[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 32 (Tuesday, February 18, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 7800]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-3830]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs


Certificate of Degree of Indian or Alaska Native Blood 
Information Collection

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed agency information collection activities; comment 
request.

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

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Indian Affairs is seeking comments from the 
public on an extension of an information collection from persons 
seeking proof of American Indian or Alaska Native blood, as required by 
the Paperwork Reduction Act. The information collected under OMB 
Clearance Number 1076-0153 will be used to establish that the 
applicants meet requirements for official recognition as an American 
Indian or Alaska native for purposes of eligibility determination and 
participation in programs administered through the U. S. Bureau of 
Indian Affairs.

DATES: Submit comments on or before April 21, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Written comments can be sent to Duane Bird Bear, Office of 
Tribal Services, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 1849 C Street, NW., Mail 
Stop: 320-SIB, Washington, DC 20240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Carolyn Newman, Tribal Government 
Services Specialist/Enrollment, at 202-513-7641.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This collection was originally approved and 
assigned OMB Control No. 1076-0153 when it was submitted with a 
proposed rulemaking, 25 CFR part 70, which was published in the Federal 
Register on April 18, 2000 (66 FR 20775). The proposed rulemaking has 
not been finalized due to numerous requests from individuals and Indian 
tribal governments for extensions of time for comments. Several 
extensions of time for the submission of public comments were granted. 
The period for public comment ended on December 31, 2001. The Bureau of 
Indian Affairs, through the development of the proposed rule, is 
attempting to bring its decision-making procedures regarding the 
issuance of CDIB forms in line with the Administrative Procedures Act, 
5 U.S.C. 553, as mandated by section 552, and as directed in the 1986 
decision of the Interior Board of Indian Appeals (IBIA), Office of 
Hearings and Appeals, U.S. Department of the Interior, in Morgan 
Underwood, Sr. v. Deputy Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs 
(Operations), 93 I.D. 13, 11 IBIA 3 (IBIA, January 31, 1986). However, 
there is legal support for the information collection in that currently 
existing federal laws and regulations require some form of proof of 
Indian blood for various purposes, including ownership of lands held in 
trust by the United States for benefit of Indian landowners who are 
members of federally-recognized Indian tribes (including Alaska Native 
villages), especially at those locations where the Indian tribe or 
Alaska native village has minimum Indian blood degree requirements for 
membership.
    The public is advised that an agency may not conduct or sponsor, 
and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information 
that does not display a valid OMB clearance number. For example, this 
collection is listed by OMB as Control No. 1076-0153, and it expires 
06/30/2003. The response is voluntary to obtain or retain a benefit.
    We are requesting comments about the proposed collection to 
evaluate:
    (a) The accuracy of the burden hours, including the validity of the 
methodology used and assumptions made;
    (b) The necessity of the information for proper performance of the 
bureau functions, including its practical utility;
    (c) The quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and
    (d) Suggestions to reduce the burden including use of automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other forms of information technology.
    Please submit your comments to the person listed in the ADDRESSES 
section. Please note that comments, names and addresses of 
commentators, are open for public review during (regular business 
hours). If you wish your name and address withheld, you must state this 
prominently at the beginning of your comments. We will honor your 
request to the extent allowable by law.
    Type of review: Renewal.
    Title: Request for Certificate of Degree of Indian or Alaska Native 
Blood.
    Affected Entities: Individual Indian Applicants.
    Size of Respondent Pool: 287,400.
    Number of Annual Responses: 287,400.
    Hours per response: 1.5.
    Total Annual Hours: 433,500.

    Dated: February 6, 2003.
Aurene M. Martin,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 03-3830 Filed 2-14-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-4J-P