[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 145 (Thursday, July 28, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 45291]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-19062]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs


Renewal of Agency Information Collection for Certificate of 
Degree of Indian or Alaska Native Blood (CDIB); Request for Comments

AGENCIES: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Submission to the Office of Management and Budget.

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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 the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for the collection of 
information for the request for the Certificate of Degree of Indian or 
Alaska Native Blood (CDIB). The information collection is currently 
authorized by OMB Control Number 1076-0153, which expires on July 31, 
2011.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
August 29, 2011.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the information collection to the 
Desk Officer for the Department of the Interior at the Office of 
Management and Budget, by facsimile to (202) 395-5806 or you may send 
an e-mail to: OIRA--DOCKET@ omb.eop.gov. Please send a copy of your 
comments to Debbie McBride, Acting Deputy Director--Office of Indian 
Services, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 1849 C Street, NW., MS 4513, 
Washington, DC 20240; e-mail [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: De Springer (402) 878-2502. To see a 
copy of the entire collection submitted to OMB, go to http://www.reginfo.gov (select Information Collection Review, Currently Under 
Review).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    BIA is seeking renewal of the approval for the information 
collection conducted under the numerous laws authorizing BIA to 
administer program services to Indians, provided that the individual 
possess a minimum degree of Indian or Alaska Native blood. When 
applying for program services authorized by these laws, an applicant 
must provide acceptable documentation to prove that he or she meets the 
minimum required degree of Indian or Alaska Native blood. Currently, 
the BIA certifies an individual's degree of Indian or Alaska Native 
blood if the individual can provide sufficient information to prove his 
or her identity and prove his or her descent from an Indian ancestor(s) 
listed on historic documents approved by the Secretary of the Interior 
that include blood degree information. To obtain the CDIB, the 
applicant must fill out an application form and provide supporting 
documents. BIA is seeking renewal of OMB approval to collect the 
information necessary to issue CDIBs. One minor non-substantive change 
is being made to the CDIB application form, to clarify where the 
applicant should submit the form.

II. Request for Comments

    The 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 
July 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: 1076-0153.
    Title: Request for Certificate of Degree of Indian or Alaska Native 
Blood.
    Brief Description of Collection: Submission of this information 
allows BIA to verify the applicant's Indian ancestry and to determine 
the applicant's degree of Indian blood. The applicant will provide 
information, such as birth certificates, death certificates, and 
probates to document the applicant's descent from an Indian 
ancestor(s). Response to the information collection is required to 
obtain a benefit. BIA uses historic roll(s) or other documents that 
list the ancestors' name, gender, date of birth, date of death, blood 
degree and other identifying information to verify the applicant's 
descent. After the information and supporting documentation has been 
verified, BIA will issue a CDIB to the applicant. The applicant may use 
the CDIB to help document their eligibility for BIA programs and 
services. Other agencies may also rely on a CDIB as proof of 
eligibility for certain programs and services. CDIBs do not establish 
membership in an Indian tribe. A CDIB is not an enrollment document.
    Type of Review: Extension without change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Respondents: Individuals.
    Number of Respondents: 154,980 per year, on average.
    Total Number of Responses: 154,980 per year, on average.
    Frequency of Response: Once.
    Estimated Time per Response: 1.5 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 232,470 hours.
    Estimated Cost Burden; $ 6,199,200.

    Dated: July 20, 2011.
Alvin Foster,
Acting Chief Information Officer--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2011-19062 Filed 7-27-11; 8:45 am]
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