[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 112 (Friday, June 12, 2009)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 27945-27946]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-13836]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
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 

  Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 112 / Friday, June 12, 2009 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 27945]]



DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

10 CFR Part 440

[Docket No. EEWAP0515]
RIN 1904-AB97


Weatherization Assistance Program for Low-Income Persons

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. 
Department of Energy.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period, notice of public 
meeting.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will be holding a public 
meeting on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) for the 
Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) published on May 21, 2009. In 
the NOPR, DOE proposed to amend the eligibility requirements applicable 
to multi-unit buildings under the Weatherization Assistance Program for 
Low-Income Persons. Under the proposed rule, if a multi-unit building 
is under the Qualified Assistance Housing Program or Public Housing 
Program, identified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban 
Development (HUD), and included on a list published by DOE, that 
building would meet certain income and benefit eligibility requirements 
under the Weatherization Assistance Program without the need for 
further evaluation or verification. Also under the proposed rule, if a 
multi-unit building includes units that participate in the Low Income 
Housing Tax Credit Program, is identified by HUD, and included on a 
list published by DOE, that building would meet the income eligibility 
requirements of the Weatherization Assistance Program without the need 
for further evaluation or verification. The proposed rule is intended 
reduce the procedural burdens on evaluating applications from buildings 
that are part of HUD public and assisted housing and U.S. Department of 
Treasury tax credit programs.

DATES: The comment period for the NOPR published at 74 FR 23804, May 
21, 2009, is extended to July 6, 2009. DOE will hold a public meeting, 
on Thursday, June 18, 2009, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT to discuss the 
WAP proposed rule. This meeting is open to the public and will also be 
available as a webinar/conference call.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting and webinar will be held at the U.S. 
Department of Energy, Forrestal Building, Room 8E-069, 1000 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gil Sperling, U.S. Department of 
Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, 
Weatherization Assistance Program, EE-2K, 1000 Independence Avenue, 
SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121, (202) 287-1644, e-mail: 
[email protected], or Chris Calamita, U.S. Department of Energy, 
Office of the General Counsel, Forrestal Building, GC-72, 1000 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-9507, e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On May 21, 2009, DOE published a NOPR proposing to amend the 
regulations for the Weatherization Assistance Program. 74 FR 23804. DOE 
believes that the proposed rule would reduce the procedural burdens on 
evaluating the eligibility of buildings that are part of HUD assisted 
housing and U.S. Department of Treasury tax credit programs for the 
purpose of the Weatherization Assistance Program.

II. Meeting Participation

    DOE must receive requests to present or speak at the public 
meeting/webinar no later than 4 p.m., Wednesday, June 17, 2009. DOE 
must receive a signed original and an electronic copy of statements to 
be given at the public meeting no later than 4 p.m., Tuesday, June 16, 
2009. Please note that foreign nationals visiting DOE Headquarters are 
subject to advance security screening procedures, requiring advance 
notice. If you are a foreign national and wish to participate in the 
public meeting, please inform DOE as soon as possible and no later than 
5 p.m. Friday, June 12, 2009, by contacting Ms. Brenda Edwards at (202) 
586-2945, or e-mail: [email protected].
    The meeting is open to the public. DOE invites participation by all 
interested parties. For information on the agenda, bridge line and Web 
link for the conference call of June 18, 2009, please send an e-mail to 
[email protected]. For information on facilities or services for 
individuals with disabilities or to request special assistance, please 
e-mail your request to [email protected] by Tuesday, June 16, 2009. 
Please note that participants will need to be pre-cleared in advance of 
the meeting in order to enter the DOE headquarters building. By 4 p.m. 
EDT, Wednesday, June 17, 2009, e-mail [email protected], if you plan 
to attend the meeting to facilitate the pre-clearance process.
    Conduct of Public Meeting: DOE will designate a DOE official to 
preside at the public meeting and may also use a professional 
facilitator to aid discussion. Representatives from HUD will 
participate in the discussions. The meeting will not be a judicial or 
evidentiary-type public hearing. A court reporter will be present to 
record and transcribe the proceedings. DOE reserves the right to 
schedule the order of presentations and to establish the procedures 
governing the conduct of the public meeting. After the public meeting, 
interested parties may submit further comments about the proceedings, 
and any other aspect of the proposed rulemaking, by 5 p.m. EDT, Monday, 
July 6, 2009. The public meeting will be conducted in an informal, 
conference style. Each participant will be allowed to make a prepared 
general statement (within time limits determined by DOE) before 
discussion of a particular topic. DOE will permit other participants to 
comment briefly on any general statements. At the end of all prepared 
statements on a topic, DOE will permit participants to clarify their 
statements briefly and comment on statements made by others. 
Participants should be prepared to answer questions by DOE and by other 
participants concerning these issues. DOE representatives may also ask 
questions of participants concerning other matters relevant to the 
proposed rulemaking. The official conducting the public meeting will 
accept additional comments or

[[Page 27946]]

questions from those attending, as time permits. The presiding official 
will announce any further procedural rules or modification of the above 
procedures that may be needed for proper conduct of the public meeting.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on June 8, 2009.
John M. Lushetsky,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency, Office of 
Technology Development, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. E9-13836 Filed 6-11-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P