Power Monthly’’ report, Table 5.6.B. https:// www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_ table_grapher.cfm?t=epmt_5_06_b. • Natural Gas: Energy Information Agency, Natural Gas, Residential Energy Price, 2015–2016 annual prices in dollars per 1,000 cubic feet at the state level. Due to EIA data quality standards several states were missing data for one or two months in 2015; in these cases, data for these missing months were estimated using data from the surrounding months in 2015 and the relationship between that same month and the surrounding months in 2014. https://www.eia.gov/dnav/ng/ng_pri_ sum_a_EPG0_PRS_DMcf_a.htm. • Water and Sewer: May 2015 to May 2016 Consumer Price Index, All Urban Consumers, Water and Sewer and Trash Collection Services (Series ID CUUR0000SEHG) at the national level. The sum of the nine cost component percentage weights equals 100 percent of operating costs for purposes of OCAF calculations. To calculate the OCAFs, state-level cost component weights developed from AFS data are multiplied by the selected inflation factors. For instance, if wages in Virginia comprised 50 percent of total operating cost PO 00000 Frm 00066 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 95163 expenses and increased by 4 percent from 2015 to 2016, the wage increase component of the Virginia OCAF for 2017 would be 2.0 percent (50% * 4%). This 2.0 percent would then be added to the increases for the other eight expense categories to calculate the 2016 OCAF for Virginia. For states where the OCAF is less than 0 percent, the OCAF is floored at 0 percent. The OCAFs for 2017 are included as an Appendix to this Notice. II. MAHRA OCAF Procedures Sections 514 and 515 of MAHRA, as amended, created the Mark-to-Market program to reduce the cost of federal housing assistance, to enhance HUD’s administration of such assistance, and to ensure the continued affordability of units in certain multifamily housing projects. Section 524 of MAHRA authorizes renewal of Section 8 projectbased assistance contracts for projects without restructuring plans under the Mark-to-Market program, including projects that are not eligible for a restructuring plan and those for which the owner does not request such a plan. Renewals must be at rents not exceeding comparable market rents except for certain projects. As an example, for Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation projects, other than single room occupancy projects (SROs) under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11301 et seq.), that are eligible for renewal under section 524(b)(3) of MAHRA, the renewal rents are required to be set at the lesser of: (1) The existing rents under the expiring contract, as adjusted by the OCAF; (2) fair market rents (less any amounts allowed for tenant-purchased utilities); or (3) comparable market rents for the market area. III. Findings and Certifications Environmental Impact This issuance sets forth rate determinations and related external administrative requirements and procedures that do 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). Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number for this program is 14.195. E:\FR\FM\27DEN1.SGM 27DEN1 95164 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 248 / Tuesday, December 27, 2016 / Notices Dated: December 14, 2016. Edward L. Golding, Principal Deputy, Assistant Secretary for Housing, H. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Appendix National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration OPERATING COST ADJUSTMENT FACTORS FOR 2017 asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES State Alabama .................................... Alaska ....................................... Arizona ...................................... Arkansas ................................... California ................................... Colorado ................................... Connecticut ............................... Delaware ................................... District of Columbia .................. Florida ....................................... Georgia ..................................... Hawaii ....................................... Idaho ......................................... Illinois ........................................ Indiana ...................................... Iowa .......................................... Kansas ...................................... Kentucky ................................... Louisiana .................................. Maine ........................................ Maryland ................................... Massachusetts .......................... Michigan ................................... Minnesota ................................. Mississippi ................................ Missouri .................................... Montana .................................... Nebraska .................................. Nevada ..................................... New Hampshire ........................ New Jersey ............................... New Mexico .............................. New York .................................. North Carolina .......................... North Dakota ............................ Ohio .......................................... Oklahoma ................................. Oregon ...................................... Pacific Islands ........................... Pennsylvania ............................ Puerto Rico ............................... Rhode Island ............................ South Carolina .......................... South Dakota ............................ Tennessee ................................ Texas ........................................ Utah .......................................... Vermont .................................... Virgin Islands ............................ Virginia ...................................... Washington ............................... West Virginia ............................ Wisconsin ................................. Wyoming ................................... U.S. Average ............................ 2.1 0.5 2.1 2.3 2.2 1.7 1.1 1.7 2.0 2.0 2.0 0.0 2.3 1.5 2.0 2.1 2.0 1.9 1.8 1.4 2.1 1.8 1.7 1.8 2.1 2.2 2.1 2.3 2.2 1.8 1.3 1.6 0.4 2.0 2.4 1.9 2.0 2.2 0.0 2.0 1.9 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.0 2.0 2.2 0.6 2.0 2.0 2.2 2.6 1.8 2.2 1.9 [FR Doc. 2016–31206 Filed 12–23–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4210–67–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:45 Dec 23, 2016 [Docket Nos. FWS–HQ–ES–2015–0177 and 160223138–6138–01; FF09E40000 156 FXES11150900000; 160223138–6999–02] OCAF (%) Jkt 241001 RIN 1018–BB08; 0648–BF79 Candidate Conservation Agreements With Assurances Policy U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Interior; National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Announcement of revised policy. AGENCIES: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service (Services when referring to both, and Service when referring to when the action is taken by one agency), announce revisions to the Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances policy under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. We added a definition of ‘‘net conservation benefit’’ to this policy and eliminated references to the confusing requirement of ‘‘other necessary properties’’ to clarify the level of conservation effort each agreement needs to include in order for the Services to approve an agreement. In a separate document published in today’s Federal Register, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service changed its regulations regarding Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances to make them consistent with these changes to the policy. DATES: This policy is effective on January 26, 2017. ADDRESSES: This final policy is available on the Internet at https:// www.regulations.gov at Docket Number FWS–HQ–ES–2015–0177. Comments and materials received, as well as supporting documentation used in the preparation of this policy, are also available at the same location on the Internet. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff Newman, Chief, Division of Recovery and Restoration, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS: ES, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041–3803 (telephone 703–358–2171); or Angela Somma, Chief, Endangered Species Conservation Division, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00067 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (telephone 301–427–8403, facsimile 301–713–0376). Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf may call the Federal Information Relay Service at 800–877–8339. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) are charged with implementing the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) (ESA or Act); among the purposes of the ESA are to provide a means to conserve the ecosystems upon which species listed as endangered or threatened depend and a program for listed species conservation. Through its Candidate Conservation program, one of the FWS’s goals is to encourage the public to voluntarily develop and implement conservation plans for declining species prior to them being listed under the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). The benefits of such conservation actions may contribute to not needing to list a species, to list a species as threatened instead of endangered, or to accelerate the species’ recovery if it is listed. The Services put in place a voluntary conservation program to provide incentives for nonFederal property owners to develop and implement conservation plans for unlisted species: Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances (CCAAs). The policy for this type of agreement was finalized on June 17, 1999 (64 FR 32726), along with implementing regulations for FWS in part 17 of title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) (64 FR 32706). The FWS revised the CCAA regulations in 2004 (69 FR 24084; May 2, 2004) to make them easier to understand and implement by defining ‘‘property owner’’ and clarifying several points, including the transfer of permits, permit revocation, and advanced notification of take. To participate in a CCAA, nonFederal property owners agree to implement on their land the CCAA’s specific conservation measures that reduce or eliminate threats to the species that are covered under the agreement. An ESA section 10(a)(1)(A) enhancement-of-survival permit is issued to the agreement participant providing a specific level of incidental take coverage should the property owner’s agreed-upon conservation measures and routine propertymanagement actions (e.g., agricultural, ranching, or forestry activities) result in E:\FR\FM\27DEN1.SGM 27DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 27, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 95162-95164]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-31206]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-5971-N-02]


