Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Comments; Department of the Interior Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers, 55581-55582 [2019-22610]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 201 / Thursday, October 17, 2019 / Notices Science Center, by email at dbeard@ usgs.gov, or by telephone at 703–648– 5212. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Current List of HHS-Certified Laboratories and Instrumented Initial Testing Facilities Which Meet Minimum Standards To Engage in Urine Drug Testing for Federal Agencies Correction In notice document 2019–21176, beginning on page 52117 in the issue of Tuesday, October 1, 2019, make the following corrections: 1. On page 52117, in the third column, on the second line, ‘‘Quiver Road, Leone, KS’’ should read ‘‘Quivira Road, Lenexa, KS’’. 2. On the same page, in the same column, on the eighth line, ‘‘Desert Ox’’ should read ‘‘Desert Tox’’. 3. On the same page, in the same column, on the eleventh line, ‘‘Drug,Scan’’ should read ‘‘DrugScan’’. [FR Doc. C1–2019–21176 Filed 10–16–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 1505–01–D DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Geological Survey [GX19 EN05ESB0500; OMB Control Number 1028–0096/Renewal] Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Comments; Department of the Interior Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers U.S. Geological Survey, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Information Collection; request for comment. AGENCY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) are proposing to renew an information collection. SUMMARY: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before December 16, 2019. ADDRESSES: Send your comments on this information collection request (ICR) by mail to U.S. Geological Survey, Information Collections Officer, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive MS 159, Reston, VA 20192; or by email to gs-info_ collections@usgs.gov. Please reference OMB Control Number 1028–0096 in the subject line of your comments. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information about this ICR, contact Doug Beard, Chief of the USGS National Climate Adaptation DATES: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:26 Oct 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we provide the general public and other Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on new, proposed, revised, and continuing collections of information. This helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public’s reporting burden. It also helps the public understand our information collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired format. We are soliciting comments on the proposed ICR that is described below. We are especially interested in public comment addressing the following issues: (1) Is the collection necessary to the proper functions of the USGS; (2) will this information be processed and used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) how might the USGS enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (5) how might the USGS minimize the burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use of information technology. Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Abstract: The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) manages eight Department of the Interior (DOI) Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers (CASCs). Each CASC involves a cooperative agreement with a host institution. The host institution agreements are periodically re-competed, requiring collection of information from potential host institutions. In addition, this information collection addresses quarterly and annual reporting required of host institutions. Title of Collection: Department of the Interior Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers. OMB Control Number: 1028–0096. Form Number: N/A. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PO 00000 Frm 00042 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 55581 Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection. Respondents/Affected Public: Institutions that are expected to propose to serve as CASC host or partner institutions include state, local government, and tribal entities, including academic institutions. Existing host institutions are state academic institutions. Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: The USGS expects to request proposals for a maximum of three CASCs in any year, and to receive an average of 5 proposals per CASCrequest, for a total of 15 proposals in any single year. The USGS expects to enter into hosting agreements with a minimum of eight CASC host institutions. Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: The USGS would request quarterly financial statements and annual progress reports covering host agreements from eight institutions. In addition, the USGS expects to have in place approximately 40 cooperative agreements per year addressing specific research projects funded under these hosting agreements. Each of these 40 agreements requires quarterly financial statements and one annual progress report. Estimated Completion Time per Response: Each proposal for CASC hosting is expected to take 200 hours to complete. The time required to complete quarterly and annual reports for any specific host cooperative agreement or research project agreement is expected to total 2.5 hours per report. Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: A maximum of 3120 hours in years when proposals are requested, and 120 hours in those years with only quarterly and annual reporting. Respondent’s Obligation: Required to Obtain or Retain a Benefit. Frequency of Collection: Information will be collected one time every five years (approximately) for each CASC, to enable re-competition of CASC hosting agreements. In addition, host institutions are required to fill four quarterly financial statements and one annual progress report. Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: There are no ‘‘non-hour cost’’ burdens associated with this collection of information. An agency may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. E:\FR\FM\17OCN1.SGM 17OCN1 55582 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 201 / Thursday, October 17, 2019 / Notices The authority for this action is the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq). Thomas Beard, Chief, National Climate Adaptation Science Center. [FR Doc. 2019–22610 Filed 10–16–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4338–11–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Indian Affairs [190A2100DD/AAKC001030/ A0A501010.999900] HEARTH Act Approval of Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin Regulations Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: On July 25, 2019, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) approved the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin (Tribe) Leasing Regulations under the Helping Expedite and Advance Responsible Tribal Homeownership Act of 2012 (HEARTH Act). With this approval, the Tribe is authorized to enter into agricultural, residential, business, and other authorized purposes leases without further BIA approval. