[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 182 (Tuesday, September 22, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48282-48283]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-22782]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs


Information Collection for Energy and Mineral Development Program 
Grants; Comment Request

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of proposed information collection.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Office of 
Indian Energy and Economic Development (IEED), in the Office of the 
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs, is seeking comments on a proposed 
information collection related to grants provided under the Energy and 
Mineral Development Program (EMDP). Indian tribes whose lands are held 
in trust or restricted status may be considered for grants for energy 
and mineral development projects under the EMDP if they provide certain 
information as part of an application. Once an application is accepted, 
the Indian tribe must then submit reports regarding the progress of 
their project. This notice requests comments on the information 
collection associated with the application and progress reports.

DATES: Submit comments on or before November 23, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Mail or hand-carry comments to Darryl Francois, Department 
of the Interior, Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development, Room 
20--South Interior Building, 1951 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, 
DC 20245, fax (202) 208-4564; e-mail: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Darryl Francois, Department of the 
Interior, Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development. Telephone 
(202) 219-0740.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Energy Policy Act of 2005 authorizes the Secretary of the 
Interior to provide grants to Indian tribes for energy development. See 
25 U.S.C. 3502. IEED administers and manages the EMDP. Congress 
appropriates funds to EMDP on a year-to-year basis. When funding is 
available, IEED may solicit proposals for energy and mineral 
development projects from Indian tribes whose lands are held in trust 
or restricted fee by the Federal government. Tribes may use the 
contracting mechanism established by the Indian Self-Determination Act 
or may receive the grant money through adjustments to their funding 
from the Office of Self-Governance. See 25 U.S.C. 450 et seq. The 
projects may be in the areas of exploration, assessment, development, 
feasibility, or market studies. Indian tribes that would like to apply 
for an EMDP grant must submit an application that includes certain 
information, and must assist IEED by providing information in support 
of any National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analyses. A complete 
application must contain the following elements.
     A current, signed tribal resolution that: (1) Authorizes 
the energy and mineral development project for the appropriate fiscal 
year; (2) describes the commodity or commodities to be studied; (3) 
states that the tribe is willing to consider developing any potential 
energy or mineral resources discovered; (4) describes how the tribe 
prefers to have the energy or mineral program conducted (i.e., through 
the sole utilization of IEED in-house professional staff, in 
conjunction with professional tribal staff, through private 
contractors, or through other appropriate means); and (5) states that 
the tribe will consider public release of information obtained from the 
energy and mineral development study upon request from IEED.
     A proposal describing the planned activities and 
deliverable products that will be accomplished within the fiscal year 
for which funding is requested, including:
    [cir] Overview, including the elements of the proposed study, 
reasons why the proposed study is needed, total requested funding, 
responsible parties for technical exaction and administration, and 
tribal point of contact for the project;
    [cir] Technical summary of the project, including whether the 
request will begin a new study or continue a study and the duration of 
the study, a description of any known energy and/or mineral deposit, 
reference to any existing mineral exploration information, and a 
description of any environmental or cultural sensitive areas;
    [cir] Project objective, goals and scope of work;
    [cir] Deliverable products, such as technical data and maps; and
    [cir] Resumes of key personnel.
     A detailed budget estimate, including contracted personnel 
costs, travel estimates, data collection and analysis costs, and other 
expenses.
    IEED requires this information to ensure that it provides funding 
only to those projects that meet the goals of the

[[Page 48283]]

EMDP and the purposes for which Congress provides the appropriations.
    Once a tribe has been accepted into the EMDP, the tribe must also 
submit quarterly reports, which are one- or two-page documents 
summarizing events, accomplishments, problems and/or results in 
executing the project. Each report is due two weeks after the end of 
the fiscal quarter.
    The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 provides an opportunity for 
interested parties to comment on proposed information collection 
requests. IEED is proceeding with this public comment period as the 
first step in obtaining an information collection clearance from the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Each clearance 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

    IEED 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. 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.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 1076-0XXX.
    Type of Review: New.
    Title: Energy and Mineral Development Program Grant Solicitation.
    Brief Description of Collection: Indian tribes that would like to 
apply for an EMDP grant must submit an application that includes 
certain information. A complete application must contain a current, 
signed tribal resolution that provides sufficient information to 
authorize the project and comply with the terms of the grant; a 
proposal describing the planned activities and deliverable products; 
and a detailed budget estimate. IEED requires this information to 
ensure that it provides funding only to those projects that meet the 
goals of the EMDP and purposes for which Congress provides the 
appropriation. Upon acceptance of an application, a tribe must then 
submit one- to two-page quarterly progress reports summarizing events, 
accomplishments, problems and/or results in executing the project. 
Approximately 55 tribes apply each year, but IEED accepts approximately 
18 of those applications each year.
    Respondents: Indian tribes with trust or restricted land.
    Number of Respondents: 55 applicants per year; 18 project 
participants each year.
    Estimated Time per Response: 40 hours per application; 1.5 hours 
per progress report.
    Frequency of Response: Once per year for applications; 4 times per 
year for progress reports.
    Total Annual Burden to Respondents: 2,308 hours (2,200 for 
applications and 108 for progress reports).

    Dated: September 16, 2009.
Alvin Foster,
Acting Chief Information Officer--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. E9-22782 Filed 9-21-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-4M-P