[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 105 (Monday, June 2, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32765-32766]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-13672]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs


Federal Acknowledgment of Tribes Proposed Information Collection 
Renewal; 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 September 30, 2003. As required by the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, we are seeking comments on this information collection 
before we request extension from the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget.

DATES: Submit comments on or before August 1, 2003.

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, DC 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, DC 20240. You may also call (202) 208-
3592.
    All written comments will be available for public inspection in 
Room 10 of the South Interior Building, 1951 Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC from 10 a.m. until 4 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 sovereign-to-sovereign relationship with the United States. 
Federal acknowledgment makes the group eligible for benefits from the 
Federal government.

II. Method of Collection

    The Federal acknowledgment regulations at 25 CFR Part 83 contain 
seven criteria (Sec.  83.7) which 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 sovereign-
to-sovereign 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.

III. Data

    Title: Collection of Information for Federal Acknowledgment Under 
25 CFR Part 83.
    OMB Control Number: 1076-0104.
    Expiration Date: September 30, 2003.
    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: 2,237.7 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 22,377.
    Estimated Annual Costs: $895,080 (2,237.7 hours x $40.00 per hour x 
10).

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

[[Page 32766]]

    (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 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: May 22, 2003.
Aurene M. Martin,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 03-13672 Filed 5-30-03; 8:45 am]
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