[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 19 (Friday, January 29, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4836-4837]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-1786]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs


Renewal of Agency Information Collection for Tribal Energy 
Resource Agreements

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development (IEED), 
in the Office of the Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs, is proposing 
to submit the information collection titled ``Tribal Energy Resource 
Agreements (TERAs)'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
renewal pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act. The information 
collection is currently authorized by OMB Control Number 1076-0167, 
which expires March 31, 2010. The information collection requires 
Indian tribes interested in entering into a TERA or who already have a 
TERA to provide certain information, including information as part of 
the application for, and implementation, reassumption, and rescission 
of the TERA.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
March 30, 2010.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the information collection 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: You may request further information or 
obtain copies of the information collection request submission from 
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 (Pub. L. 109-58) authorizes the 
Secretary to approve individual TERAs. The intent of these agreements 
is to promote tribal oversight and management of energy and mineral 
resource development on tribal lands and further the goal of Indian 
self-determination. A TERA offers a tribe an entirely new alternative 
for developing energy-related business agreements and awarding leases 
and granting rights-of-way for energy facilities without having to 
obtain further approval from the Secretary.

[[Page 4837]]

    This information collection conducted under TERA regulations at 25 
CFR 224 will allow IEED to determine the capacity of tribes to manage 
the development of energy resources on tribal lands. Information 
collected:
     Enables IEED to engage in a consultation process with 
tribes that is designed to foster optimal pre-planning of development 
proposals and speed up the review and approval process for TERA 
agreements;
     Provides wide public notice and opportunity for review of 
TERA agreements by the public, industry, and government agencies;
     Ensures that the public has an avenue for review of the 
performance of tribes in implementing a TERA;
     Creates a process for preventing damage to sensitive 
resources as well as ensuring that the public has fully communicated 
with the tribe in the petition process;
     Ensures that a tribe is fully aware of any attempt by DOI 
to resume management authority over energy resources on tribal lands; 
and
     Ensures that the tribal government fully endorses any 
relinquishment of a TERA.

II. Request for Comments

    IEED requests that you send your comments on this collection to the 
location listed in the ADDRESSES section. Your comments should address: 
(a) The necessity of the information collection for the proper 
performance of the agencies, including whether the information will 
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of our 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 conduct, and an 
individual need not respond to, a collection of information unless it 
has a valid OMB Control Number. Approval for this collection expires 
March 31, 2010. Response to the information collection is required to 
obtain a benefit.
    It is our policy to make all comments available to the public for 
review at the location listed in the ADDRESSES section during the hours 
of 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday except for legal 
holidays. 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: 1076-0167.
    Title: Tribal Energy Resource Agreements.
    Brief Description of Collection: Submission of this information is 
required for Indian tribes to apply for, implement, reassume, or 
rescind a TERA that has been entered into in accordance with the Energy 
Policy Act of 2005 and 25 CFR 224. This collection also requires the 
tribe to notify the public of certain actions. Response is required to 
obtain a benefit.
    Type of Review: Extension without change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Respondents: Indian tribes.
    Number of Respondents: 14 (4 applicant tribes and 10 tribes with a 
TERA)
    Total Number of Responses: Ranges from once annually (for 
applications and other requirements) to a few times a year (for 
notifications to public and the Secretary that any leases, businesses 
agreements, or rights-of-way have been entered into pursuant to the 
TERA)
    Estimated Time per Response: Ranges from 32 hours to 1,080 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 10,752 hours.

    Dated: January 25, 2010.
Alvin Foster,
Chief Information Officer--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2010-1786 Filed 1-28-10; 8:45 am]
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