[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 86 (Monday, May 5, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24505-24507]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-11570]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs


Grant Availability to Federally Recognized Indian Tribes for 
Projects Implementing Traffic Safety on Indian Reservations

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Indian Affairs intends to make funds available 
to Federally recognized Indian tribes on an annual basis for the 
purpose of implementing traffic safety projects which are designed to 
reduce the number of traffic accidents within Indian Country. Due to 
the limited funding available for this program, all projects will be 
reviewed and selected on a competitive basis. This notice informs 
Indian tribes that grant funds are available. Information packets were 
distributed in February 1997, to all tribal leaders on the latest 
tribal leaders list.

DATES: Requests for funds must be received by June 1 of each program 
year.

ADDRESSES: Each tribe must submit its request to the Bureau of Indian 
Affairs, Division of Safety Management, Attention: Indian Highway 
Safety Program Coordinator, 505 Marquette Avenue, NW, Suite 1705, 
Albuquerque, NM 87102.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tribes should direct questions 
concerning the grant program to Larry Archambeau, the Bureau's Indian 
Highway Safety Program Coordinator or to Charles L. Jaynes, Program 
Administrator, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 505 Marquette Avenue, NW, 
Suite 1705, Albuquerque, NM 87102, Telephone (505) 248-5053.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1973 (Pub. L. 93-87) provides for 
U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) funding to assist Indian tribes 
in implementing Highway Safety Projects. These projects are designed to 
reduce the number of traffic crashes and their resulting fatalities, 
injuries, and property damage within Indian reservations. All 
Federally-recognized Indian tribes on Indian reservations are eligible 
to receive this assistance. All tribes receiving awards of program 
funds are reimbursed for costs incurred under the terms of 23 U.S.C. 
Sec. 402 and subsequent amendments.

Responsibilities

    For purposes of application of the Act, Indian reservations are 
collectively considered a ``State'' and the Secretary, U.S. Department 
of the Interior (DOI), is considered the ``Governor of a State.'' The 
Secretary, DOI, delegated the authority to administer the programs 
throughout all the Indian reservations in the United States to the 
Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs. The Assistant Secretary-Indian 
Affairs further delegated the responsibility for primary administration 
of the Indian Highway Safety Program to the Central Office, Division of 
Safety Management (DSM), located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Chief, 
DSM as program administrator of the Indian Highway Safety Program, has 
two full-time staff members to assist in program matters and provide 
technical assistance to the Indian tribes. It is at this level that 
contacts with the DOT are made with respect to program approval, 
funding of projects and technical assistance. DOT, through the National 
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the Federal Highway 
Administration (FHWA), is responsible for ensuring that the Indian 
Highway Safety Program is carried out in accordance with 23 U.S.C. 402 
and other applicable Federal statutes and regulations.
    NHTSA is responsible for the apportionment of funds to the 
Secretary of the Interior, review and approval of the Indian Highway 
Safety Plan involving NHTSA highway safety program areas and technical 
guidance and assistance to BIA.
    FHWA is responsible for review and approval of the Indian Highway 
Safety Plan involving FHWA highway safety program areas and technical 
guidance and assistance to BIA.

Program Areas

    The Surface Transportation and Uniform Relocation Assistance Act of 
1987, 23 USC 402(j), required DOT to conduct a rulemaking process to 
determine those programs most effective in reducing traffic crashes, 
injuries, and fatalities. Those programs areas were determined to be 
national priority program areas, and include the following:
    (1) NHTSA Program areas:
    (a) Alcohol and Other Drug Countermeasures;
    (b) Police Traffic Services;
    (c) Occupant Protection;
    (d) Traffic Records; and
    (e) Emergency Medical Services.
    (2) FHWA Program Area: Roadway Safety.
    (3) NHTSA and FHWA Program Area: Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety.

Funding Criteria

    The Bureau of Indian Affairs will reimburse for eligible costs 
associated with the following:
    (1) Alcohol and Other Drug Countermeasure--salary (DWI enforcement 
officer); enforcement/education; NHTSA--approved training; approved 
breath-testing equipment (must be included on most recent Consumer 
Products List published by NHTSA); community/school alcohol traffic 
safety education; DWI offender education; prosecution; adjudication; 
and vehicle expenses.
    (2) Police Traffic Services--salary (traffic enforcement/
education); traffic law enforcement/radar training; speed enforcement 
equipment (must be listed on Consumer Products List published by 
NHTSA); community/school education; and vehicle expenses.
    (3) Occupant Protection: 
    (a) Child passenger safety--child car seat loaner program; car seat 
transportation/storage, and public information/education.
    (b) Community seat belt program--salary; education/promotional 
materials;

[[Page 24506]]

office expense, and NHTSA-approved Occupant Protection Usage and 
Enforcement (OPUE) training.
    (4) Traffic-Records--salary; computerized equipment.
    (5) Emergency Medical Services--training; public information 
education.
    (6) Roadway Safety--traffic signs (warning, regulatory, workzone); 
hardware and sign posts.
    (7) Community Traffic Safety Projects (CTSP)--project management; 
public information and education training; law enforcement; 
prosecution; djudication; data management.

