Emergency Approval Letter

Mr. Maurice Champagne

OMB Desk Officer

Office of Management and Budget

New Executive Office Building

Washington, DC 20503

Dear Mr. Champagne:

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is seeking emergency review of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) requirements regarding the payment of labor standards deposit refunds and wage restitution payments associated with construction and maintenance work subject to Federal prevailing wage requirements. The Notice of Paperwork Submission (copy enclosed), proposed for immediate publication in the Federal Register, explains the burden of the collection requirements and invites public comments. This is a new collection.

In compliance with the requirements of 5 CFR 1320.13, this letter requests emergency processing within 10 days from the date of publication. This request for emergency processing is essential since the payments represent funds to which the payee is entitled under various Federal laws, including the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts, supporting HUD programs. These payments are often substantial and represent refunds of amounts deposited to guarantee the satisfaction of Federal labor standards requirements which have since been resolved, and wage restitution to construction and maintenance workers for income earned many years prior on HUD-assisted projects.

HUD verifies that the payee is the depositor to whom a refund is due, or the specific underpaid worker to whom wage restitution is due. If the mailing address for an underpaid worker is not correct it is changed so that the worker may receive his/her wage restitution check without delay. This emergency ICR includes a new HUD form. The Labor Standards Deposit Voucher (draft HUD-4734), which is completed by HUD staff, will now allow the respondent the option of an electronic payment.

HUD, the Office of Departmental Operations and Coordination and its Office of Labor Relations, is committed to its compliance with PRA requirements and seeks emergency review so that it may process labor standards refunds and wage restitution payments as it prepares its submission for full OMB/PRA review.

Thank you for your consideration and assistance.

Sincerely,

Inez Banks-Dubose

Director

Office of Departmental Operations and Coordination

Enclosures

I(SL):Banks:jmb X5475 7/29/06 File:C:/Forms/LS Voucher OMB Letter