[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 95 (Tuesday, May 19, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23428-23429]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-11559]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs


Collection of Water Delivery and Electric Service Data for the 
Operation of Irrigation and Power Projects and Systems: Comment Request

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Proposed Renewal of Information Collection.

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SUMMARY: As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Bureau of 
Indian Affairs (BIA) is seeking comments on two information collections 
that need renewal under the Paperwork Reduction Act. They are the 
Electrical Service Application, OMB Control Number 1076-0021, required 
by 25 CFR 175, and Water Request, OMB Control Number 1076-0141, 
required by 25 CFR 171.

DATES: Submit comments on or before July 20, 2009.

ADDRESSES: John Anevski, Chief, Division of Irrigation, Power and 
Safety of Dams, Office of Trust Services, Mail Stop 4655-MIB, 1849 C 
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20240, Facsimile: (202) 219-0006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Anevski, Chief, Division of 
Irrigation, Power and Safety of Dams, Office of Trust Services, 
Telephone: (202) 208-5480, E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The BIA owns, operates, and maintains three electric power 
utilities that provide a service to the end user. The BIA also owns, 
operates, and maintains 15 irrigation projects that provide a service 
to the end user. To be able to properly bill for the services provided, 
the BIA must collect customer information to identify the individual 
responsible for repaying the government the costs of delivering the 
service, and billing for those costs. Additional information necessary 
for providing the service is the location of the service delivery. The 
Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 (DCIA) requires that certain 
information be collected from individuals and businesses doing business 
with the government. This information includes the taxpayer 
identification number for possible future use to recover delinquent 
debt. To implement the DCIA requirement to collect customer 
information, the BIA has included a section concerning the collection 
of information in its regulations governing its electrical power 
utilities (25 CFR 175) and in its regulations governing its irrigation 
projects (25 CFR 171). This authority is provided by 25 U.S.C. 381 and 
385.
    The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 provides an opportunity for 
interested parties to comment on proposed information collection 
requests. The BIA Division of Irrigation, Power, and Safety of Dams is 
proceeding with this public comment period as the first step in 
obtaining a normal information collection clearance from the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB). Each request contains (1) type of review, 
(2) title, (3) summary of the collection, (4) respondents, (5) 
frequency of collection, (6) reporting and record keeping requirements.

II. Request for Comments

    The BIA requests your comments on this collection concerning: (a) 
The necessity of this information collection 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 (hours and cost) of the collection of information, including 
the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways we could 
enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and (d) ways we could minimize the burden of the collection 
of the information on the respondents, such as through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Please note that an agency may not sponsor or request, and an 
individual need not respond to, a collection of information unless it 
has a valid OMB Control Number.
    It is our policy to make all comments available to the public for 
review at the location listed in the ADDRESSES section, room 4655, 
during the hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday, except 
for legal holidays. Please note that all comments received will be 
available for public review for two weeks after comment period closes. 
Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address or other 
personally identifiable information, be advised that your entire 
comment--including your personally identifiable information--may be 
made public at any time. While you may request that we withhold your 
personally identifiable information, we cannot guarantee that we will 
be able to do so. We do not consider anonymous comments. All comments 
from representatives of businesses or organizations will be made public 
in their entirety. We may withhold comments from review for other 
reasons.

III. Data

A. Electric Service Application

    OMB Control Number: 1076-0021.
    Type of review: Renewal.
    Title: Electrical Service Application (25 CFR 175).
    Brief Description of Collection: In order for electric power 
consumers to be served, information is needed by the BIA to operate and 
maintain its electric power utilities and fulfill reporting 
requirements. Section 175.22 of 25 CFR part 175, Indian electric power 
utilities, specifies the information collection requirement. Power 
consumers must apply for electric service. The information to be 
collected includes: name; electric service location; and other 
operational information identified in the local administrative manuals. 
Collection of this information is currently authorized under an 
approval

[[Page 23429]]

by OMB (OMB Control Number 1076-0021). All information is collected 
from each electric power consumer. Users are not required to maintain 
records but may do so for business purposes. The information they 
submit is for the purpose of obtaining or retaining a benefit, namely 
electric power. While we do require personal information for the 
purpose of adhering to the controlling laws and regulations, we protect 
the information under the Privacy Act. Annual reporting and record 
keeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to 
average 30 minutes for each response for 3,000 respondents, including 
the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, 
gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing 
the collection of information. Thus, the total annual reporting and 
record keeping burden for this collection is estimated to be 1,500 
hours.
    Respondents: BIA Electric Power Consumers--individuals and 
businesses.
    Number of Respondents: 3,000 per year.
    Estimated Time per Response: \1/2\ hour.
    Frequency of Response: The information is collected once, unless 
the respondent requests new electrical service elsewhere or if it has 
been disconnected for failure to pay their electric bill.
    Total Annual Burden to Respondents: 1,500 hours.

B. Water Requests

    OMB Control Number: 1076-0141.
    Type of review: Renewal.
    Title: Water Request (25 CFR 171).
    Brief Description of Collection: In order for irrigators to receive 
water deliveries, information is needed by the BIA to operate and 
maintain its irrigation projects and fulfill reporting requirements. 
Section 171.140 of 25 CFR part 171, [Irrigation] Operation and 
Maintenance, specifies the information collection requirement. Water 
users must apply for water delivery. The information to be collected 
includes: name; water delivery location; time and date of requested 
water delivery; duration of water delivery; rate of water flow; number 
of acres irrigated; crop statistics; and other operational information 
identified in the local administrative manuals. Collection of this 
information is currently authorized under an approval by OMB (OMB 
Control Number 1076-0141). The respondents mainly request water be 
turned on or turned off. Users are not required to maintain records but 
may do so for business purposes. The information they submit is for the 
purpose of obtaining or retaining a benefit, namely irrigation water. 
While we do require personal information for the purpose of adhering to 
the controlling laws and regulations, we protect the information under 
the Privacy Act. All information is collected from each respondent with 
a response required each time irrigation water is provided (we estimate 
2 times each year). We estimate that we service 8,165 users who submit 
information about 2 times each year for a total of 16,330 responses a 
year. We estimate that it takes respondents approximately 1 hour per 
response, resulting in a total annual hourly burden of 16,330.
    Respondents: Water users of the BIA irrigation project, which can 
include individuals and businesses.
    Number of Respondents: 8,165.
    Estimated Time per Response: 1 hour.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion throughout the irrigation 
season, approximately 2 times per year.
    Total Annual Burden to Respondents: 16,330 hours.

    Dated: May 13, 2009.
Alvin Foster,
Deputy Chief Information Officer--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. E9-11559 Filed 5-18-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-W7-P