[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 63 (Friday, March 31, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17293-17294]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-8042]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs


Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment 
Request

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces that the Information Collection Request 
for Documented Petitions for Federal Acknowledgment as an Indian Tribe 
will expire July 31, 2000. As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995, we are seeking comments on this information collection before 
we seek extension from the Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget.

DATES: Submit comments on or before May 30, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Send your written comments to R. Lee Fleming, Chief, Branch 
of Acknowledgment and Research, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 1849 C 
Street, NW, MS-4660 MIB, Washington, D.C. 20240. If you wish to submit 
comments by facsimile, the number is (202) 219-3008. You may submit 
comments electronically by contacting R. Lee Fleming at (202) 208-3592. 
Please mention OMB Number 1076-0104.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information or copies of the information collection 
submission should be directed to R. Lee Fleming, Chief, Branch of 
Acknowledgment and Research, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 1849 C Street, 
NW, MS-4660 MIB, Washington, D.C. 20240, or call (202) 208-3592.
    All written comments will be available for public inspection in 
Room 4660 of the Main Interior Building, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, 
D.C. from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding 
legal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The information collection is needed to establish whether a 
petitioning group has the characteristics necessary to be acknowledged 
as having a government-to-government relationship with the United 
States. Federal recognition makes the group eligible for benefits from 
the Federal government.

II. Method of Collection

    The acknowledgment regulations at 25 CFR Part 83 contain seven 
criteria (Sec. 83.7) which unrecognized groups seeking Federal 
acknowledgment as Indian tribes must demonstrate that they meet. 
Information collected from petitioning groups under these regulations 
provide anthropological, genealogical and historical data used by the 
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs to establish whether a petitioning 
group has the characteristics necessary to be acknowledged as having a 
government-to-government relationship with the United States. 
Respondents are not required to retain copies of information submitted 
to the Bureau of Indian Affairs but will probably maintain copies for 
their own use. No periodic reports are required which would impose a 
record-keeping requirement.

III. Data

    Title: Collection of Information for Federal Acknowledgment Under 
25 CFR Part 83.
    OMB Number: 1076-0104.
    Expiration Date: July 31, 2000.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Entities: Groups petitioning for Federal acknowledgment as 
Indian tribes.
    Estimated Number of Petitioners: 10.
    Estimated Time per Petition: 2,075 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 20,750.
    Estimated Annual Costs: $830,000 (2,075 hours  x  $40.00 per hour).

IV. Request for Comments

    You are invited to comment on:
    (a) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the 
proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether 
the information will have practical utility;
    (b) The accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden (including 
hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information, including 
the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
    (c) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    (d) Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other collection techniques or 
the forms of information technology.
    Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources 
expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or 
provide information to or for a Federal agency. This includes the time 
needed to review instructions; to develop, acquire, install and utilize 
technology and systems for the purpose of collecting, validating, and 
verifying information, processing and maintaining information, and 
disclosing and providing information; to train personnel and to be able 
to respond to a collection of information, to search data sources, to 
complete and review the collection of information; and to transmit or 
otherwise disclose the information.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record. Individual 
respondents may request confidentiality. If you wish to

[[Page 17294]]

request that we consider withholding your name, street address, and 
other contact information (such as Internet address, FAX, or phone 
number) from public review or from disclosure under the Freedom of 
Information Act, you must state this prominently at the beginning of 
your comment. We will make available for public inspection in their 
entirety all submissions from organizations or businesses, and from 
individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of 
organizations or businesses.
    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.

    Dated: March 24, 2000.
Kevin Gover.
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 00-8042 Filed 3-30-00; 8:45 am]
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