Overview
Title
30-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: CDBG Urban County Qualification/New York Towns Qualification/Requalification Process, Notice; OMB Control No.: 2506-0170
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The HUD is asking for people's thoughts on how they collect information for a program that helps cities and towns improve their communities. They want to know if their plan makes sense and is easy to use, and anyone can share their opinions until early April 2025.
Summary AI
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is requesting approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a proposed information collection related to the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. This notice opens a 30-day public comment period to gather input on the utility, accuracy, and efficiency of the proposed data collection. The collected information will help HUD manage the qualification and requalification of counties and towns for CDBG funds, which are vital for community development projects. Public comments can be submitted online until April 7, 2025.
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 comments from all interested parties on the proposed collection of information. The purpose of this notice is to allow for 30 days of public comment.
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AnalysisAI
Summary of the Document
The document is a public notice from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regarding the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. HUD is seeking approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for an information collection process related to the qualification and requalification of counties and towns for CDBG funds. This is crucial for community development projects. The notice initiates a 30-day public comment period during which interested parties can submit feedback about the proposed data collection's utility, accuracy, and efficiency.
Significant Issues or Concerns
The document contains several issues and areas of concern:
Lack of Burden Assessment: The notice does not specify the estimated burden hours or costs associated with the information collection. This omission makes it challenging to assess the potential impact on the respondents in terms of time and resources.
Evaluation Criteria: While the notice encourages public comments, it does not provide guidelines or criteria for evaluating these comments or explain how they will influence decision-making.
Privacy Concerns: There is no mention of safeguards or measures to protect the privacy of information submitted by respondents. This lack of information could deter some stakeholders from participating.
Complex Language: The language used to describe the responsibilities of New York Towns and the qualification process may be overly complex for some stakeholders. Simplification is needed to ensure clarity and understanding.
Feedback Integration: The document does not detail how feedback from the public comment process will be communicated back to the public or incorporated into the final decision-making process.
Non-Compliance Consequences: The notice does not state what consequences, if any, exist for counties or towns that fail to comply with the notification or qualification requirements.
Impact on the Public
The document has broad implications for urban counties and New York Towns, who are directly impacted by these administrative requirements. The public comment period provides an opportunity for these stakeholders to voice their opinions and concerns. Improved data collection could lead to more effective allocation of funds, benefiting community development initiatives.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
Specific stakeholders, such as local government units within counties, are directly affected by the qualification and requalification processes. Urban counties and New York Towns must navigate complex administrative requirements, potentially leading to confusion or missteps if the guidelines are not clear.
The lack of clarity around the definition of a "metropolitan city" might lead to challenges for New York Towns attempting to qualify. Additionally, without clear communication and feedback channels, stakeholders may feel their input is undervalued, which can reduce trust in the CDBG processes.
In conclusion, while the document seeks to streamline data collection for CDBG fund administration, it raises several issues that need addressing to ensure transparency and ease of compliance for involved parties. The public comment period represents a critical phase for stakeholders to influence the final outcomes and improve the overall process.
Issues
• The document does not specify the estimated burden hours or costs associated with the collection of information, making it difficult to evaluate the potential impact on respondents.
• The notice is targeted at collecting public comments but does not provide clear guidelines or criteria for how these comments will be evaluated or used in decision-making.
• There is no mention of specific safeguards or measures in place to protect the privacy of the information submitted by respondents during the comment period.
• The document does not provide examples or scenarios to clarify what constitutes a 'metropolitan city' or the process for a New York Town to qualify as one, which could lead to ambiguity.
• The language regarding the responsibilities of New York Towns in the qualification process is somewhat complex and may benefit from simplification to ensure clarity for all stakeholders.
• There are no details on how feedback from the public comment process will be communicated back to the public or incorporated into the final decision-making process.
• The document lacks any mention of potential consequences for counties or towns that fail to comply with the notification or qualification requirements under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974.