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.
Additional terms of clearance follow: 1)If DOE seeks renewal of
this and related emergency collections(including but not limited to
OWIP collections for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block
Grant (EECBG), Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) and State
Energy Program (SEP)), at 4 months following the date of each
collection's approval, DOE will begin to dialogue with OMB on
burden impact and introducing a risk-tiered model where selected
recipients could return to quarterly reporting; 2)Monthly data for
these collections(including but not limited to OWIP collections for
the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG),
Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) and State Energy Program
(SEP))will be presumed to be for internal use, but where made
public, DOE will caveat the data as "preliminary/informal and
subject to change"; 3)DOE will include language reflective of terms
1) and 2) in both their supporting statements and guidance; 4)DOE
will continue to collect jobs data on a quarterly rather than
monthly basis.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
09/30/2010
6 Months From Approved
3,528
0
0
42,168
0
0
1,401,120
0
0
EECBG is a new program, authorized by
the energy Independence and Security Act and funded by the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which provides formula grants to all
50 states, 6 territories, the District of Columbia, 2, 327 local
communities and 3 tribal governments to carry out activities
designed to save energy, create and retain jobs, increase energy
efficiency, and decrease harmful emissions.
The Department of Energy
(DOE) requires collection of information for the Energy Efficiency
and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG)Program as included in Funding
Opportunity Announcement DE-FOA-0000013, the Energy Independence
and Security Act of 2007 (P.L. 11-140) and the OMB requirements for
(1) grant and financial administration, and (2) American Recovery
and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds. DOE 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 EECBG Program is a brand new program has $3.2 billion under
ARRA to be spent by March 2012. As this is a new program with many
new grantees who are not familiar with how to work with and use DOE
money, we believe monthly reporting is necessary. 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 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 expenditures
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.
EECBG Reporting Program Guidance (Attachment 2) v5 5.docx
PAGE Screens 091409 v112-16-09.ppt
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program