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Sharlene Round Face, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Division of Real Estate Services, 1849 C Street NW, MS 4624–MIB, Washington, DC at (505) 563–3132. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: I. Summary of the HEARTH Act The HEARTH Act makes a voluntary, alternative land leasing process available to Tribes, by amending the Indian Long-Term Leasing Act of 1955, 25 U.S.C. 415. The HEARTH Act authorizes Tribes to negotiate and enter into agricultural and business leases of Tribal trust lands with a primary term of 25 years, and up to two renewal terms of 25 years each, without the approval of the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary). The HEARTH Act also authorizes Tribes to enter into leases for residential, recreational, religious or educational purposes for a primary term of up to 75 years without the approval of the Secretary. Participating Tribes develop Tribal leasing regulations, including an environmental review process, and then must obtain the Secretary’s approval of those regulations prior to entering into leases. The HEARTH Act requires the Secretary to approve Tribal regulations if the Tribal regulations are consistent with the Department of the Interior’s VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:26 Oct 16, 2019 Jkt 250001 (Department) leasing regulations at 25 CFR part 162 and provide for an environmental review process that meets requirements set forth in the HEARTH Act. This notice announces that the Secretary, through the Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs, has approved the Tribal regulations for the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin. II. Federal Preemption of State and Local Taxes The Department’s regulations governing the surface leasing of trust and restricted Indian lands specify that, subject to applicable Federal law, permanent improvements on leased land, leasehold or possessory interests, and activities under the lease are not subject to State and local taxation and may be subject to taxation by the Indian Tribe with jurisdiction. See 25 CFR 162.017. As explained further in the preamble to the final regulations, the Federal government has a strong interest in promoting economic development, self-determination, and Tribal sovereignty. 77 FR 72440, 72447–48 (December 5, 2012). The principles supporting the Federal preemption of State law in the field of Indian leasing and the taxation of lease-related interests and activities applies with equal force to leases entered into under Tribal leasing regulations approved by the Federal government pursuant to the HEARTH Act. Section 5 of the Indian Reorganization Act, 25 U.S.C. 5108, preempts State and local taxation of permanent improvements on trust land. Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation v. Thurston County, 724 F.3d 1153, 1157 (9th Cir. 2013) (citing Mescalero Apache Tribe v. Jones, 411 U.S. 145 (1973)). Similarly, section 5108 preempts State taxation of rent payments by a lessee for leased trust lands, because ‘‘tax on the payment of rent is indistinguishable from an impermissible tax on the land.’’ See Seminole Tribe of Florida v. Stranburg, No. 14–14524, *13–*17, n.8 (11th Cir. 2015). In addition, as explained in the preamble to the revised leasing regulations at 25 CFR part 162, Federal courts have applied a balancing test to determine whether State and local taxation of non-Indians on the reservation is preempted. White Mountain Apache Tribe v. Bracker, 448 U.S. 136, 143 (1980). The Bracker balancing test, which is conducted against a backdrop of ‘‘traditional notions of Indian self- government,’’ requires a particularized examination of the relevant State, Federal, and Tribal interests. We hereby adopt the Bracker analysis from the preamble to the PO 00000 Frm 00043 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 surface leasing regulations, 77 FR at 72447–48, as supplemented by the analysis below. The strong Federal and Tribal interests against State and local taxation of improvements, leaseholds, and activities on land leased under the Department’s leasing regulations apply equally to improvements, leaseholds, and activities on land leased pursuant to Tribal leasing regulations approved under the HEARTH Act. Congress’s overarching intent was to ‘‘allow Tribes to exercise greater control over their own land, support self-determination, and eliminate bureaucratic delays that stand in the way of homeownership and economic development in Tribal communities.’’ 158 Cong. Rec. H. 2682 (May 15, 2012). The HEARTH Act was intended to afford Tribes ‘‘flexibility to adapt lease terms to suit [their] business and cultural needs’’ and to ‘‘enable [Tribes] to approve leases quickly and efficiently.’’ Id. at 5–6. Assessment of State and local taxes would obstruct these express Federal policies supporting Tribal economic development and self-determination, and also threaten substantial Tribal interests in effective Tribal government, economic self-sufficiency, and territorial autonomy. See Michigan v. Bay Mills Indian Community, 134 S. Ct. 2024, 2043 (2014) (Sotomayor, J., concurring) (determining that ‘‘[a] key goal of the Federal Government is to render Tribes more self-sufficient, and better positioned to fund their own sovereign functions, rather than relying on Federal funding’’). The additional costs of State and local taxation have a chilling effect on potential lessees, as well as on a tribe that, as a result, might refrain from exercising its own sovereign right to impose a Tribal tax to support its infrastructure needs. See id. at 2043–44 (finding that State and local taxes greatly discourage Tribes from raising tax revenue from the same sources because the imposition of double taxation would impede Tribal economic growth). Similar to BIA’s surface leasing regulations, Tribal regulations under the HEARTH Act pervasively cover all aspects of leasing. See 25 U.S.C. 415(h)(3)(B)(i) (requiring Tribal regulations be consistent with BIA surface leasing regulations). Furthermore, the Federal government remains involved in the Tribal land leasing process by approving the Tribal leasing regulations in the first instance and providing technical assistance, upon request by a tribe, for the development of an environmental review process. The Secretary also retains authority to take any necessary E:\FR\FM\17OCN1.SGM 17OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 201 (Thursday, October 17, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55581-55582]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-22610]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Geological Survey

