[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 169 (Wednesday, August 31, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54248-54249]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-22304]


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

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 submission to the Office of Management and Budget.

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

SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is submitting to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) a request for renewal of the information 
collection for Verification of Indian Preference for Employment. 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 
September 30, 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 Matt Crain, 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

    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 part 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

[[Page 54249]]

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 part 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: On occasion.
    Estimated Time per Response: One-half hour.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 2,500 hours, on average.
    Estimated Annual Cost: $6,520 (postage and copying costs).

    Dated: August 17, 2011.
Alvin Foster,
Acting Chief Information Officer--Indian Affairs .
[FR Doc. 2011-22304 Filed 8-30-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-4J-P