Notice of Certain Operating Cost Adjustment Factors for 2017

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Housing--Federal Housing 
Commissioner, HUD.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: On October 5, 2016 at 81 FR 69073, HUD published a notice that 
established the operating cost adjustment factors (OCAFs) for project- 
based rental assistance contracts issued under Section 8 of the United 
States Housing Act of 1937 and renewed under the Multifamily Assisted 
Housing Reform and Affordability Act of 1997 (MAHRA) with an 
anniversary date on or after February 11, 2017. OCAFs are annual 
factors used primarily to adjust the rents for contracts renewed under 
section 515 or section 524 of MAHRA. The October 5, 2016, notice 
inadvertently stated, however, that the floor for the OCAF was one 
percent. The statutory floor is zero percent. As a result, today's 
notice corrects the October 5, 2016, notice. For the convenience of the 
public, HUD is republishing the corrected notice in its entirety. The 
factors in the table have not changed.

DATES: Effective Date: February 11, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stan Houle, Program Analyst, Office of 
Asset Management and Portfolio Oversight, Department of Housing and 
Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW., Washington, DC 20410; telephone 
number 202-402-2572 (this is not a toll-free number). Hearing- or 
speech-impaired individuals may access this number through TTY by 
calling the toll-free Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. OCAFs

    Section 514(e)(2) and section 524(c)(1) of MAHRA (42 U.S.C. 1437f 
note) require HUD to establish guidelines for the development of OCAFs 
for rent adjustments. Sections 524(a)(4)(C)(i), 524(b)(1)(A), and 
524(b)(3)(A) of MAHRA, all of which prescribe the use of the OCAF in 
the calculation of renewal rents, contain similar language. HUD has 
therefore used a single methodology for establishing OCAFs, which vary 
from State to State.
    MAHRA gives HUD broad discretion in setting OCAFs, referring, for 
example, in sections 524(a)(4)(C)(i), 524(b)(1)(A), 524(b)(3)(A) and 
524(c)(1) simply to ``an operating cost adjustment factor established 
by the Secretary.'' The sole limitation to this grant of authority is a 
specific requirement in each of the foregoing provisions that 
application of an OCAF ``shall not result in a negative adjustment.'' 
Contract rents are adjusted by applying the OCAF to that portion of

[[Page 95163]]

the rent attributable to operating expenses exclusive of debt service.
    The OCAFs provided in this notice are applicable to eligible 
projects having a contract anniversary date of February 11, 2016 or 
after and were calculated using the same method as those published in 
HUD's 2016 OCAF notice published on October 13, 2015 (79 FR 59502). 
Specifically, OCAFs are calculated as the sum of weighted average cost 
changes for wages, employee benefits, property taxes, insurance, 
supplies and equipment, fuel oil, electricity, natural gas, and water/
sewer/trash using publicly available indices. The weights used in the 
OCAF calculations for each of the nine cost component groupings are set 
using current percentages attributable to each of the nine expense 
categories. These weights are calculated in the same manner as in the 
October 13, 2015, notice. Average expense proportions were calculated 
using three years of audited Annual Financial Statements from projects 
covered by OCAFs. The expenditure percentages for these nine categories 
have been found to be very stable over time, but using three years of 
data increases their stability. The nine cost component weights were 
calculated at the state level, which is the lowest level of 
geographical aggregation with enough projects to permit statistical 
analysis. These data were not available for the Western Pacific 
Islands, so data for Hawaii were used as the best available indicator 
of OCAFs for these areas.
    The best current price data sources for the nine cost categories 
were used in calculating annual change factors. State-level data for 
fuel oil, electricity, and natural gas from Department of Energy 
surveys are relatively current and continue to be used. Data on changes 
in employee benefits, insurance, property taxes, and water/sewer/trash 
costs are only available at the national level. The data sources for 
the nine cost indicators selected used were as follows:
     Labor Costs: First quarter, 2016 Bureau of Labor 
Statistics (BLS) ECI, Private Industry Wages and Salaries, All Workers 
(Series ID CIU2020000000000I) at the national level and Private 
Industry Benefits, All Workers (Series ID CIU2030000000000I) at the 
national level.
     Property Taxes: Census Quarterly Summary of State and 
Local Government Tax Revenue--Table 1 https://www2.census.gov/govs/qtax/2016/q1t1.xls. 12-month property taxes are computed as the total of 
four quarters of tax receipts for the period from April through March. 
Total 12-month taxes are then divided by the number of occupied housing 
units to arrive at average 12-month tax per housing unit. The number of 
occupied housing units is taken from the estimates program at the 
Bureau of the Census. https://www.census.gov/housing/hvs/data/histtab8.xls.
     Goods, Supplies, Equipment: May 2015 to May 2016 Bureau of 
Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Price Index, All Items Less Food, 
Energy and Shelter (Series ID CUUR0000SA0L12E) at the national level.
     Insurance: May 2015 to May 2016 Bureau of Labor Statistic 
(BLS) Consumer Price Index, Tenants and Household Insurance Index 
(Series ID CUUR0000SEHD) at the national level.
     Fuel Oil: October 2015-March 2016 U.S. Weekly Heating Oil 
and Propane Prices report. Average weekly residential heating oil 
prices in cents per gallon excluding taxes for the period from October 
5, 2015 through March 28, 2016 are compared to the average from October 
13, 2014 through March 30, 2015. For the States with insufficient fuel 
oil consumption to have separate estimates, the relevant regional 
Petroleum Administration for Defense Districts (PADD) change between 
these two periods is used; if there is no regional PADD estimate, the 
U.S. change between these two periods is used. https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pri_wfr_a_EPD2F_prs_dpgal_w.htm.
     Electricity: Energy Information Agency, February 2016 
``Electric Power Monthly'' report, Table 5.6.B. https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.cfm?t=epmt_5_06_b.
     Natural Gas: Energy Information Agency, Natural Gas, 
Residential Energy Price, 2015-2016 annual prices in dollars per 1,000 
cubic feet at the state level. Due to EIA data quality standards 
several states were missing data for one or two months in 2015; in 
these cases, data for these missing months were estimated using data 
from the surrounding months in 2015 and the relationship between that 
same month and the surrounding months in 2014. https://www.eia.gov/dnav/ng/ng_pri_sum_a_EPG0_PRS_DMcf_a.htm.
     Water and Sewer: May 2015 to May 2016 Consumer Price 
Index, All Urban Consumers, Water and Sewer and Trash Collection 
Services (Series ID CUUR0000SEHG) at the national level.
    The sum of the nine cost component percentage weights equals 100 
percent of operating costs for purposes of OCAF calculations. To 
calculate the OCAFs, state-level cost component weights developed from 
AFS data are multiplied by the selected inflation factors. For 
instance, if wages in Virginia comprised 50 percent of total operating 
cost expenses and increased by 4 percent from 2015 to 2016, the wage 
increase component of the Virginia OCAF for 2017 would be 2.0 percent 
(50% * 4%). This 2.0 percent would then be added to the increases for 
the other eight expense categories to calculate the 2016 OCAF for 
Virginia. For states where the OCAF is less than 0 percent, the OCAF is 
floored at 0 percent. The OCAFs for 2017 are included as an Appendix to 
this Notice.

