[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 139 (Wednesday, July 19, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 44791]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-18141]


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

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Reallotment of FY 1999 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.

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

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that a preliminary determination has 
been made that fiscal year (FY) 1999 Low Income Home Energy Assistance 
Program (LIHEAP) funds are available for reallotment to States, 
territories, and Tribes and tribal organizations receiving FY 2000 
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 year, 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 realloted 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 reallotted to entities 
that are not direct LIHEAP grantees during FY 2000). It has been 
determined that $496,085.78 may be available for reallotment during FY 
2000. This determination is based on revised reports from the State of 
Wyoming and the Pala Band of Mission Indians, 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 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 1999 
funds in excess of the amount that the State of Wyoming and the Pala 
Band of Mission Indians could carry over to FY 2000.
    The State of Wyoming was notified by certified mail that 
$493,063.78 of its FY 1999 funds may be allotted. Additionally, the 
Pala Band of Mission Indians was notified by certified mail that $3,022 
of its FY 1999 funds may be reallotted. In accordance with section 
2607(b)(3), the Chief Executive Officers of the State of Wyoming and of 
the Pala Band of Mission Indians have 30 days from the date of the 
letter to submit comments to: Donald Sykes, Director, Office of 
Community Services, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447. 
The comment period expires August 18, 2000.
    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 2000. As FY 2000 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, 2000.

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: June 30, 2000
Donald Sykes,
Director, Office of Community Services.
[FR Doc. 00-18141 Filed 7-18-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-M