[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 90 (Wednesday, May 10, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27275-27276]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-7061]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians


Notice of Proposed Information Collection

AGENCY: Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians, Interior.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of the Special Trustee for American 
Indians, Department of the Interior, announces

[[Page 27276]]

the proposed extension of a public information collection required by 
The American Indian Trust Fund Management Reform Act of 1994, 
``Application to Withdraw Tribal Funds from Trust Status, 25 CFR 
1200,'' OMB Control No. 1035-0003, and that it is seeking comments on 
its provisions. After public review, the Office of the Special Trustee 
for American Indians will submit the information collection to Office 
of Management and Budget for review and approval.

DATES: Consideration will be given to all comments received by July 10, 
2006.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations on the proposed 
information collection should be sent to the Office of the Special 
Trustee for American Indians, Office of External Affairs, Attn: Carrie 
Moore, Department of the Interior, MS 5140 MIB, 1849 C St, NW., 
Washington, DC 20240. Individuals providing comments should reference 
OMB control number 1035-0003, ``Application to Withdraw Tribal Funds 
from Trust Status, 25 CFR 1200.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request more information on this 
proposed information collection or to obtain a copy of the proposal and 
associated collection instrument, please write to the above address, or 
call Carrie Moore, 202-208-4866.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations at 5 CFR part 
1320, which implement the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-
13), require that interested members of the public and affected 
agencies have an opportunity to comment on information collection and 
recordkeeping activities (see 5 CFR 1320.8 (d)). This notice identifies 
an information collection activity that the Office of the Special 
Trustee for American Indians will submit to OMB for extension or re-
approval.
    Public Law 103-412, The American Indian Trust Fund Management 
Reform Act of 1994, allows Indian tribes on a voluntary basis to take 
their funds out of trust status within the Department of the Interior 
(and the Federal Government) in order to manage such funds on their 
own. 25 CFR part 1200, subpart B, Sec.  1200.13, ``How does a tribe 
apply to withdraw funds?'' describes the requirements for application 
for withdrawal. The Act covers all tribal trust funds including 
judgment funds as well as some settlement funds, but excludes funds 
held in Individual Indian Money accounts. Both the Act and the 
regulation state that upon withdrawal of the funds, the Department of 
the Interior (and the Federal Government) have no further liability for 
such funds. Accompanying their application for withdrawal of trust 
funds, tribes are required to submit a Management Plan for managing the 
funds being withdrawn, to protect the funds once they are out of trust 
status.
    This information collection allows the Office of the Special 
Trustee to collect the tribes' applications for withdrawal of funds 
held in trust by the Department of the Interior. If this information 
were not collected, the Office of the Special Trustee would not be able 
to comply with The American Indian Trust Fund Management Reform Act of 
1994, and tribes would not be able to withdraw funds held for them in 
trust by the Department of the Interior.

II. Data

    (1) Title: Application to Withdraw Tribal Funds from Trust Status, 
25 CFR 1200.
    OMB Control Number: 1035-0003.
    Current Expiration Date: August 31, 2006.
    Type of Review: Information Collection: Renewal.
    Affected Entities: State, Local, or Tribal Government.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 12.
    Frequency of response: Once per respondent.
    (2) Annual reporting and record keeping burden:
    Total annual reporting per respondent: 342 hours.
    Total annual reporting: 4104 hours.
    (3) Description of the need and use of the information: The 
statutorily-required information is needed to provide a vehicle for 
tribes to withdraw funds from accounts held in trust for them by the 
United States Government.

III. Request for Comments

    The Department of the Interior invites comments 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 of the 
collection and the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
    (c) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    (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 
other forms of information technology.
    Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources 
expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, 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.
    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 Office of Management and Budget control number.

    Dated: May 3, 2006.
Carrie Moore,
Director, Office of External Affairs, Office of the Special Trustee for 
American Indians.
[FR Doc. E6-7061 Filed 5-9-06; 8:45 am]
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