2011-14283. Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

Title: Application Requirements for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Residential Energy Assistance Challenge Program (REACH) Model Plan.

OMB No. 0970-0348.

Description

States, including the District of Columbia, Tribes, Tribal organizations and Territories applying for LIHEAP REACH funds must Submit an annual application prior to receiving Federal funds. The Human Services Amendments of 1994 (Pub. L. 103-252) amended the LIHEAP statute to add Section 2607B, which established the REACH program. REACH was funded for the first time in FY 1996 and is intended to: (1) Minimize health and safety risks that result from high energy burdens on low-income Americans; (2) reduce home energy vulnerability and prevent homelessness as a result of the inability to pay energy bills; (3) increase the efficiency of energy usage by low-income families, helping them achieve energy self-sufficiency; and (4) target energy assistance to individuals who are most in need. The REACH Model Plan clarifies the information being requested and ensures the submission of all the information required by statute. The form facilitates our response to numerous queries each year concerning the information that should be included in the REACH application. Submission of a REACH application and use of the REACH Model Plan is voluntary. Grantees have the option to use another format.

Respondents

State Governments, Tribal governments, Insular Areas, the District of Columbia, and Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Annual Burden Estimates

Instrument	Number of respondents	Number of responses per respondent	Average burden hours per response	Total burden hours
REACH Model Plan	51	1	72	3,672

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 3,672.

In compliance with the requirements of Section 3506(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.

Robert Sargis,

Reports Clearance Officer.