[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 57 (Wednesday, March 24, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 13870]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-6533]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Replacement School Construction Priority List as of FY 2004
AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: As required by statute, the Bureau of Indian Affairs is
publishing the ``Replacement School Construction Priority List'' in the
Federal Register. The current priority list, last published in the
Federal Register on July 9 and July 18, 2003, is revised by the
addition of newly prioritized schools. The Bureau will use this list to
determine the order in which Congressional appropriations are requested
to fund education replacement construction of core academic and/or
dormitory facilities.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding the Education
Facilities Replacement Construction Priority List should be referred to
Andrew Acoya, AIA, Office of Facilities Management and Construction,
P.O. Box 1248, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87103, (505) 346-6508, Fax (505)
346-6542.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Publication of the Replacement School
Construction Priority List (Priority List) in the Federal Register is
required by 25 U.S.C. 2005(d). In addition, the Conference Report
(Report 108-330) which accompanied the Fiscal Year 2004 appropriations
for the Department of the Interior directed the Secretary of the
Interior to submit a new Priority List to Congress: ``The managers
direct that the Secretary submit a new priority list by February 15,
2004, containing a sufficient number of schools to continue the
replacement school program through fiscal year 2007. The priority list
should address the most critical needs based on the Bureau's facility
management information system.''
The process used to develop the Priority List involved
identification by the BIA of schools with critical health and safety
concerns. This identification was conducted by the BIA's Office of
Facilities Management and Construction (using the facilities management
information system), the BIA's regional facilities program, and the
Office of Indian Education Programs' facilities program. The BIA then
selected, through a competitive bid process, an independent contractor
experienced in facilities construction to conduct a site review of each
of the identified schools' core academic and/or dormitory facility. The
independent contractor then rated each school based on the following
criteria, in order of priority: (1) Health and safety deficiencies, (2)
environmental deficiencies, (3) accessibility for persons with
disabilities, and (4) condition of existing utilities and site
improvements. The Priority List includes 14 schools considered in most
need of replacement of their core academic and/or dormitory facilities.
Complete replacement of the entire school facility may not be
necessary.
The BIA will begin the advance planning and design process for
these schools to determine the scope and cost of each replacement
project. This list will be more than sufficient to continue the
replacement school construction program through FY 2007. Funding and
scheduling for these projects is contingent on the budget process. In
addition, any school placed on the Priority List is eligible for the
Tribal School Construction Demonstration Program. Participation in this
program would expedite the funding and scheduling for school
replacement projects.
Under Section 1125(a)(5) of the No Child Left Behind Act (Pub. L.
107-110), the Secretary is required to conduct negotiated rulemaking
regarding Indian school construction. This negotiated rulemaking may
impact future replacement school construction priorities.
Schools placed on the previously published ``Education Facilities
Construction Priority List as of FY 2003,'' published in the Federal
Register on July 9, 2003 (68 FR 40996) and July 18, 2003 (68 FR 42815)
that were not yet fully funded for construction are retained. In
accordance with Congressional directives, the projects listed do not
provide for the funding of new schools, grade level expansions, and
charter schools.
This notice is published under authority delegated by the Secretary
of the Interior to the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs in the
Departmental Manual at 209 DM 8.
Replacement School Construction Priority List
1. Dilcon Community School
2. Porcupine Day School
3. Crown Point/T'iists'oozi'bi'olta Community School
4. Muckleshoot Tribal School
5. Dennehotso Boarding School
6. Circle of Life Survival School
7. Keams Canyon Elementary School
8. Rough Rock Community School
9. Crow Creek Elementary/Middle/High School
10. Kaibeto Boarding School
11. Blackfeet Dormitory
12. Beatrice Rafferty School
13. Little Singer Community School
14. Cove Day School
Dated: March 9, 2004.
Dave Anderson,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 04-6533 Filed 3-23-04; 8:45 am]
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