E9-3859. Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

Proposed Projects:

Title: Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program LIHEAP Leveraging Report.

OMB No.: 0970-0121.

Description: The LIHEAP leveraging incentive program rewards LIHEAP grantees that have leveraged non-federal home energy resources for low-income households. The LIHEAP leveraging report is the application for leveraging incentive funds that these LIHEAP grantees submit to the Department of Health and Human Services for each fiscal year in which they leverage countable resources. Participation in the leveraging incentive program is voluntary and is described at 45 CFR 96.87. The LIHEAP leveraging report obtains information on the resources leveraged by LIHEAP grantees each fiscal year (as cash, discounts, waivers, and in-kind); the benefits provided to low-income households by these resources (for example, as fuel and payments for fuel, as home heating and cooling equipment, and as weatherization materials and installation); and the fair market value of these resources/benefits.

HHS needs this information in order to carry out statutory requirements for administering the LIHEAP leveraging incentive program, to determine accountability and valuation of grantees leveraged non-federal home energy resources, and to determine grantees shares of leveraging incentive funds. HHS proposes to request a three-year extension of OMB approval for the currently approved LIHEAP leveraging report information collection.

Respondents: State, Local or Tribal Governments.

Annual Burden Estimates

Instrument	Number of respondents	Number of responses per respondent	Average burden hours per response	Total burden hours
LIHEAP Leveraging Report	70	1	38	2,660

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 2,660.

In compliance with the requirements of Section 506(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 Administration, Office of Information Services, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447, Attn: ACF Reports Clearance Officer. E-mail address: [e-mail]. 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: February 19, 2009.

Janean Chambers,

Reports Clearance Officer.