[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 161 (Monday, August 20, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50156-50157]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-20341]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs


Renewal of Agency Information Collection for Water Delivery and 
Electric Service Data for the Operation of Irrigation and Power 
Projects and Systems

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 
Acting Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs is seeking comments on the 
renewal of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for the 
collection of information for Electrical Service Application, 25 CFR 
part 175, authorized by OMB Control Number 1076-0021 and Water Request, 
25 CFR part 171, authorized by OMB Control Number 1076-0141. Both of 
these information collections expire December 31, 2012.

DATES: Submit comments on or before October 19, 2012.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the information collection to 
Yulan Jin, Acting Chief, Division of Water and Power, Office of Trust 
Services, Mail Stop 4655--MIB, 1849 C Street NW., Washington, DC 20240; 
email: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Yulan Jin, 202-219-0941.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) owns, operates, and maintains 
three electric power utilities that provide a service to the end user. 
The BIA also owns, operates, and maintains 15 irrigation projects that 
provide a service to the end user. To be able to properly bill for the 
services provided, the BIA must collect customer information to 
identify the individual responsible for repaying the government the 
costs of delivering the service, and billing for those costs. 
Additional information necessary for providing the service is the 
location of the service delivery. The Debt Collection Improvement Act 
of 1996 (DCIA) requires that certain information be collected from 
individuals and businesses doing business with the government. This 
information includes the taxpayer identification number for possible 
future use to recover delinquent debt. To implement the DCIA 
requirement to collect customer information, the BIA has included a 
section concerning the collection of information in its regulations 
governing its electrical power utilities (25 CFR part 175) and in its 
regulations governing its irrigation projects (25 CFR part 171).

II. Request for Comments

    The BIA requests your comments on this collection concerning: (a) 
The necessity of this information collection for the proper performance 
of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will 
have practical utility; (b) The accuracy of the agency's 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.
    Please note that an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and an 
individual need not respond to, a collection of information unless it 
has a valid OMB Control Number.
    It is our policy to make all comments available to the public for 
review at the location listed in the ADDRESSES section. Before 
including your address, phone number, email address or other personal 
identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your 
entire comment--including your personal identifying information--may be 
made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your 
comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public 
review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 1076-0021.
    Title: Electrical Service Application, 25 CFR 175.

[[Page 50157]]

    Brief Description of Collection: In order for electric power 
consumers to be served, information is needed by the BIA to operate and 
maintain its electric power utilities and fulfill reporting 
requirements.
    Section 175.6 and 175.22 of 25 CFR part 175, Indian electric power 
utilities, specifies the information collection requirement. Power 
consumers must apply for electric service. The information to be 
collected includes: Name; electric service location; and other 
operational information identified in the local administrative manuals. 
All information is collected from each electric power consumer. 
Responses are required to receive or maintain a benefit.
    Type of Review: Extension without change of currently approved 
collection.
    Respondents: BIA electric power consumers--individuals and 
businesses.
    Number of Respondents: 3,000 per year.
    Estimated Time per Response: \1/2\ hour.
    Frequency of Response: The information is collected once, unless 
the respondent requests new electrical service elsewhere or if it has 
been disconnected for failure to pay their electric bill.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 1,500 hours.
* * * * *
    OMB Control Number: 1076-0141.
    Title: Water Request, 25 CFR 171.
    Brief Description of Collection: In order for irrigators to receive 
water deliveries, information is needed by the BIA to operate and 
maintain its irrigation projects and fulfill reporting requirements. 
Section 171.140 and other sections cited in section 171.40 of 25 CFR 
part 171, [Irrigation] Operation and Maintenance, specifies the 
information collection requirement. Water users must apply for water 
delivery and for a number of other associated services, such as, 
subsidizing a farm unit, requesting leaching service, requesting water 
for domestic or stock purposes, building structures or fences in BIA 
rights-of-way, requesting payment plans on bills, establishing a 
carriage agreement with a third-party, negotiating irrigation 
incentives leases, and requesting an assessment waiver. The information 
to be collected includes: Full legal name; correct mailing address; 
taxpayer identifying number; water delivery location; if subdividing a 
farm unit--a copy of the recorded plat or map of the subdivision where 
water will be delivered; the time and date of requested water delivery; 
duration of water delivery; amount of water delivered; rate of water 
flow; number of acres irrigated; crop statistics; any other agreements 
allowed under 25 CFR part 171; and any additional information required 
by the local project office that provides your service. The information 
water users submit is for the purpose of obtaining or retaining a 
benefit, namely irrigation water.
    Type of Review: Extension without change of currently approved 
collection.
    Respondents: Water users of BIA irrigation project--individual and 
businesses.
    Number of Respondents: 6,539 per year.
    Number of Responses: 27,075 per year.
    Estimated Time per Response: A range of 18 minutes to 6 hours, 
depending on the specific service being requested.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion through the irrigation season, 
averaging approximately 2 times per year.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 14,059 hours.

    Dated: August 13, 2012.
Alvin Foster,
Assistant Director for Information Resources.
[FR Doc. 2012-20341 Filed 8-17-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-W7-P