[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 167 (Tuesday, August 30, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52946-52947]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-18635]


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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection for the 
Weatherization Assistance Program

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

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE or the Department), pursuant to 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995), intends to extend for three 
years, an information collection request with the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB). The information collection request, Historic 
Preservation for Energy Efficiency Programs, was initially approved on 
December 1, 2010, under OMB Control No. 1910-5155 and expired on 
September 30, 2015. The information collection request was previously 
approved on February 24, 2020 under OMB Control No. 1910-5155 and its 
current expiration date is February 28, 2023. This extension will allow 
DOE to continue data collection on the status of the Weatherization 
Assistance Program (WAP), the State Energy Program (SEP), and the 
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program. Program 
activities will ensure compliance with the National Historic 
Preservation Act (NHPA).

DATES: Comments regarding this propose information collection must be 
received on or before October 31, 2022. If you anticipate difficulty in 
submitting comments within that period, contact the person listed FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be sent to Michael Tidwell by email to 
the following address: [email protected] with the subject line 
``Historic Preservation for Energy Efficiency Programs (OMB No. 1910-
5155)'' included in the message. Submit electronic comments in 
WordPerfect, Microsoft Word, PDF, or ASCII file format, and avoid the 
use of special characters or any form of encryption. No telefacsimiles 
(faxes) will be accepted. For detailed instructions on submitting 
comments, see ADDRESSES section of this document. Although DOE has 
routinely accepted public comment submissions through a variety of 
mechanisms, including postal mail and hand delivery/courier, the 
Department has found it necessary to make temporary modifications to 
the comment submission process in light of the ongoing Covid-19 
pandemic. DOE is currently accepting only electronic submissions at 
this time. If a commenter finds that this change poses an undue 
hardship, please contact the DOE staff person listed in this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Michael Tidwell, EE-5W, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 
Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121 or by email or phone at 
[email protected], (240) 285-8937.
    Additional information and reporting guidance concerning the 
Historic Preservation reporting requirement for the WAP, SEP, and EECBG 
programs are available for review at: www.energy.gov/eere/wipo/downloads/wpn-10-12-historic-preservation-implementation.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the 
extended 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, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information

[[Page 52947]]

on respondents, including through the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.
    This information collection request contains: (1) OMB No.: 1910-
5155; (2) Information Collection Request Title: ``Historic Preservation 
for Energy Efficiency Programs''; (3) Type of Review: Extension of a 
Currently Approved Information Collection; (4) Purpose: To collect 
information on the status of the Weatherization Assistance Program, 
State Energy Program, and Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block 
Grant Program activities. State Energy Program (SEP): This ICR will 
include Historic Preservation reporting for SEP Annual Appropriations, 
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) appropriations for SEP, 
and two new sub-programs of SEP established by IIJA--the Energy 
Efficiency Revolving Loan Program and the Energy Auditor Training Grant 
Program. SEP Annual Appropriations: On March 15, 2022, the President 
signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, which appropriated 
$63,000,000 to SEP. As noted in SEP Program Notice 10-008E and 10-008F, 
SEP Grantees are required to complete Annual Historic Preservation 
Reports. SEP IIJA Appropriations: On November 15, 2021, the President 
signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which 
appropriated $500,000,000 for SEP to provide Formula Grants to its 
Grantees (State Energy Offices). Grantees will use Formula Grants for 
similar activities as their Annual Appropriations grants, and Grantees 
will similarly be required to submit Annual Historic Preservation 
Reports for these IIJA grants. Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund 
Capitalization Grant Program: The IIJA appropriated $250,000,000 to SEP 
to establish the Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund Capitalization 
Grant Program, through which SEP will provide Capitalization Grants to 
SEP Grantees to establish revolving loan fund financing programs for 
energy efficiency projects in residential and commercial buildings. The 
grants will be allocated in part according to SEP's existing allocation 
formula, and development and implementation of financing programs are 
already a subset of activities for which Grantees can and have used 
Annual Appropriations grants. Energy Auditor Training Grant Program: 
The IIJA appropriated $40,000,000 to SEP to establish the Energy 
Auditor Training Grant Program, through which SEP will provide grants 
to certain SEP Grantees to train individuals to conduct energy audits 
or surveys of commercial and residential buildings. Energy Efficiency 
and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG): This ICR will also include 
Historic Preservation reporting for the financing programs funded by 
the EECBG Program under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 
(ARRA) that grantees are required to report on into perpetuity. Through 
section 40552(b) of IIJA, Congress appropriated $550,000,000 to the 
EECBG Program for fiscal year 2022, to remain available until expended. 
The EECBG Program provides Federal grants to states, units of local 
government, and Indian tribes to assist eligible entities in 
implementing strategies to reduce fossil fuel emissions, to reduce 
total energy use, and to improve energy efficiency as outlined by the 
Program's authorizing legislation, Title V, Subtitle E of the Energy 
Independence, and Security Act of 2007 (EISA). EECBG Program grantees 
will be required to submit Annual Historic Preservation Reports. EECBG 
does not receive annual appropriations but was previously funded by 
ARRA in 2009. A portion of ARRA EECBG Program grantees that chose to 
fund and administer financing programs continue to report annually on 
Historic Preservation and are included in this ICR. Weatherization 
Assistance Program (WAP): The third and final component of this ICR is 
the Historic Preservation Reporting for the WAP Formula and Competitive 
Grant activities. On March 15, 2022, the President signed the 
Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, which appropriated 
$334,000,000 to the WAP. These funds are available for WAP formula 
activities along with WAP competitive grant recipients, all of which 
will be required to complete annual Historic Preservation Reports.
    (5) Annual Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,863; (6) Annual 
Estimated Number of Total Responses: 3,105; (7) Annual Estimated Number 
of Burden Hours: 9,661; (8) Annual Estimated Reporting and 
Recordkeeping Cost Burden: $436,691.62.
    Statutory Authority: Title V, National Historic Preservation Act of 
1966, Pub. L. 89-665 as amended (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.).

Signing Authority

    This document of the Department of Energy was signed on August 12, 
2022, by Kelly J. Speakes-Backman, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary 
for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, pursuant to delegated 
authority from the Secretary of Energy. That document with the original 
signature and date is maintained by DOE. For administrative purposes 
only, and in compliance with requirements of the Office of the Federal 
Register, the undersigned DOE Federal Register Liaison Officer has been 
authorized to sign and submit the document in electronic format for 
publication, as an official document of the Department of Energy. This 
administrative process in no way alters the legal effect of this 
document upon publication in the Federal Register.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on August 25, 2022.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2022-18635 Filed 8-29-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P