[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 57 (Friday, March 24, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17832-17833]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-06140]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


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

AGENCY: Office of State and Community Energy Programs, U.S. Department 
of Energy.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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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 was 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 April 24, 2023. If you anticipate that you will 
be submitting comments but find it difficult to do so within the period 
allowed by this notice, please advise the OMB Desk Officer of your 
intention to make a submission as soon as possible. The Desk Officer 
may be telephoned at (202) 881-8585.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular 
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function.

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/wpn10-12-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 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

[[Page 17833]]

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. In addition, the IIJA 
appropriated $3.5 billion for 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: 6,548; (8) Annual Estimated Reporting and 
Recordkeeping Cost Burden: $363,217.56.
    Statutory Authority: Title V, National Historic Preservation Act of 
1966, Public Law 89-665 as amended (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.).

Signing Authority

    This document of the Department of Energy was signed on March 20, 
2023, by Kathleen Hogan, Principal Deputy Under Secretary for 
Infrastructure, 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 March 21, 2023.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2023-06140 Filed 3-23-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P