[Federal Register: November 6, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 214)]
[Notices]               
[Page 62652]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06no07-61]                         


[[Page 62652]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families

 
Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

    Proposed Projects:
    Title: Application Requirements for the Low Income Home Energy 
Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Residential Energy Assistance Challenge 
Program (REACH) Model Plan.
    OMB No. New Collection.
    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 the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

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

    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 3,672.
    In compliance with the requirements of Section 356(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: infocollection@acf.hhs.gov. All requests should be identified 
by the title of the information.
    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: October 30, 2007.
Robert Sargis,
Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 07-5489 Filed 11-1-07; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4184-01-M