[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 229 (Wednesday, November 27, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70963-70964]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-30019]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs


Proposed Agency Information Collection; Request for Comments

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Department 
of the Interior is seeking extension of an Information Collection 
Request (ICR) for grantees participating in the Public Law 102-477 
program, OMB Control No. 1076-0135. The Department invites public 
comments on the subject proposal described below.

DATES: Submit written comments regarding this proposal on or before 
January 27, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Mail comments to George Gover, Director, Office of Economic 
Development, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior, 1849 
C Street, NW., MS-4640-MIB, Washington, DC 20240.

[[Page 70964]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instructions should be directed to 
Lynn Forcia, Office of Economic Development, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 
Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street, NW., MS-4640-MIB, 
Washington, DC 20240, at (202)-219-5270 (This is not a toll-free 
number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The information collection is needed to document satisfactory 
compliance with statutory requirements of the various integrated 
programs. Public Law 102-477 authorizes tribal governments to integrate 
federally funded employment, training and related services programs 
into a single, coordinated, comprehensive service delivery plan. 
Funding agencies include the Department of the Interior, Department of 
Labor and the Department of Health and Human Services. The Bureau of 
Indian Affairs is statutorily required to serve as the lead agency. 
Section 11 of this Act requires that the Secretary of the Interior make 
available a single universal report format which shall be used by a 
tribal government to report on integrated activities and expenditures 
undertaken. The Bureau of Indian Affairs shares the information 
collected from these reports with the Department of Labor and 
Department of Health and Human Services.

II. Method of Collection

    Public Law 102-477 grantees are required to complete a single 
universal report format including the annual submission of two single 
page, one-sided report forms and one narrative report, using five pages 
of instructions. This reporting format was initially developed in 1993 
and replaced 166 pages of instructions and forms representing three 
different agencies with related employment, training, education and 
welfare reform programs.
    Federal partners have now further reduced their reporting 
requirements for the separate programs and now require approximately 
142 pages of instructions and forms total each year. The Public Law 
102-477 initiative requires five pages per year of forms and 
instructions. All tribes must also review instructions and complete 
annually approximately 62 pages of Department of Health and Human 
Services, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), program forms 
and instructions. We have not been able to successfully integrate TANF 
reporting with Public Law 102-477 reporting. In addition, four pages of 
reports and instructions must be completed by tribes annually for the 
Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance program for determination 
of allocation of funds. Therefore, tribes participating in Public Law 
102-477 currently experience a 50 percent reduction in reporting forms 
and instructions than if they implemented all programs separately. This 
reduction is consistent with the Paperwork Reduction Act and goals of 
the National Performance Review.
    The statistical report and narrative report will be used to 
demonstrate how well a plan was executed in comparison to its proposed 
goals. This one page, universal report plus narrative satisfies 
requirements of the Department of Health and Human Services, Department 
of Labor and the Department of the Interior.
    The financial status report will be used to track cash flow, and 
will allow an analysis of activities versus expenditures and 
expenditures to approved budget. It is a slightly modified SF-269-A 
(short form).
    These two report forms and the narrative satisfy requirements of 
the Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Labor and 
the Department of the Interior. The revised forms reduce the burden on 
tribal governments by consolidating data collection for employment, 
training, education, child care and related service programs. The 
reports are due annually. These forms, developed within a partnership 
between participating tribes and representatives of all three Federal 
agencies, standardize terms and definitions, eliminate duplication and 
reduce frequency of collection.

III. Data

    Title: A Reporting System for Public Law 102-477 Demonstration 
Project.
    OMB Control Number: 1076-0135.
    Respondents: Tribes participating in Public Law 102-477 will report 
annually. As of October 1, 2002, we anticipate there will be 48 
grantees representing approximately 220 federally-recognized tribes 
participating in the program.
    Burden: We estimate that completion of the reporting requirements 
will require 16 hours per year to complete for each grantee. The total 
hour burden will be 768 hours.

IV. Request for Comments

    The existing reporting procedure was initially developed in 1993 
with the active participation from Department of Labor, Department of 
Health and Human Services and tribal representatives. Since that time, 
the forms were modified once to accommodate the Department of Labor's 
Welfare-to-Work program.
    Comments may include:
    (a) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the 
proper performance of the functions of the bureau, including whether 
the information will have practical utility;
    (b) The accuracy of the bureau's estimate of the burden of the 
collection of information, including the validity of the methodology 
and assumptions used;
    (c) The quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and
    (d) How to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated 
electronic, mechanical, or other forms of information technology.
    Comments should refer to the proposal by name and/or OMB Control 
Number and should be sent to Lynn Forcia, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 
Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street, NW., MS-4660-MIB, 
Washington, DC 20240. Tribal consultation will be also be sought in 
January at the next regularly scheduled Public Law 102-477 Tribal Work 
Group meeting to be held in Washington, DC.
    All written comments, names and addresses of commentators will be 
available for public inspection in Room 4644 of the Main Interior 
Building, 1849 C Street, NW., Washington, DC from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. If you want us to 
withhold your name and address you must state that prominently at the 
beginning of your comment. We will honor your request to the extent 
allowable by law. Please note that an agency may not conduct or 
sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, an information 
collection request that does not have a currently valid expiration 
date.

    Dated: November 18, 2002.
Neal A. McCaleb,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 02-30019 Filed 11-26-02; 8:45 am]
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