II. MAHRA OCAF Procedures

    Sections 514 and 515 of MAHRA, as amended, created the Mark-to-
Market program to reduce the cost of federal housing assistance, to 
enhance HUD's administration of such assistance, and to ensure the 
continued affordability of units in certain multifamily housing 
projects. Section 524 of MAHRA authorizes renewal of Section 8 project-
based assistance contracts for projects without restructuring plans 
under the Mark-to-Market program, including projects that are not 
eligible for a restructuring plan and those for which the owner does 
not request such a plan. Renewals must be at rents not exceeding 
comparable market rents except for certain projects. As an example, for 
Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation projects, other than single room 
occupancy projects (SROs) under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance 
Act (42 U.S.C. 11301 et seq.), that are eligible for renewal under 
section 524(b)(3) of MAHRA, the renewal rents are required to be set at 
the lesser of: (1) The existing rents under the expiring contract, as 
adjusted by the OCAF; (2) fair market rents (less any amounts allowed 
for tenant-purchased utilities); or (3) comparable market rents for the 
market area.

III. Findings and Certifications

Environmental Impact
    This issuance sets forth rate determinations and related external 
administrative requirements and procedures that do 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).
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number
    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number for this program 
is 14.195.


[[Page 95164]]


    Dated: December 14, 2016.
Edward L. Golding,
Principal Deputy, Assistant Secretary for Housing, H.
Appendix

               Operating Cost Adjustment Factors for 2017
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           State                               OCAF (%)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama....................................................          2.1
Alaska.....................................................          0.5
Arizona....................................................          2.1
Arkansas...................................................          2.3
California.................................................          2.2
Colorado...................................................          1.7
Connecticut................................................          1.1
Delaware...................................................          1.7
District of Columbia.......................................          2.0
Florida....................................................          2.0
Georgia....................................................          2.0
Hawaii.....................................................          0.0
Idaho......................................................          2.3
Illinois...................................................          1.5
Indiana....................................................          2.0
Iowa.......................................................          2.1
Kansas.....................................................          2.0
Kentucky...................................................          1.9
Louisiana..................................................          1.8
Maine......................................................          1.4
Maryland...................................................          2.1
Massachusetts..............................................          1.8
Michigan...................................................          1.7
Minnesota..................................................          1.8
Mississippi................................................          2.1
Missouri...................................................          2.2
Montana....................................................          2.1
Nebraska...................................................          2.3
Nevada.....................................................          2.2
New Hampshire..............................................          1.8
New Jersey.................................................          1.3
New Mexico.................................................          1.6
New York...................................................          0.4
North Carolina.............................................          2.0
North Dakota...............................................          2.4
Ohio.......................................................          1.9
Oklahoma...................................................          2.0
Oregon.....................................................          2.2
Pacific Islands............................................          0.0
Pennsylvania...............................................          2.0
Puerto Rico................................................          1.9
Rhode Island...............................................          2.1
South Carolina.............................................          2.1
South Dakota...............................................          2.1
Tennessee..................................................          2.0
Texas......................................................          2.0
Utah.......................................................          2.2
Vermont....................................................          0.6
Virgin Islands.............................................          2.0
Virginia...................................................          2.0
Washington.................................................          2.2
West Virginia..............................................          2.6
Wisconsin..................................................          1.8
Wyoming....................................................          2.2
U.S. Average...............................................          1.9
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[FR Doc. 2016-31206 Filed 12-23-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P
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