[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 177 (Tuesday, September 13, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 56482]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-23186]


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LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION


Notice and Request For Comments: LSC Elimination of the West 
Virginia Migrant Service Area Beginning January 1, 2012

AGENCY: Legal Services Corporation.

ACTION: Notice and Request for Comments.

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SUMMARY: The Legal Services Corporation will eliminate the West 
Virginia migrant service area, i.e., MWV effective January 1, 2012, 
because any eligible migrant population in West Virginia can be more 
effectively and efficiently served through the basic field-general 
grant.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before October 13, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted by mail or e-mail to 
Reginald J. Haley, Office of Program Performance, Legal Services 
Corporation, 3333 K Street, NW., Washington, DC 20007; or 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Reginald J. Haley, Office of Program 
Performance, Legal Services Corporation, 3333 K Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20007; or by e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Legal Services Corporation's (LSC) 
mission is to promote equal access to justice and to provide for high-
quality civil legal assistance to low-income persons. Pursuant to its 
statutory authority, LSC designates service areas in U.S. states, 
territories, possessions, and the District of Columbia for which it 
provides grants to legal aid programs to provide free civil legal 
services, primarily through ``basic field-general'' grants based on 
poverty population.
    In some regions, LSC designates migrant service areas for grants 
that are designed to specifically serve the legal needs of eligible 
migrant farmworker populations. The funding for a migrant service area 
is taken out of the funding for the basic field-general service area 
also covering those populations based on the estimated number of 
eligible migrant farmworkers.
    For many years LSC has designated a migrant service area in West 
Virginia. LSC has been informed that the eligible migrant population in 
West Virginia is not sufficient in numbers to maintain a separate 
migrant service area in the state. LSC has reviewed this matter and 
determined that, based on the available information; it would be more 
effective and efficient to serve the legal needs of the eligible 
migrant population in West Virginia through the basic field-general 
grant rather than providing a separate migrant grant.
    LSC provides grants through a competitive bidding process, which is 
regulated by 45 CFR part 1634. In 2010, LSC implemented a competitive 
grants process for 2011 calendar year funding that included, inter 
alia, the West Virginia migrant service area. LSC determines the term 
of grants after applications have been received. For 2011, LSC awarded 
a one-year migrant grant for Legal Aid of West Virginia that is 
effective January 1, 2011, through December 31, 2011. Accordingly, LSC 
announced the availability of 2012 funding for the West Virginia 
migrant service area in the Federal Register on March 30, 2011 (76 FR 
17711). One competitive grant application was received, and it was from 
the current grantee for the migrant service area, which is Legal Aid of 
West Virginia. As noted above, the eligible migrant population in West 
Virginia is not sufficient in numbers to maintain a separate migrant 
service area in the state. As a result, LSC intends to eliminate the 
West Virginia migrant service area beginning January 1, 2012. Funding 
for the eligible migrant population of West Virginia will be restored 
to the state's basic field-general grant. LSC expects that Legal Aid of 
West Virginia will continue to provide services to the eligible migrant 
populations as part of their basic field general grant, which is 
effective January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2013.
    LSC invites public comment on this decision. Interested parties may 
submit comments to LSC within a period of thirty (30) days from the 
date of publication of this notice. More information about LSC can be 
found at LSC's Web site: http://www.lsc.gov.

    Dated: September 6, 2011.
Victor M. Fortuno,
Vice President and General Counsel, Legal Services Corporation.
[FR Doc. 2011-23186 Filed 9-12-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7050-01-P