This collection is approved with the following terms of clearance: DOE is approved as an emergency clearance to meet American Reinvestment Recovery Act requirements. This collection will be valid for six months. If DOE decides to continue use of the collection past the approved emergency request clearance time period, it must resubmit to OMB under the normal PRA clearance process for a three-year approval.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
06/30/2010
6 Months From Approved
12/31/2011
672
0
56
1,644
0
137
0
0
0
The State Energy Program (SEP) is a Formula Grant Program that provides annually allocated funding to all fifty States and six Territories including the District of Columbia to promote the conservation of energy to reduce the rate of growth of energy demand and reduce dependence on imported oil through the development and implementation of a comprehensive program.
The Department of Energy (DOE) requires collection of information for the State Energy Program (SEP) as included in Funding Opportunity Announcement DE-FOA-000052, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 and the OMB requirements for (1) grant and financial administration, and (2) American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds. FOE provides Federal financial assistance and technical support to states and local governments under the EISA. Information gathered provides current information required to respond to OMB, congressional and consumer requests and budget preparation.
We request an emergency request at this point and request a waiver from sending a Federal Register Notice because of the urgency of the programs and the request of the White House. The SEP Program has $3.2 billion under ARRA to be spent by March 2012 compared to less than $100 M historically annually. In order to adequately monitor, report, and ensure transparency and accountability, we simply must require monthly reporting instead of quarterly reporting given the new huge increase in funding for this program.
DOE has reviewed its monitoring and oversight procedures, and has determined that reporting requirements must be modified to increase both the frequency of reports and the information needed to ensure that these programs are managed effectively and efficiently and achieve Administration goals for job creation and energy transformation.
The information collected is used by program staff to track the recipients' activities, their progress in achieving scheduled milestones, and funds expended (including expenditure rates). The information also enables program staff to provide required or requested information on program activities to OMB, Congress and the public.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.