[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 219 (Tuesday, November 13, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67635-67637]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-27525]


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DENALI COMMISSION


 Fiscal Year 2013 Draft Work Plan

AGENCY: Denali Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Denali Commission (Commission) is an independent federal 
agency based on an innovative federal-state partnership designed to 
provide critical utilities, infrastructure and support for economic 
development and training in Alaska by delivering federal services in 
the most cost-effective manner possible. The Commission was created in 
1998 with passage of the October 21, 1998 Denali Commission Act (Act) 
(Title III of Pub. L. 105-277, 42 U.S.C. 3121). The Act requires that 
the Commission develop proposed work plans for future spending and that 
the annual Work Plan be published in the Federal Register, providing an 
opportunity for a 30-day period of public review and written comment. 
This Federal Register notice serves to announce the 30-day opportunity 
for public comment on the Denali Commission Draft Work Plan for Federal 
Fiscal Year 2013 (FY2013).

DATES: Comments and related material to be received by December 11, 
2012.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to the Denali Commission, Attention: Sabrina 
Hoppas, 510 L Street, Suite 410, Anchorage, AK 99501.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Sabrina Hoppas, Denali Commission, 
510 L Street, Suite 410, Anchorage, AK 99501. Telephone: (907) 271-
1414. Email: [email protected].
    Background: The Denali Commission (Commission) is an independent 
federal agency based on an innovative federal-state partnership 
designed to provide critical utilities, infrastructure and support for 
economic development and training in Alaska by delivering federal 
services in the most cost-effective manner possible. The Commission was 
created in 1998 with passage of the October 21, 1998, Denali Commission 
Act (Act) (Title III of Pub. L. 105-277, 42 U.S.C. 3121).
    The Commission's mission is to partner with tribal, federal, state, 
and local governments and collaborate with all Alaskans to improve the 
effectiveness and efficiency of government services, to develop a well-
trained labor force employed in a diversified and sustainable economy, 
and to build and ensure the operation and maintenance of Alaska's basic 
infrastructure.
    By creating the Commission, Congress mandated that all parties 
involved partner together to find new and innovative solutions to the 
unique infrastructure and economic development challenges in America's 
most remote communities.
    Pursuant to the Act, the Commission determines its own basic 
operating principles and funding criteria on an annual federal fiscal 
year (October 1 to September 30) basis. The Commission outlines these 
priorities and funding recommendations in an annual Work Plan. The Work 
Plan is adopted on an annual basis in the following manner, which 
occurs sequentially as listed:
     Project proposals are solicited from local government and 
other entities.
     Commissioners forward a draft version of the Work Plan to 
the Federal Co-Chair.
     The Federal Co-Chair approves the draft Work Plan for 
publication in the Federal Register providing an opportunity for a 30-
day period of public review and written comment. During this time, the 
draft Work Plan is also disseminated widely to Commission program 
partners including, but not limited to, the Bureau of Indian Affairs 
(BIA), the Economic Development Administration (EDA), and the United 
States Department of Agriculture--Rural Development (USDA-RD).
     Public comment concludes and Commission staff provides the 
Federal Co-Chair with a summary of public comment and recommendations, 
if any, associated with the draft Work Plan.
     If no revisions are made to the draft, the Federal Co-
Chair provides notice of approval of the Work Plan to the 
Commissioners, and forwards the Work Plan to the Secretary of Commerce 
for approval; or, if there are revisions the Federal Co- Chair provides 
notice of modifications to the Commissioners for their consideration 
and approval, and upon receipt of approval from Commissioners, forwards 
the Work Plan to the Secretary of Commerce for approval.
     The Secretary of Commerce approves the Work Plan.
     The Federal Co-Chair then approves grants and contracts 
based upon the approved Work Plan.

