[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 173 (Thursday, September 8, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53379-53381]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-17824]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs


Indian Reservation Roads Program Coordinating Committee

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of the formulation of the Indian Reservation Roads 
Program Coordinating Committee under 25 CFR 170.155-158.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary of the Interior is appointing tribal regional 
representatives to the Indian Reservation Roads (IRR) Program 
Coordinating Committee (Committee) as outlined under 25 CFR 170. The 
IRR final rules amending 25 CFR 170 include establishing a Committee to 
provide input and recommendations to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) 
and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in developing IRR Program 
policies and procedures and to coordinate with and obtain input from 
tribes, BIA, and FHWA.
    The Secretary announced on February 13, 2005, the request for 
nominations from tribal governments for representatives and alternates 
to serve on the Committee. Based on review of those nominations, the 
Secretary is announcing the representatives who will serve on the 
Committee in each of the 12 BIA regions.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. LeRoy Gishi, Chief, Division of 
Transportation, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 1951 Constitution Avenue, 
NW., Mail Stop 20-SIB, Washington, DC 20240, Telephone 202-513-7711 or 
Fax 202-208-4696.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The IRR final rules amending 25 CFR 170, 
effective November 13, 2004, are the

[[Page 53380]]

result of negotiated rulemaking between tribal and Federal 
representatives under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st 
Century (TEA-21). The IRR final rules include the negotiated rulemaking 
committee's recommendation that the Secretary of the Interior and the 
Secretary of Transportation establish an IRR Program Coordinating 
Committee to provide input and recommendations to BIA and FHWA in 
developing IRR Program policies and to coordinate with and obtain input 
from tribes, BIA, and FHWA. As recommended, the Committee will consist 
of 12 tribal regional representatives (one from each BIA region) and 
two non-voting Federal representatives (from BIA and FHWA). In addition 
to the 12 tribal regional representatives, the Committee will include 
one alternate from each BIA region who will attend Committee meetings 
in the absence of the tribal regional representative. Each tribal 
regional representative must be a tribal governmental official or 
employee with authority to act for the tribal government.
    The Secretary must select regional tribal representatives and 
alternates from nominees officially proposed by the region's tribes. 
The Secretary will appoint the initial tribal regional representatives 
and alternates from each BIA region to either a 1-, 2- or 3-year 
appointment in order to establish a yearly, one-third change in tribal 
regional representatives. All appointments thereafter will be for 3-
year terms. To the extent possible, the Secretary must make the 
selection so that there is representation from a broad cross-section of 
large, medium, and small tribes. The Secretary of the Interior will 
provide guidance for the replacement of representatives.
    The Secretary has selected 12 representatives from the regional 
nominees. In addition, 11 alternates have also been selected by the 
Secretary. No additional candidates were submitted by the Eastern 
Region tribes. The Secretary will entertain separate nominations from 
the tribes of Eastern Region. An orientation meeting for the primary 
and alternate committee members will be held at the BIA Southwest 
Regional Office, Conference Room 351, located at 1001 Indian 
School Road, NW, Albuquerque, NM, (505) 346-6834, on September 27-28, 
2005.

IRR Program Coordinating Committee Members

Primary

Pete Red Tomahawk, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Great Plains Region
Chuck Tsoodle, Kiowa Tribe, Southern Plains Region
John Smith, Wind River Tribes, Rocky Mountain Region
Ed Thomas, Central Council of Tlingit Haida, Alaska Region
James Garrigan, Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, Midwest Region
Melanie (Fourkiller) Knight, Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, Eastern 
Oklahoma Region
Erin S. Forrest, Hualapai Tribe, Western Region
Bo Mazzetti, Rincon Band of Lusieno Indians, Pacific Region
Royce Gchachu, Pueblo of Zuni, Southwest Region
Sampson Begay, Navajo Nation, Navajo Region
Michael Marchand, Confederated Tribes of the Colville, Northwest Region
Clint Hill, Oneida Indian Nation, Eastern Region

Alternates

Ed Hall, Three Affiliated Tribes of Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikira, Great 
Plains Region
Tim Ramirez, Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, Southern Plains Region
C. John Healy, Sr., Fort Belnap Indian Community, Rocky Mountain Region
Wayne Lukin, Native Village of Port Lions, Alaska Region
Alof Olson, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Indians, Midwest Region
Robert Endicott, Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, Eastern Oklahoma Region
Kent Andrews, Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community, Western Region
Peggy O'Neill, Yurok Tribe, Pacific Region
Ed Little, Mescalero Apache Tribe, Southwest Region
Wilfred Frazier, Navajo Nation, Navajo Region
Kirk Vinish, Lummi Nation, Northwest Region
No candidates submitted, Eastern Region

Federal Members

Robert Sparrow, Federal Lands Highways, Washington DC
LeRoy Gishi, BIA Division of Transportation, Washington DC

    The following table shows the term appointments by region:

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             Region                 Term            Region             Term            Region             Term
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Eastern Oklahoma...............         1   Great Plains..........         2   Southern Plains.......         3
Western........................         1   Rocky Mountain........         2   Alaska................         3
Southwest......................         1   Midwest...............         2   Pacific...............         3
Northwest......................         1   Navajo................         2   Eastern...............         3
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IRR Program Coordinating Committee Responsibilities

    The responsibilities of the Committee are to provide input and 
recommendations to BIA and FHWA during the development or revision of:
     BIA/FHWA IRR Program Stewardship Plan;
     IRR Program policy and procedures;
     IRR Program eligible activities' determinations;
     IRR Program transit policy;
     IRR Program regulations;
     IRR Program management systems policy and procedures;
     IRR Program fund distribution formula (under 25 CFR 
170.157); and
     National tribal transportation needs.
    The Committee also reviews and provides recommendations on IRR 
Program national concerns, including implementation of 25 CFR 170, as 
amended.

IRR Program Coordinating Committee Role in the Funding Process

    The Committee will provide input and recommendations to BIA and 
FHWA for:
     New IRR inventory data format and form;
     Simplified cost to construct (CTC) methodology (including 
formula calculations, formula program and design, and bid tab 
methodology);
     Cost elements;
     Over-design issues;
     Inflation impacts on $1 million cap for the Indian 
Reservation Roads High Priority Project (IRRHPP) and Emergency Projects 
(including the IRRHPP Ranking System and emergency/disaster 
expenditures report); and
     The impact of including funded but non-constructed 
projects in the CTC calculation.

[[Page 53381]]

IRR Program Coordinating Committee Conduct of Business

    The Committee will hold two meetings per fiscal year. The Committee 
may call additional meeting(s) with the consent of one-third of 
Committee members or BIA or FHWA may call additional meeting(s). A 
quorum consists of eight voting Committee members. The Committee will 
operate by consensus or majority vote, as the Committee determines in 
its protocols. The Committee must elect from among the Committee 
membership a Chair, Vice-Chair, and other officers. These officers will 
be responsible for preparing for and conducting Committee meetings and 
summarizing meeting results. The Committee may prescribe other duties 
for the officers. Any Committee member can submit an agenda item to the 
Committee Chair.

IRR Program Coordinating Committee Reporting Requirements and Budget

    The Committee must keep the Secretary and tribes informed through 
an annual accomplishment report provided within 90 days after the end 
of each fiscal year. The Committee's budget, funded through the IRR 
Program management and oversight funds, will not exceed $150,000 
annually.

    Dated: August 18, 2005.
Michael D. Olsen,
Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 05-17824 Filed 9-7-05; 8:45 am]
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