[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 249 (Friday, December 27, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79129-79130]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-32665]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of the Secretary


Consultation Meetings on the Department of the Interior's 
Financial Assistance Programs

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of public regional consultation meetings on the Federal 
Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 1999 (Public Law 
106-107).

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Interior is conducting several regional 
consultation meetings to implement the Federal Financial Assistance 
Management Improvement Act of 1999. The meetings are designed to give 
interested members of the public a chance to comment on the 
Department's financial assistance programs and offer suggestions for 
changes. We encourage any interested individuals or organizations to 
participate by attending the consultations or by providing written 
comments. We are especially interested in comments by current financial 
assistance recipients and applicants.

DATES: See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for dates of meetings.

ADDRESSES: Meetings will be held in San Diego, California; Albuquerque, 
New Mexico; Honolulu, Hawaii; and Washington, DC. See the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section for the locations of the meetings.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tammy Pataluna, telephone: 202-208-
4080, e-mail: [email protected], mailing address: 1849 C 
Street, NW., Mail Stop 5512, Washington, DC 20240, website: http://www.doi.gov/pam/Grantcomment.html.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department is conducting regional 
consultation meetings to discuss the Federal Financial Assistance 
Management Improvement Act of 1999 (Public Law 106-107) (the ``Act''). 
The Act requires federal agencies to improve the effectiveness and 
performance of federal financial assistance programs; simplify federal 
financial assistance application and reporting requirements; improve 
the delivery of services to the public; and facilitate greater 
coordination among those responsible for delivering such services. The 
Act requires agencies to receive comments from the public and to 
consult with representatives of non-Federal entities regarding the 
development of a plan to simplify their financial assistance programs. 
The Department has already participated in a government-wide 
consultation and is now seeking information specific to Interior's 
programs. At these meetings, the Department will explain its financial 
assistance programs and application requirements and solicit 
suggestions for improvements that it can make. If you or an 
organization that you represent has an interest in the Department's 
financial assistance programs, we encourage you to attend these 
meetings and participate in the consultation process.
    The following bureaus and offices of the Department are sponsoring 
the consultation meetings: The Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Bureau of 
Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, the Minerals Management 
Service, the National Business Center, the National Park Service, the 
Office of Acquisition and Property Management, the Office of the 
Assistant Secretary for Policy Management and Budget, the Office of 
Insular Affairs, the Office of Surface Mining, the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Geological Survey. The meeting in 
Honolulu is specifically geared toward organizations and individuals 
interested in obtaining, and authorized to obtain, financial assistance 
from the Department's Office of Insular Affairs. The second 
consultation scheduled in Albuquerque, NM, (February 5, 2003, 1 p.m.) 
is specifically for organizations, individuals and Tribes interested in 
obtaining further information on the Bureau of Indian Affairs' grants 
and financial assistance process. The following table shows the dates 
and times of the regional meetings. For the convenience of those who 
require accommodations, we have reserved hotel rooms at a special 
reduced rate at each meeting location. To obtain the special rate, 
contact the hotel following the instructions given in the table. Be 
sure to mention that you want the special rate for Consultation Under 
Public Law 106-107. For further information, contact Tammy Pataluna at 
the number or address shown in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
section.

[[Page 79130]]



 
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                                                    How to reserve hotel
  Date and times of meeting    Location of meeting          rooms
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January 29, 2003, 9:30 a.m.   Catamaran Resort,     Call the Catamaran
 to 5 p.m., January 30,        3999 Mission Blvd.,   Resort at 800-530-
 2003, 9:30 a.m. to noon.      San Diego,            8725. To receive
                               California 92109.     the special rate,
                                                     you must make
                                                     reservations by
                                                     January 13, 2003.
February 4, 2003, 9:30 a.m.   Doubletree Hotel,     Call the Doubletree
 to 5 p.m., February 5,        Albuquerque, New      Hotel at 888-223-
 2003, 9:30 a.m. to noon.      Mexico 87102.         4113. To receive
                                                     the special rate,
                                                     you must make
                                                     reservations by
                                                     January 13, 2003.
February 5, 2003, 1 p.m. to   Doubletree Hotel,     Call the Doubletree
 5 p.m., February 6, 2003,     Albuquerque, New      Hotel at 888-223-
 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.           Mexico 87102.         4113. To receive
                                                     the special rate,
                                                     you must make
                                                     reservations by
                                                     January 13, 2003.
February 19, 2003, 9:30 a.m.  Hilton Hawaiian       Call the Hilton
 to 5 p.m., February 20,       Village, 2005 Kalia   Hawaiian Village at
 2003, 9:30 a.m. to noon.      Road, Honolulu,       808-949-4321. To
                               Hawaii 96815.         receive the special
                                                     rate, you must make
                                                     reservations by
                                                     February 3, 2003.
March 18, 2003, 9:30 a.m. to  South Interior        Call the State Plaza
 5 p.m., March 19, 2003,       Building, 1951        Hotel, 2117 E
 9:30 a.m. to noon.            Constitution          Street, NW., at 800-
                               Avenue, NW.,          424-2859. To
                               Washington, DC        receive the special
                               20240.                rate, you must make
                                                     reservations by
                                                     February 21, 2003.
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    Dated: December 20, 2002.
Debra E. Sonderman,
Director, Office of Acquisition and Property Management.
[FR Doc. 02-32665 Filed 12-26-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-RK-P