Information Collection for Tribal Energy Development Capacity Program; Comment Request, 74078-74079 [2010-30095]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• Bureau of Indian Affairs

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 229 (Tuesday, November 30, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74078-74079]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-30095]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs


Information Collection for Tribal Energy Development Capacity 
Program; Comment Request

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Proposed Information Collection.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development (IEED) is seeking 
comments on a proposed information collection related to funds provided 
under the Tribal Energy Development Capacity (TEDC) program. Indian 
tribes, including Alaska Native regional and village corporations, may 
be considered for funding under the TEDC if they provide certain 
information as part of an application. Once an application is accepted, 
the Indian tribe must then submit reports regarding the progress of 
their project. This notice requests comments on the information 
collection associated with the application and progress reports.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
January 31, 2011.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the information collection to 
Ashley Stockdale, 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: Ashley.Stockdale@bia.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: You may request further information 
from Ashley Stockdale, Department of the Interior, Office of Indian 
Energy and Economic Development. Telephone (202) 219-0740.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Energy Policy Act of 2005 authorizes the Secretary of the 
Interior to provide assistance to Indian tribes for energy development 
and appropriates funds for such projects on a year-to-year basis. See 
25 U.S.C. 3502. When funding is available, the Office of IEED may 
solicit proposals for projects for building capacity for tribal energy 
resource development on Indian land from Indian tribes, including 
Alaska Native regional and village corporations under the TEDC program. 
For the purposes of this program, ``Indian land'' includes: All land 
within the boundaries of an Indian reservation, pueblo, or rancheria; 
any land outside those boundaries that is held by the United States in 
trust for a tribe or individual Indian or by a tribe or individual 
Indian with restrictions on alienation; and land owned by an Alaska 
Native regional or village corporation.
    Tribes may use the contracting mechanism established by the Indian 
Self-Determination Act or may receive the money through adjustments to 
their funding from the Office of Self-Governance. See 25 U.S.C. 450 et 
seq. Indian tribes that would like to submit a TEDC project proposal 
must submit an application that includes certain information and, once 
funding is received, must submit reports on how they are using the 
funding. A complete application must contain the following elements:
     A formal signed resolution of the governing body of the 
tribe;
     A proposal describing the planned activities and 
deliverable products; and
     A detailed budget estimate, including contracted personnel 
costs, travel estimates, data collection and analysis costs, and other 
expenses.
    The project proposal must include information about the tribe 
sufficient to allow IEED to evaluate the proposal based on the 
following criteria:
    (a) Energy resource potential;
    (b) Tribe's energy resource development history and current status;
    (c) Tribe's existing energy resource development capabilities;
    (d) Demonstrated willingness of the tribe to develop an independent 
energy resource development business entity;
    (e) Intent to develop and retain energy development capacity within 
tribal government or business entities; and
    (f) Tribal commitment of staff, training, or monetary resources.
    IEED requires this information to ensure that it provides funding 
only to those projects that meet the goals of the TEDC and the purposes 
for which Congress provides the appropriations.

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

[[Page 74079]]

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.
    It is our policy to make all comments available to the public for 
review at the location listed in the ADDRESSES section during the hours 
of 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday except for legal 
holidays. 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.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 1076-0XXX.
    Type of Review: New.
    Title: Tribal Energy Development Capacity Program Proposal 
Solicitation
    Brief Description of Collection: Indian tribes that would like to 
apply for TEDC funding must submit an application that includes certain 
information. A complete application must contain a formal signed 
resolution of the governing body of the tribe, a proposal describing 
the planned activities and deliverable products; and a detailed budget 
estimate, including contracted personnel costs, travel estimates, data 
collection and analysis costs, and other expenses. IEED requires this 
information to ensure that it provides funding only to those projects 
that meet the goals of the TEDC program and purposes for which Congress 
provides the appropriation. Upon acceptance of an application, a tribe 
must then submit one- to two-page quarterly progress reports 
summarizing events, accomplishments, problems and/or results in 
executing the project. IEED estimates that approximately 20 tribes will 
apply each year, and that IEED will accept approximately 10 of those 
applicants into the program.
    Respondents: Indian tribes under 25 U.S.C. 3502.
    Number of Respondents: 20 applicants per year; 10 project 
participants each year.
    Estimated Time per Response: 40 hours per application; 1.5 hours 
per progress report.
    Frequency of Response: Once per year for applications; 4 times per 
year for progress reports.
    Total Annual Burden to Respondents: 860 hours (800 for applications 
and 60 for progress reports).

    Dated: November 22, 2010.
Alvin Foster,
Acting Chief Information Officer--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2010-30095 Filed 11-29-10; 8:45 am]
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