[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 109 (Tuesday, June 8, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30523-30524]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-14480]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Reallotment of FY 1998 Funds for Low Income Home Energy 
Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

AGENCY: Office of Community Services, ACF, DHHS.

ACTION: Notice of determination concerning funds available for 
reallotment.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that a preliminary determination has 
been made that fiscal year (FY) 1998 Low Income Home Energy Assistance 
Program (LIHEAP) funds are available for reallotment to States, 
territories, and Tribes and tribal organizations receiving FY 1999 
direct LIHEAP funding. No subgrantees or other entities may apply for 
the funds. Section 2607(b)(1) of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance 
Act (the Act), Title XXVI of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 
1981 (42 U.S.C. 8621 et seq.), as amended, requires that if the 
Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services determines 
that, as of September 1 of any fiscal, an amount in excess of certain 
levels allotted to a grantee for any fiscal year will not be used by 
the grantee during the fiscal year, the Secretary must notify the 
grantee and publish a notice in the Federal Register that such funds 
may be reallotted to LIHEAP grantees during the following fiscal year. 
If reallotted, the LIHEAP block grant allocation formula will be used 
to distribute the funds. (No funds may be allotted to entities that are 
not direct LIHEAP grantees during FY 1999.) It has been determined that 
$2,381,450.52 may be available for reallotment during FY 1999. This 
determination is based on revised reports from the State of North 
Carolina and the Delaware Tribe of Oklahoma, which were submitted to 
the Office of Community Services as required by 45 CFR 96.82.
    The statute allows grantees who have funds unobligated at the end 
of the fiscal year for which they are awarded to request that they be 
allowed to carry over up to 10 percent of their allotments to the next 
fiscal year. Funds in excess

[[Page 30524]]

of this amount must be returned to DHHS and are subject to reallotment 
under section 2607(b)(1) of the Act. The amount described in this 
notice was reported as unobligated FY 1998 funds in excess of the 
amount that the State of North Carolina and the Delaware Tribe of 
Oklahoma could carry over to FY 1999.
    The State of North Carolina was notified by certified mail that 
$2,375,000 of its FY 1998 funds may be reallotted. Additionally, the 
Delaware Tribe of Oklahoma was notified by certified mail that 
$6,450.52 of its FY 1998 funds may be reallotted. In accordance with 
section 2607(b)(3), the Chief Executive Officers of the State of North 
Carolina and of the Delaware Tribe of Oklahoma have 30 days from the 
date of the letter to submit comments to: Donald Sykes, Director, 
Office of Community Services, 3701 L'Enfant Promenade, SW, Washington, 
DC 20047. The comment period expires July 8, 1999.
    After considering any comments submitted, the Chief Executive 
Officers will be notified of the decision, and the decision also will 
be published in the Federal Register. If funds are reallotted, they 
will be allocated in accordance with section 2604 of the Act and must 
be treated by LIHEAP grantees receiving them as an amount appropriated 
for FY 1999. As FY 1999 funds, they will be subject to all requirements 
of the Act, including section 2607(b)(2), which requires that a grantee 
obligate at least 90% of its total block grant allocation for a fiscal 
year by the end of the fiscal year for which the funds are 
appropriated, that is, by September 30, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janet Fox, Director, Division of 
Energy Assistance, Office of Community Services, 370 L'Enfant 
Promenade, SW, Washington, DC 20447; telephone (202) 401-9351.

    Dated: May 28, 1999.
Donald Sykes,
Director, Office of Community Services.
[FR Doc. 99-14480 Filed 6-7-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 99-4184-01-M