Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) Plan

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
COMM_LIHWAP_AT-2021-09 Model Plan CLEAN for OMB.docx Supplementary Document	2021-06-09
Attachment A Comments and OCS Responses_6.4.21.xlsx Supplementary Document	2021-06-09
ADMIN_LIHWAP_ Supporting Statement_Final OMB Submission_CLEAN.docx Supporting Statement A	2021-06-09

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
247833	LIHWAP Plan Other-Model Plan	New

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 0970-0571	ICR Reference No: 202105-0970-014
Status: Active	Previous ICR Reference No:
Agency/Subagency: HHS/ACF	Agency Tracking No: OCS
Title: Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) Plan
Type of Information Collection: New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Emergency	Approval Requested By: 06/10/2021
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 06/10/2021
	Date Received in OIRA: 06/10/2021
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	12/31/2021	6 Months From Approved
Responses	206	0	0
Time Burden (Hours)	1,648	0	0
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: This request is for a new collection to gather grantee program design and implementation information related to the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law No: 116-260) signed on December 27, 2020, included $638,000,000 in funding with instructions for the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to carry out grants to assist low-income households, particularly those with the lowest incomes, that pay a high proportion of household income for drinking water and wastewater services, by providing funds to owners or operators of public water systems or treatment works to reduce arrearages of and rates charged to such households for such services. As a result, ACF is planning a new program, the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP). Congress appropriated an additional $500 million in stimulus funding for the program in the American Rescue Plan Act (Public Law No: 117-2) signed on March 11, 2021. The Office of Community Services (OCS) will administer LIHWAP funds through the Division of Energy Assistance (DEA). Eligible entities include States, territories, and tribes that received a Low Income Household Energy Assistance program grant award for FY2021. LIHWAP grantees have the flexibility to design certain policies and procedures related to the implementation of their LIHWAP programs in order to target the specific needs of their service population. Many of these policies and procedures must be reported to and approved by OCS prior to grantees making payments to operators of public water systems or treatment works on behalf of eligible households. The LIHWAP Plan is an important step in maintaining program integrity. Grantees must report on program design and be approved prior to making payments on behalf of eligible households.

Emergency Justfication: Consistent with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) procedures, ACF requests approval for emergency processing for the LIHWAP Plan. The LIHWAP Plan is necessary for the program to meet its statutory obligations (Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021; Public Law No: 116-260 and the American Rescue Plan Act, 2021; Public Law No: 117-2) which includes COVID-19 pandemic related emergency relief for individuals and families. The Department requests emergency OMB approval pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.13 in order for OCS to receive necessary information to provide LIHWAP grantees with funding in an effort to ensure households receive benefits as soon as possible to avoid disruption of services and to maintain continuity in accessing safe drinking water and wastewater services.

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Authorizing Statute(s): PL: Pub.L. 117 - 2 2912 Name of Law: American Rescue Plan Act, 2021
   PL: Pub.L. 116 - 260 533 Name of Law: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	86 FR 28362	05/26/2021
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? Yes

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
LIHWAP Plan

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	206	0	0	206	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	1,648	0	0	1,648	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: This is a new information collection.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $34,650

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Yes

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Common Form ICR:  No

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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:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(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;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

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.

Certification Date: 06/10/2021

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