[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 69 (Tuesday, April 10, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18644-18645]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-8765]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

    Title: Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Grantee 
Survey.
    OMB No.: 0970-0076.
    Description: The LIHEAP Grantee Survey is an annual data collection 
activity, which is sent to the 50 States and the District of Columbia 
grantees administering the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program 
(LIHEAP). The survey requests estimates on sources and uses of funds 
under LIHEAP--preliminary estimates for the current fiscal year and 
final estimates for the previous fiscal year. We are proposing changes 
in the collection of data using the Grantee Survey, generally to reduce 
the burden on grantees. In addition, the annual submission of the 
Grantee Survey will be changed from

[[Page 18645]]

voluntary to mandatory. The change from voluntary to mandatory is 
necessary to increase the reliability of the data and to make it 
available on a more timely basis. Section 2605(b)(14) of the Low Income 
Home Energy Assistance Act, as amended, requires grantees to provide 
assurance that they will cooperate with the Secretary with respect to 
data collecting and reporting. This is one of 16 assurances a State's 
governor or someone specifically designated by the governor, makes as 
part of each year's LIHEAP application.
    To be in full compliance with section 2605(b)(14), grantees must 
return the completed survey by the due date.
    The preliminary estimates collected by the Grantee Survey for the 
current fiscal year are needed to provide the Administration and 
Congress with fiscal and case load estimates in time for hearings about 
LIHEAP appropriations and program performance. Final estimates for the 
previous fiscal year will be included in the Department's annual LIHEAP 
Report to Congress and will be posted on the Department's LIHEAP web 
site for access by grantees and other interested parties.
    Respondents: 50 States and the District of Columbia.

Annual Burden Estimates

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                                                                          Number of      Average
                                                            Number of     responses   burden hours  Total burden
                       Instrument                          respondents       per           per          hours
                                                                         respondent     response
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Survey..................................................            51             1           3.5         178.5
                                                                                                   -------------
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours:....................  ............  ............  ............         178.5
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    In compliance with the requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Administration for Children and 
Families is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the 
information collection described above. Copies of the proposed 
collection of information can be obtained and comments may be forwarded 
by writing to the Administration for Children and Families, Office of 
Information Services, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 
20447, Attn: ACF Reports Clearance Officer. All requests should be 
identified by the title of the information collection.
    The Department specifically requests comments on: (a) Whether the 
proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper 
performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the 
information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the 
agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information; (c) the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection 
of information on respondents, including through the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology. 
Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted 
within 60 days of this publication.

    Dated: April 4, 2001.
Bob Sargis,
Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 01-8765 Filed 4-9-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-M