[GX19 EN05ESB0500; OMB Control Number 1028-0096/Renewal]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Comments; 
Department of the Interior Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers

AGENCY: U.S. Geological Survey, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Information Collection; request for comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, 
the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) are proposing to renew an information 
collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
December 16, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments on this information collection request 
(ICR) by mail to U.S. Geological Survey, Information Collections 
Officer, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive MS 159, Reston, VA 20192; or by 
email to [email protected]. Please reference OMB Control 
Number 1028-0096 in the subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact Doug Beard, Chief of the USGS National Climate 
Adaptation Science Center, by email at [email protected], or by telephone 
at 703-648-5212.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, we provide the general public and other Federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on new, proposed, revised, and 
continuing collections of information. This helps us assess the impact 
of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's 
reporting burden. It also helps the public understand our information 
collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired 
format.
    We are soliciting comments on the proposed ICR that is described 
below. We are especially interested in public comment addressing the 
following issues: (1) Is the collection necessary to the proper 
functions of the USGS; (2) will this information be processed and used 
in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) how 
might the USGS enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (5) how might the USGS minimize the 
burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use 
of information technology.
    Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request 
to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone 
number, email address, or other personal identifying information in 
your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including 
your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available 
at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your 
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.
    Abstract: The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) manages eight 
Department of the Interior (DOI) Regional Climate Adaptation Science 
Centers (CASCs). Each CASC involves a cooperative agreement with a host 
institution. The host institution agreements are periodically re-
competed, requiring collection of information from potential host 
institutions. In addition, this information collection addresses 
quarterly and annual reporting required of host institutions.
    Title of Collection: Department of the Interior Regional Climate 
Adaptation Science Centers.
    OMB Control Number: 1028-0096.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Institutions that are expected to 
propose to serve as CASC host or partner institutions include state, 
local government, and tribal entities, including academic institutions. 
Existing host institutions are state academic institutions.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: The USGS expects to 
request proposals for a maximum of three CASCs in any year, and to 
receive an average of 5 proposals per CASC-request, for a total of 15 
proposals in any single year. The USGS expects to enter into hosting 
agreements with a minimum of eight CASC host institutions.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: The USGS would request 
quarterly financial statements and annual progress reports covering 
host agreements from eight institutions. In addition, the USGS expects 
to have in place approximately 40 cooperative agreements per year 
addressing specific research projects funded under these hosting 
agreements. Each of these 40 agreements requires quarterly financial 
statements and one annual progress report.
    Estimated Completion Time per Response: Each proposal for CASC 
hosting is expected to take 200 hours to complete. The time required to 
complete quarterly and annual reports for any specific host cooperative 
agreement or research project agreement is expected to total 2.5 hours 
per report.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: A maximum of 3120 
hours in years when proposals are requested, and 120 hours in those 
years with only quarterly and annual reporting.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to Obtain or Retain a Benefit.
    Frequency of Collection: Information will be collected one time 
every five years (approximately) for each CASC, to enable re-
competition of CASC hosting agreements. In addition, host institutions 
are required to fill four quarterly financial statements and one annual 
progress report.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: There are no ``non-hour 
cost'' burdens associated with this collection of information.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required 
to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a 
currently valid OMB control number.

[[Page 55582]]

    The authority for this action is the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq).

Thomas Beard,
Chief, National Climate Adaptation Science Center.
[FR Doc. 2019-22610 Filed 10-16-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4338-11-P


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