[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 8 (Tuesday, January 13, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1704-1705]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-386]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-5264-D-01]


Redelegation of Authority for Office of Public and Indian Housing

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian 
Housing, HUD.

ACTION: Notice to redelegate authority.

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SUMMARY: Through this notice, the Assistant Secretary for Public and 
Indian Housing retains and redelegates certain authority to the Deputy 
Assistant Secretaries of the Office of Public and Indian Housing (PIH).

DATES: Effective Date: December 24, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Linda Bronsdon, AICP, Office of Public 
and Indian Housing, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 
7th Street, SW., Room 4116, Washington, DC 20410-5000, telephone number 
202-708-0713. (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: Section 7(d) of the Department of Housing 
and Urban Development (HUD) Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 3535(d)), 
provides authority to the Secretary to delegate functions, powers and 
duties as the Secretary deems necessary. In the Consolidated Delegation 
of Authority for PIH, published on August 4, 2004, at 69 FR 47171, the 
Secretary of HUD delegated authority to the Assistant Secretary for PIH 
and authorized the Assistant Secretary to redelegate authority for the 
administration of certain PIH programs.

Section A. Authority Redelegated

    The Assistant Secretary for PIH redelegates to Deputy Assistant 
Secretaries for PIH the power and authority of the Assistant Secretary 
for PIH to administer the following:
    1. Programs under the jurisdiction of the Secretary that are 
carried out pursuant to the authority transferred from the Public 
Housing Administration under Section 5(a) of the Department of Housing 
and Urban Development Act (42 U.S.C. 3534) as amended;
    2. Each program of the Department that is authorized pursuant to 
the United States Housing Act of 1937 (1937 Act) (42 U.S.C. 1437 et 
seq.) as amended, including but not limited to the Public Housing 
program, Section 8 programs (except the following Section 8 Project-
Based programs: New Construction, Substantial Rehabilitation, Loan 
Management Set-Aside and Property Disposition) and predecessor programs 
that are no longer funded but have ongoing commitments;
    3. PIH programs for which assistance is provided for or on behalf 
of public housing agencies (PHAs), public housing residents or other 
low-income households; and
    4. PIH programs for which assistance is provided for or on behalf 
of Native Americans, Indian tribes, Alaska Native Villages, Native 
Hawaiians, tribal entities, tribally designated housing entities, or 
tribal housing resident organizations, as defined in Section G.

Section B. Authority Excepted

    The redelegation of authority to the Deputy Assistant Secretaries 
does not include any power or authority under law specifically required 
of either the Secretary of HUD or the Assistant Secretary of PIH. 
Authority excepted includes:
    1. Issue or waive regulations, including waivers pursuant to 
Section 982.161(c) of title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations which 
permits HUD field offices to act on waivers of conflict of interests. 
Public Housing Field Office Directors are to not exercise this 
authority;
    2. Issue notices to clarify regulations;
    3. Issue Notices of Funding Availability (NOFAs), handbooks, 
notices and other HUD policy directives;
    4. Waive any provision of an Annual Contributions Contract (ACC) 
including a determination of substantial breach or default; taking 
possession or title of property from a PHA; and declaring breach or 
default in response to any violation of statute or regulations;
    5. Impose remedies for substantial noncompliance with the 
requirements of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-
Determination Act of 1996 (NAHASDA) (25 U.S.C. 4101 et seq.) and/or its 
implementing regulations; and

[[Page 1705]]

    6. Declare a failure to comply with the regulations of the 
Community Development Block Grants for Indian Tribes and Alaska Native 
Villages.

Section C. Authority To Further Redelegate

    In accordance with a written redelegation of authority, a Deputy 
Assistant Secretary may further redelegate specific authority to PIH 
Office Directors or to other ranking PIH program officials. Redelegated 
authority to PIH directors or other ranking PIH program officials does 
not supersede the authority of a Deputy Assistant Secretary as designee 
of the Assistant Secretary for PIH. Such further redelegations include, 
but are not limited to, the issuance of a Limited Denial of 
Participation.

Section D. Exceptions to Authority To Further Redelegate

    Authority redelegated from a Deputy Assistant Secretary to a PIH 
Office Director or other ranking PIH program official is limited. 
Excepted power and authority, meaning the authority may not be further 
redelegated by, and remains with, a Deputy Assistant Secretary, 
includes the authority to:
    1. Offer new legislative proposals to Congress;
    2. Allocate or reallocate funding among field offices;
    3. Approve remedies for noncompliance requiring notice and 
opportunity for administrative hearing;
    4. Issue a Notice of Intent to Impose Remedies under the Indian 
Housing Block Grant Program, Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant 
Program, or Community Development Block Grant Program for Indian Tribes 
and Alaska Native Villages;
    5. Waive provisions or instructions of PIH directives relating to 
the obligation or payment of operating subsidies;
    6. Solicit competitive proposals for the management of all or part 
of public housing administered by a PHA;
    7. Approve special rent adjustments;
    8. Conduct tax credit and/or subsidy layering reviews, unless 
specifically or otherwise noted;
    9. Approve PHA requests for exception payment standards that exceed 
120 percent of the Fair Market Rent (FMR); and
    10. Approve grant extensions, unless specifically or otherwise 
noted.

Section E. Redelegation of Authority to the Office of Native American 
Programs

    The Assistant Secretary for PIH hereby redelegates authority to the 
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Office of Native American Programs to 
perform program administration and oversight responsibilities 
associated with the following:
    1. Programs authorized pursuant to NAHASDA (25 U.S.C. 4101 et 
seq.);
    2. The Community Development Block Grant Program for Indian Tribes 
and Alaska Native Villages authorized by Section 106 of the Housing and 
Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5306);
    3. The Indian Home Loan Guarantee Program authorized by Section 184 
of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 (12 U.S.C. 1715z-
13a);
    4. The Native Hawaiian Loan Guarantee Program authorized by Section 
184A of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 (12 U.S.C. 
1715z-13b); and
    5. Rural Housing and Economic Development grants awarded to Indian 
tribes and tribal entities by the Assistant Secretary for Community 
Planning and Development.

Section F. Authority Superseded

    All previous redelegations of authority between the Assistant 
Secretary for PIH and PIH Deputy Assistant Secretaries are superseded 
by and replaced with this redelegation of authority.

Section G. Actions Ratified

    The Assistant Secretary for PIH hereby ratifies all actions 
previously taken by Deputy Assistant Secretaries in PIH from August 4, 
2004 through the effective date of this redelegation with respect to 
programs and matters listed in this redelegation of authority. All 
actions previously taken by the Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) for 
the Office of Public Housing Investments (OPHI), or by the Director of 
the Special Applications Center (SAC), with respect to the above 
redelegated authority are hereby ratified. The redelegation of 
authority from the DAS for OPHI to the Director of SAC, dated March 17, 
2008, concerning actions taken from August 4, 2004 through the 
effective date of this redelegation, remains in effect.

    Authority: Section 7(d) Department of Housing and Urban 
Development Act (42 U.S.C. 3535(d)).

    Dated: December 24, 2008.
Paula O. Blunt,
General Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing.
[FR Doc. E9-386 Filed 1-12-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P