[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 103 (Friday, May 27, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 30961]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-13263]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs


Renewal of Agency Information Collection for Verification of 
Indian Preference for Employment with BIA and IHS; Request for Comments

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is seeking comments on renewal of Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for the collection of 
information for Verification of Indian Preference for Employment, 25 
CFR part 5. The information collection is currently authorized by OMB 
Control Number 1076-0160, which expires August 31, 2011.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
July 26, 2011.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the information collection to 
Kevin Bearquiver, Deputy Director--Office of Indian Services, Bureau of 
Indian Affairs, 1849 C Street, NW., MS-3070, Washington, DC 20240; 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin Bearquiver (202) 208-2874.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The BIA is seeking renewal of the approval for the information 
collection conducted under the 25 U.S.C. 43, 36 Stat. 472, inter alia, 
and implementing regulations, at 25 CFR 5, regarding verification of 
Indian preference for employment. The purpose of Indian preference is 
to encourage qualified Indian persons to seek employment with the BIA 
and Indian Health Service (IHS) by offering preferential treatment to 
qualified candidates of Indian heritage. BIA collects the information 
to ensure compliance with Indian preference hiring requirements. The 
information collection relates only to individuals applying for 
employment with the BIA and the IHS. The tribe's involvement is limited 
to verifying membership information submitted by the applicant. The 
collection of information allows certain persons who are of Indian 
descent to receive preference when appointments are made to vacancies 
in positions with the BIA and IHS as well as in any unit that has been 
transferred intact from the BIA to a Bureau or office within the 
Department of the Interior or the Department of Health and Human 
Services and that continues to perform functions formerly performed as 
part of the BIA and IHS. You are eligible for preference if (a) you are 
a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe; (b) you are a 
descendant of a member and you were residing within the present 
boundaries of any Indian reservation on June 1, 1934; (c) you are an 
Alaska Native; or (d) you possess one-half degree Indian blood derived 
from tribes that are indigenous to the United States.

II. Request for Comments

    BIA 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. This information collection expires 
August 31, 2011.
    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: 1076-0160.
    Title: Verification of Indian preference for Employment in the BIA 
and IHS, 25 CFR 5.
    Brief Description of Collection: Submission of this information by 
Indian applicants for jobs with BIA and IHS allows the Personnel 
Offices of BIA and IHS to verify that the individual meets the 
requirements for Indian preference in hiring. Response is required to 
obtain the benefit of preferential hiring.
    Type of Review: Extension without change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Respondents: Qualified Indian persons who are seeking preference in 
employment with the BIA and IHS.
    Number of Respondents: Approximately 5,000.
    Total Number of Responses: Approximately 5,000 per year.
    Frequency of Response: Four times per year.
    Estimated Time per Response: One-half hour.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 2,500 hours, on average.
    Estimated Cost: There are no costs, except postage and the cost to 
duplicate the original verification form.

    Dated: May 24, 2011.
John Ashley,
Acting Chief Information Officer--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2011-13263 Filed 5-26-11; 8:45 am]
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