Project Guidelines

    BIA will send information packets to the tribes in the month of 
February of each program year. Upon receipt of the information packet, 
each tribe should prepare a proposed project based upon the following 
guidelines:
    (1) Program Planning. Program planning shall be based upon the 
highway safety problems identified and countermeasures selected by the 
tribe for the purpose of reducing traffic crash factors.
    (2) Problem Identification. Highway traffic safety problems shall 
be identified from the best data available. This data may be found in 
tribal enforcement records on traffic crashes. Other sources of data 
include ambulance records, court and police arrest records. The problem 
identification process may be aided by using professional opinions of 
personnel in law enforcement, Indian Health Service, driver education, 
road engineers, etc. This data should accompany the funding request. 
Impact problems should be indicated during the identification process. 
An impact problem is a highway safety problem that contributes to car 
crashes, fatalities and/or injuries, and one which may be corrected by 
the application of countermeasures. Impact problems can be identified 
from analysis of statewide and/or tribal traffic records. The analyses 
should consider, as a minimum: pedestrian, motorcycle, bicycle, 
passenger car, school bus, and truck accidents; records on problem 
drivers, roadside and roadway hazards, alcohol involvement, youth 
involvement, defective vehicle involvement, suspended or revoked driver 
involvement, speed involvement, and child safety seat usage. Data 
should accompany the funding request.
    (3) Countermeasures Selection. When tribal highway traffic safety 
problems are identified, the tribe must develop appropriate 
countermeasures to solve or reduce the problems. The tribe should take 
into account the overall cost of the countermeasures versus their 
possible effect on the problem.
    (4) Objectives/Performance Indicator. After countermeasure 
selection, the objective(s) of the project must be expressed in clearly 
defined, time-framed and measurable terms.
    (5) Budget Format. The activities to be funded shall be outlined 
according to the following object groups: personnel services, travel, 
and transportation, rent/communications, printing and reproduction, 
other services, equipment, and training. Each object group shall be 
quantified, i.e., personnel activities should show number to be 
employed, hours to be employed, hourly rate of pay, etc. Each object 
group shall have sufficient detail to show what is to be procured, unit 
cost, quarter in which the procurement is to be made and the total 
cost, including any tribal contribution to the project.
    (6) Evaluation Plan. Evaluation is the process of determining 
whether a highway safety activity should be undertaken, if it is being 
properly conducted, and if it has accomplished its objectives. The 
tribe must include in the funding request a plan explaining how the 
evaluation will be accomplished and identifying the criteria to be used 
in measuring performance.
    (7) Technical Assistance. The Indian Highway Safety Program staff 
will be available to tribes for technical assistance in the development 
of tribal projects.
    (8) Section 402 Project Length. Section 402 funds may not be used 
to fund the same project at one location or jurisdiction for more than 
3 years.
    (9) Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace Requirement. Indian 
tribes receiving highway safety grants through the Indian Highway 
Safety Program must certify that they will maintain a drug-free 
workplace. The certification must be signed by an individual authorized 
to sign for the tribe or reservation. The certification must be 
received by the Department of Transportation before it will release 
grant funds for that tribe or reservation. The certification must be 
submitted with the tribal Highway Safety Project proposal.

Submission Deadline

    Each tribe must submit its funding request to the BIA Indian 
Highway Safety Program, Albuquerque, New Mexico. The request must be 
received by the Indian Highway Safety Program by June 1 of each program 
year. Requests for extension to this deadline will not be granted. 
Modifications of the funding request received after the close of the 
funding period will not be considered in the review and selection 
processes.

Notification of Selection

    The tribes selected to participate will be notified by letter. Each 
tribe selected must include in its proposal a certification regarding 
drug-free workplace requirements and a duly authorized tribal 
resolution. The certification and resolution must be on file before 
grant funds for the tribe or reservations can be released.

Notification of Non-Selection

    The Program Administrator will notify each tribe of non-selection. 
The tribe will be provided the reason for non-selection.

Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grant-in-Aid

    Uniform grant administration procedures have been established on a 
national basis for all grant-in-aid programs by DOT/NHTSA under 49 CFR 
part 18, ``Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and 
Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments''. Uniform 
procedures for State Highway Safety Programs have been codified by 
NHTSA and FHWA in 23 CFR parts 1200, 1204, and 1205. Cost principles 
applicable to grants and contracts with State and local government have 
been established by OMB Circular A-87 and NHTSA Order 462-13A. It is 
the responsibility of the Indian Highway Safety Program to establish 
operating procedures consistent with the applicable provisions of these 
rules.

Standards for Financial Management System

    Tribal financial management systems must provide for:
    (1) Accurate, current, and complete disclosure of financial results 
of the Highway Safety Project.
    (2) Adequate recordkeeping.
    (3) Control over and accountability for all funds and assets.
    (4) Comparison of actual with budgeted amounts.
    (5) Documentation of accounting records.
    (6) Appropriate auditing. Highway Safety Projects will be included 
in the tribal A-128 single audit requirement.
    Tribes will provide a quarterly financial and a program status 
report to the Bureau's Indian Highway Safety Program Coordinator, 505 
Marquette Avenue, NW, Suite 1705, Albuquerque, NM 87102. These reports 
will be submitted no later than 7 days beyond the reporting month.

[[Page 24507]]

Project Monitoring

    During the program year, it is the responsibility of the BIA Indian 
Highway Safety Program to maintain a degree of project oversight, 
provide technical assistance as needed to assist the project in 
fulfilling its objectives, and assure that grant provisions are 
complied.

Project Evaluation

    BIA will conduct a performance evaluation for each Highway Safety 
Project. The evaluation will measure the actual accomplishments to the 
planned activity. BIA will evaluate the project on-site at the 
discretion of the Indian Highway Safety Program Administrator.

    Dated: April 24, 1997.
 Ada E. Deer,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 97-11570 Filed 5-2-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-02-P