[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 113 (Tuesday, June 12, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34974-34975]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-14241]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs


Solicitation for Comments on the Proposed Realignment of the 
Division of Workforce Development From the Office of Indian Energy and 
Economic Development to the Office of the Deputy Director--Indian 
Services, Bureau of Indian Affairs

AGENCIES: Office of the Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs and Bureau 
of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Office of the Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs (AS-IA) 
is considering realigning the Division of Workforce Development (DWD), 
now located in the Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development 
(IEED) within AS-IA, to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, under the Office 
of the Deputy Director--Indian Services. This notice seeks comments on 
this proposed realignment from federally recognized American Indian 
Tribes and Alaska Native entities.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
July 27, 2012.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the information collection to Mr. 
Jack Stevens, Acting Director, Division of Workforce Development, 
Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development, U.S. Department of 
the Interior, Room 20--South Interior Building, 1951 Constitution 
Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20245, fax (202) 208-4564; email: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: You may request further information 
from Mr. Jack Stevens, Acting Director, Division of Workforce 
Development, Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development, U.S. 
Department of the Interior. Telephone: (202) 208-6764.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The AS-IA is considering realigning the DWD, now located in IEED, 
to the BIA, under the Office of the Deputy Director--Indian Services, 
to improve management efficiencies and strengthen the Public Law 102-
477 demonstration project.
    In 2005, DWD was realigned from the Office of Tribal Services (now 
the Office of the Deputy Director--Indian Services), BIA to the Office 
of Self-Governance. On August 29, 2006, it was realigned again, into 
IEED. The purpose of the action under consideration is to return DWD to 
the Office of the Deputy Director--Indian Services. This realignment 
will not result in any loss of funding or staff positions for DWD nor 
will it alter in any respect its responsibility to:
     Administer the Public Law 102-477 demonstration project 
under the Indian Employment, Training, and Related Services 
Demonstration Act of 1992, as amended, 25 U.S.C. 3401 et seq.
     Administer the Job Placement and Training Program under 25 
CFR part 26
     Gather and publish population and employment data for the 
congressionally-mandated Labor Force Report pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3416.

[[Page 34975]]

    Rather, the realignment would reunite DWD with the Division of 
Human Services and the Division of Self-Determination, which perform 
complementary services and which are within the office of the Deputy 
Director--Indian Services.
    DWD transmits welfare funding under the BIA's General Assistance 
Program and the Tribal Temporary Assistance to Needy Families Program 
(TANF); job placement and training aid under the Department of Health 
and Human Service's Native Employment Works Program (NEW) program, the 
Department of Labor's Workforce Investment Act (WIA), and the 
Department of Labor's Section 166 Comprehensive Services Program and 
its Section 166 Supplemental Youth Services Program; funding for child 
welfare and child protective services under the Child Care and 
Development Fund Program (CCDF); funding for school supplies under the 
BIE Johnson-O'Malley (JOM) programs; and funding for burial services 
under 25 CFR 20.324-20.326. These operations align with the Division of 
Human Services, which administers social service, welfare assistance, 
and American Indian child welfare matters.
    DWD provides many of its funding awards through Public Law 93-638 
contracts, which the Division of Self-Determination oversees. The 
Division of Self-Determination also provides Public Law 93-638 training 
and technical assistance to the BIA and tribes and certifies Awarding 
Officials who monitor the performance of Public Law 93-638 contracts.
    For these operational reasons, AS-IA proposes to return DWD to its 
original home in the BIA.

    Dated: May 31, 2012.
Donald E. Laverdure,
Acting Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2012-14241 Filed 6-11-12; 8:45 am]
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