Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection for the Weatherization Assistance Program, 52546 [2022-18432]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 165 (Friday, August 26, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 52546]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-18432]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


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

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

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE), pursuant to the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995, intends to extend for three years a currently 
approved collection of information with the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB). The information collection request, Weatherization 
Assistance Program (WAP), was previously approved on May 31, 2020, 
under OMB Control No. 1910-5127 and its current expiration date is May 
31, 2023. This ICR will include WAP Annual Appropriations and 
Weatherization Readiness Funds, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act 
(IIJA), and Multi-Family Buildings. This ICR makes updates to the WAP 
reporting metrics to ensure the requested information can be shared on 
an annual basis with Congress.

DATES: Comments regarding this collection must be received on or before 
October 25, 2022. If you anticipate difficulty in submitting comments 
within that period, contact the person listed below as soon as 
possible.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be sent to Brittany Price by email to 
the following address: [email protected] with the subject line 
``Weatherization Assistance Program (OMB No. 1910-5127)'' 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 Brittany Price, EE-5W, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 
Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121 or by email or phone at 
[email protected], (240) 306-7252.

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.: 
1910-5127; (2) Information Collection Request Title: ``Weatherization 
Assistance Program (WAP)''; (3) Type of Review: Extension of a 
Currently Approved Collection; (4) Purpose: To collect information on 
the status of grantee activities related to WAP Annual Appropriations/
Weatherization Readiness Fund, IIJA, and the multifamily buildings 
expansion--including but not limited to weatherized units, total people 
assisted with grant funds; expenditures; and results, to ensure that 
program funds are being used appropriately, effectively and 
expeditiously. WAP Annual Appropriations and Weatherization Readiness 
Fund: On March 15, 2022, the President signed the Consolidated 
Appropriations Act of 2021, which appropriated $334,000,000 to the WAP, 
and included $15,000,000 to be made available to establish a 
Weatherization Readiness Fund. As noted in WPN 22-6, WAP Grantees will 
be required to report metrics related to the expenditure of these 
funds. Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act (IIJA): In addition to 
the reporting documents for the WAP's annual appropriations, this 
collection also includes reporting for the $3.168 billion delivered by 
IIJA. IIJA was passed by Congress on November 6, 2021 ``to authorize 
funds for Federal-aid highways, highway safety programs, and transit 
programs, and for other purposes.'' The Weatherization Assistance 
Program is listed as an IIJA recipient under the Subtitle E--
Miscellaneous section within Title V: Energy Efficiency and Building 
Infrastructure. Multifamily Buildings: The Consolidated Appropriations 
Act, 2021 amended Section 421 of the Energy Conservation and Production 
Act by inserting: ``the number of multifamily buildings in which 
individual dwelling units were weatherized during the previous year, 
the number of individual dwelling units in multifamily buildings 
weatherized during the previous year,'' after ``the average size of the 
dwellings being weatherized.'' (5) Annual Estimated Number of 
Respondents: 57; (6) Annual Estimated Number of Total Responses: 798; 
(8) Annual Estimated Number of Burden Hours: 7,752; (8) Annual 
Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: $366,824.64.
    Statutory Authority: Title 42, chapter 81, subchapter III, part A 
of the United States Code (U.S.C.), (42 U.S.C. 6867(a)).

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 23, 2022.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2022-18432 Filed 8-25-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P