1092 Availability of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program; proposed State plan and public hearing schedule

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WELFARE

Availability of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program; Proposed State Plan and Public Hearing Schedule

[27 Pa.B. 3283]

   The Department of Public Welfare (Department) is making available for public review and comment the Fiscal Year (FY) 1997-98 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) proposed State Plan. Comments on this document and testimony received at public hearings scheduled for August will be used to formulate the Department's final State Plan for using Federal funds in the FY 1997-98 LIHEAP Program.

   The Department has sent advance copies of the proposed State Plan to the LIHEAP Advisory Committee. In addition, copies have been sent to fuel associations, legal service agencies and Area Agencies on Aging for distribution to their members or constituents. Other persons who want copies can obtain them after July 28, 1997, either by contacting their local county assistance office or by calling Julie Charles at [phone] or [phone].

   The Department will hold five public hearings throughout the Commonwealth to allow testimony on the proposed State Plan and fulfill the Federal mandate for public input into the planning process. This mandate appears in Title XXVI (The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981) (Pub. L. 97-35, 42 U.S.C.A. §§ 8621 et. seq.) as amended by the Human Services Reauthorization Act of 1984 (Pub. L. 98-558), the Human Services Reauthorization Act of 1986 (Pub. L. 99-425), the Augustus F. Hawkins Human Services Reauthorization Act of 1990 (Pub. L. 101-501), the National Institutes of Health Revitalization Act of 1993 (Pub. L. 103-43), and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Amendments of 1994 (Pub. L. 103-252).

   Public Hearing Schedule:

   August 18, 1997
1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Community Economic Opportunity Board Room
115 Amber Lane
Wilkes-Barre, PA

   August 19, 1997
10 a.m. to 12 noon
County Courthouse
Gold Room
436 Grant Street
Pittsburgh, PA

   August 21, 1997
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Philadelphia State Office Building
Governor's Penthouse
1400 Spring Garden Street
Philadelphia, PA

   August 21, 1997
1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
City Council Chambers
Erie City Hall
Perry Square
Erie, PA

   August 22, 1997
10 a.m. to 12 noon
Room 812
Health and Welfare Building
Forster Street
Harrisburg, PA

   Persons who wish to testify on the proposed State Plan at a public hearing should arrange a time by telephoning [phone] or [phone] before August 8, 1997. Persons from outside the Harrisburg area should call toll-free [phone] or send a written request, including their telephone number, to Esther Witmer, LIHEAP Department of Public Welfare, DPW Complex 2, Willow Oak Building, Room 224, Harrisburg, PA 17110.

   Persons with a disability may use the AT&T Relay Service by calling [phone] (TDD users) or [phone] (Voice users).

FEATHER O. HOUSTOUN,   
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 97-1092. Filed for public inspection July 3, 1997, 9:00 a.m.]