 FY 2013 Appropriations Summary

    The Commission has historically received federal funding from 
several sources.
    These fund sources are governed by the following general 
principles:
     In FY 2013 no project specific direction was provided by 
Congress.
     The Energy and Water Appropriation is eligible for use in 
all programs.
     Certain appropriations are restricted in their usage. 
Where restrictions apply, the funds may be used only for specific 
program purposes.
     Final appropriation funds received may be reduced due to 
Congressional action, rescissions by the Office of Management and 
Budget, and other federal agency action. Final program available 
figures may not be provided until later in FY2013.
     All Energy and Water Appropriation funds, including 
operating funds, designated as ``up to'' may be reassigned to other 
programs, if they are not fully expended in a program component area or 
a specific project.
     Total FY 2013 Budgetary Resources provided: These are the 
figures that

[[Page 67636]]

appear in the rows entitled ``FY 2013 Appropriation'' and are the 
original appropriations amounts which do not include Commission 
operating funds. These funds are identified by their source name (i.e., 
Energy and Water Appropriation, USDA-RUS, etc.). The grand total for 
all appropriations appears at the end of the FY 2013 Funding Table.
     Total FY 2013 Program Available Funding: These are the 
figures that appear in the rows entitled ``FY 2013 Appropriations--
Program Available'' and are the amounts of funding available for 
program(s) activities after Commission operating funds have been 
deducted. The FY 2013 appropriations bill contains language that the 
Commission may utilize more than 5 percent for operating costs, 
Notwithstanding the limitations contained in section 306(g) of the 
Denali Commission Act of 1998. However only, 5 percent of Trans Alaska 
Pipeline Liability (TAPL) Trust Funds are used for agency operating 
purposes. The grand total for all program available funds appears at 
the end of the FY 2013 Funding Table.
     Program Funding: These are the figures that appear in the 
rows entitled with the specific Program and Sub-Program area, and are 
the amounts of funding the Draft FY 2013 Work Plan recommends, within 
each program fund source for program components.
     Subtotal of Program Funding: These are the figures that 
appear in rows entitled ``subtotal'' and are the subtotals of all 
program funding within a given fund source. The subtotal must always 
equal the Total FY 2013 Program Available Funding.

                 Denali Commission FY 2013 Funding Table
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                                                          Totals
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FY 2013 Energy & Water Appropriation...........              $10,165,000
FY 2013 Energy & Water Appropriation--Operating               $3,000,000
 Funds.........................................
FY 2013 Energy & Water Appropriation--Program                 $7,165,000
 Available.....................................
Energy:
     Bulk Fuel Tank Replacement........  .......................
     Rural Power System Upgrades.......  .......................
     Transportation--Related Barge       .......................
     Landing, Mooring Points and Marine........
Total Energy Projects..........................         Up to $6,865,000
Pre-Development Program........................           Up to $300,000
                                                ------------------------
    Sub-total $................................               $7,165,000
FY 2013 TAPL Trust.............................               $6,800,000
FY 2013 TAPL Program Available (less 5%                       $6,460,000
 operating funds)..............................
Bulk Fuel Planning, Design & Construction......               $6,460,000
                                                ------------------------
    Sub-total $................................               $6,460,000
                                                ------------------------
        Total FY 2013 Federal Program Available              $13,625,000
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FY 2013 Program Details & General Information

    The following section provides narrative discussion for each of the 
Commission Programs identified for funding in the FY 2013 funding table 
above.

Energy Program

Basic Rural Energy Infrastructure

    The Energy Program is the Commission's original program and focuses 
on bulk fuel facilities and rural power system upgrades/power 
generation (RPSU) across rural Alaska. About 94% of electricity in 
rural communities is produced by diesel generators and about half of 
the fuel storage in most villages is used for these power plants. The 
majority of the Commission's work in the energy program is carried out 
by two of our long-standing partners: Alaska Energy Authority (AEA), an 
agency of the State of Alaska, and the Alaska Village Electric 
Cooperative (AVEC), a non-profit member organization.

