[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 246 (Friday, December 22, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 77060]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-9835]



[[Page 77060]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs


Energy Policy Act of 2005, Section 1813, Draft Report to Congress

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Publication of Draft Report to Congress.

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SUMMARY: Section 1813 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109-58) 
requires the Department of the Interior and the Department of Energy 
(Departments) to jointly conduct a study of issues related to energy 
rights-of-way (ROWs) on tribal lands. The Act further directs the 
Departments to submit a report to Congress on the findings of the 
study. The Draft Report to Congress is available for review on the 
Section 1813 Web site (http://1813.anl.gov).

DATES: Comments and suggestions on the Draft Report to Congress will be 
accepted through February 5, 2007.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods: 
Mail, personal, or messenger delivery: Attention: Section 1813 ROW 
Study, Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development, Room 20--South 
Interior Building, 1951 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20245. 
E-mail: [email protected] (please include the phrase ``Section 1813 
Comments'' in the subject line).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Darryl Francois (DOI Office of Indian 
Energy and Economic Development) at (202) 219-0740, or Rollie Wilson 
(DOE Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability) at (202) 
586-3946. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf 
(TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-
877-8339, to contact the above individuals during business hours. FIRS 
is available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Public Comment Procedures

    Commenting on the Draft Report to Congress written comments or 
suggestions should: be specific and substantive; explain the reasoning 
behind your comments and suggestions; and where possible, reference the 
specific section or paragraph you are addressing. Comments, including 
names and street addresses of respondents, will be available for public 
review at the address listed under ADDRESSES: Mail, personal, or 
messenger delivery during regular business hours (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.), 
Monday through Friday, except holidays. Individual respondents may 
request confidentiality, which will be honored to the extent allowable 
by law. Those wishing to withhold their name or address (except for the 
city or town) must state this prominently at the beginning of their 
comment. Submissions from organizations or businesses, and from 
individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of 
organizations or businesses, will be made available for public 
inspection in their entirety.

II. Background

    Section 1813 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109-58) 
requires the Department of the Interior and the Department of Energy 
(Departments) to jointly conduct a study of issues regarding grants, 
expansions, and renewals of energy rights-of-way (ROWs) on tribal 
lands. Section 1813 also requires the Departments to consult with 
Indian tribes, the energy industry, appropriate governmental entities, 
and affected businesses and consumers in the course of the study. The 
Act further directs the Departments to submit a report to Congress on 
the findings of the study, including: (1) An analysis of historic rates 
of compensation paid for energy ROWs on tribal land; (2) 
recommendations for appropriate standards and procedures for 
determining fair and appropriate compensation to Indian tribes for 
grants, expansions, and renewals of energy ROWs on tribal land; (3) an 
assessment of the tribal self determination and sovereignty interests 
implicated by applications for the grant, expansion, or renewal of 
energy ROWs on tribal land; and (4) an analysis of relevant national 
energy transportation policies relating to grants, expansions, and 
renewals of energy ROWs on tribal land.
    The Departments held a number of public meetings to seek input and 
feedback from Indian tribes, the energy industry, appropriate 
governmental entities, and affected businesses and consumers. In 
addition, the Departments held a number of government-to-government 
consultations with Indian tribes. On August 9, 2006, the Departments 
released a first draft of the Report to Congress and accepted comments 
on that draft report. This revised Draft Report to Congress reflects 
the Departments' considered response to the substantial number of 
comments received.
    The Draft Report to Congress is available for review on the Section 
1813 Web site (http://1813.anl.gov).

    Dated: December 19, 2006.
Abraham E. Haspel,
Assistant Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 06-9835 Filed 12-21-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-02-M