Renewal of Agency Information Collection for Tribal Energy Resource Agreements; Comment Request, 16173-16174 [2010-7172]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• Bureau of Indian Affairs
• Indian Affairs Bureau

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 61 (Wednesday, March 31, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16173-16174]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-7172]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs


Renewal of Agency Information Collection for Tribal Energy 
Resource Agreements; Comment Request

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

[[Page 16174]]


ACTION: Notice of submission to the Office of Management and Budget.

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SUMMARY: As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Office of 
Indian Energy and Economic Development (IEED), in the Office of the 
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs, is submitting the information 
collection titled ``Tribal Energy Resource Agreements (TERAs)'' to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for renewal. The information 
collection is currently authorized by OMB Control Number 1076-0167, 
which expires March 31, 2010. The information collection requires 
Indian tribes interested in entering into a TERA or who already have a 
TERA to provide certain information, including information as part of 
the application for, and implementation, reassumption, and rescission 
of the TERA.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
April 30, 2010.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the information collection to the 
Desk Officer for Department of the Interior at the Office of Management 
and Budget, by facsimile to (202) 395-5806 or you may send an e-mail 
to: OIRA_DOCKET@omb.eop.gov. Please send a copy of your comments to 
Darryl Francois, Department of the Interior, Office of Indian Energy 
and Economic Development, Room 20--South Interior Building, 1951 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20245, fax (202) 208-4564; e-
mail: Darryl.Francois@bia.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Darryl Francois, Department of the 
Interior, Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development, Room 20--
South Interior Building, 1951 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 
20245, fax (202) 208-4564; e-mail: Darryl.Francois@bia.gov, telephone 
(202) 219-0740.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109-58) authorizes the 
Secretary to approve individual TERAs. The intent of these agreements 
is to promote tribal oversight and management of energy and mineral 
resource development on tribal lands and further the goal of Indian 
self-determination. A TERA offers a tribe an alternative for developing 
energy-related business agreements and awarding leases and granting 
rights-of-way for energy facilities without having to obtain further 
approval from the Secretary.
    This information collection conducted under TERA regulations at 25 
CFR part 224 will allow IEED to determine the capacity of tribes to 
manage the development of energy resources on tribal lands. Information 
collected:
     Enables IEED to engage in a consultation process with 
tribes that is designed to foster optimal pre-planning of development 
proposals and speed up the review and approval process for TERA 
agreements;
     Provides wide public notice and opportunity for review of 
TERA agreements by the public, industry, and government agencies;
     Ensures that the public has an avenue for review of the 
performance of tribes in implementing a TERA;
     Creates a process for preventing damage to sensitive 
resources as well as ensuring that the public has fully communicated 
with the tribe in the petition process;
     Ensures that a tribe is fully aware of any attempt by the 
Department of the Interior to resume management authority over energy 
resources on tribal lands; and
     Ensures that the tribal government fully endorses any 
relinquishment of a TERA.

II. Request for Comments

    IEED requests that you send your comments on this collection to the 
location listed in the ADDRESSES section. Your comments should address: 
(a) The necessity of the information collection for the proper 
performance of the agencies, including whether the information will 
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of our estimate of the burden 
(hours and cost) of the collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways we could 
enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and (d) ways we could minimize the burden of the collection 
of the information on the respondents, such as through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Please note that an agency may not sponsor or conduct, and an 
individual need not respond to, a collection of information unless it 
has a valid OMB Control Number. Response to the information collection 
is required to obtain a benefit.
    It is our policy to make all comments available to the public for 
review at the following location, during the hours of 9 a.m.-5 p.m., 
Eastern Daylight Savings Time, Monday through Friday except for legal 
holidays: Department of the Interior, Office of Indian Energy and 
Economic Development, Room 20--South Interior Building, 1951 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20245. Before including your 
address, phone number, e-mail address or other personally identifiable 
information, be advised that your entire comment--including your 
personally identifiable information--may be made public at any time. 
While you may request that we withhold your personally identifiable 
information, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
    OMB has up to 60 days to make a decision on the submission for 
renewal, but may make the decision after 30 days. Therefore, to receive 
the best consideration of your comments, you should submit them closer 
to 30 days than 60 days.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 1076-0167.
    Title: Tribal Energy Resource Agreements, 25 CFR Part 224.
    Brief Description of Collection: Submission of this information is 
required for Indian tribes to apply for, implement, reassume, or 
rescind a TERA that has been entered into in accordance with the Energy 
Policy Act of 2005 and 25 CFR part 224. This collection also requires 
the tribe to notify the public of certain actions. Response is required 
to obtain a benefit.
    Type of Review: Extension without change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Respondents: Indian tribes.
    Number of Respondents: 14 (4 applicant tribes and 10 tribes with a 
TERA).
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Total Number of Responses: 34.
    Estimated Time per Response: Ranges from 32 hours to 1,080 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 10,752 hours.
    Estimated Nonhour Cost Burden: $48,200.

Alvin Foster,
Acting Chief Information Officer--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2010-7172 Filed 3-30-10; 8:45 am]
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