FY 2013 Project Selection Process (Bulk Fuel/RPSU/Mooring Ponts and 
Marine Headers)

    The projects selected for FY 2013 funding are prioritized within 
the two energy program themes: bulk fuel and RPSU. The selected 
projects (in the table below) exceed FY 2013 funding levels (both TAPL 
and Energy and Water Appropriations), with the understanding that 
projects may proceed out of order due to factors such as the extended 
period of time between project selections, draft Work Plan development, 
and grant execution; match funding availability; and due diligence 
requirements. The Commission has been working in partnership with the 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) since 2009 to complete an 
assessment of prioritized barge landing and mooring point upgrades 
throughout Alaska. In many communities barge landing and mooring points 
are positioned adjacent to marine fuel headers to allow for the safe 
and efficient bulk delivery of community fuel that is used for heating 
and electric generation. However, in some cases communities have 
multiple marine header sites and are currently undertaking development 
and positioning of new barge landing and mooring point locations. Base 
funds (Energy & Water Appropriation) will be used in FY 2013, leveraged 
with existing transportation funds from prior years, to develop 
centralized marine header locations in coordination with prioritized 
barge landing and mooring points design and construction.

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                                                                       Total
                                                                      project     Cost share   DC funding            Program partner            Priority
                                                                        cost
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                                                                   Bulk Fuel Projects
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St. George........................................................   $2,000,000   $1,000,000   $1,000,000                                 AEA          1

[[Page 67637]]

 
Emmonak/Alakanuk..................................................    4,000,000      800,000    3,200,000                                AVEC          2
Tatitlek..........................................................    2,300,000      460,000    1,840,000                                 AEA          3
Pilot Station.....................................................    3,000,000      600,000    2,400,000                                AVEC          4
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                                                                      RPSU Projects
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Emmonak/Alakanuk..................................................    6,000,000    1,200,000    4,800,000                                AVEC          1
Nunam Iqua........................................................    3,000,000      600,000    2,400,000                                 AEA          2
New Stuyahok/Ekwok................................................    3,250,000      650,000    2,600,000                                AVEC          3
Koliganek.........................................................    3,800,000      760,000    3,040,000                                 AEA          4
Alaska Energy Authority Project Management........................      157,200            0      157,200                                 AEA  .........
Alaska Village Electric Cooperative Project Management............      480,000            0      480,000                                AVEC  .........
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                                                        Barge Landing and Mooring Points Projects
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Barge Landings and Mooring Points.................................    1,200,000      800,000      400,000                               USACE  .........
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Pre-Development Program

    The Pre-Development Program (Pre-D) is a service provided by The 
Foraker Group in collaboration with the Alaska Mental Health Trust 
Authority, The Commission, Mat- Su Health Foundation and Rasmuson 
Foundation. Pre-D offers guidance and technical resources for planning 
new facilities and renovating or expanding existing ones. Services are 
provided to nonprofit, municipal and tribal organizations to determine 
the feasibility of their projects and develop the documentation needed 
for funding applications.
    Pre-D's core purpose is planning Sustainable Capital Projects - 
projects that contribute to the long-term viability of the organization 
and the community it serves. The Commission has been committed to 
contributing to sustainable projects since its inception. Pre-D 
supports successful projects by assisting with early planning which 
considers community needs, potential collaboration, organizational 
capacity and sustainability.
    The Commission is a founding member of Pre-D since 2007. As the 
agency's capital funds have decreased in recent years, the benefits of 
Pre-D have become more evident. It is ever more critical to ensure that 
limited federal appropriations be invested in sustainable, realistic, 
right-sized capital projects.
    Further information about the program can be obtained at the 
following link:

http://www.forakergroup.org/index.cfm/Shared-Services/Pre-Development

Joel Neimeyer,
Federal Co-Chair.
[FR Doc. 2012-27525 Filed 11-9-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3300-01-P