[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 80 (Tuesday, April 26, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24570-24572]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-09708]


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DENALI COMMISSION

[3300-01-m]


Denali Commission Fiscal Year 2016 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 2016 (FY 2016).

DATES: Comments and related material to be received by May 25, 2016.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Sabrina Cabana, Denali Commission, 
510 L Street, Suite 410, Anchorage, AK 99501. Telephone: (907) 271-
1414. Email: [email protected].
    Background: The Denali 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 build and ensure the operation and maintenance of Alaska's 
basic infrastructure, and to develop a well-trained labor force 
employed in a diversified and sustainable economy.
    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. Consistent with its statutory mission, in 
September of 2015 President Obama designated the Denali Commission as 
the lead federal agency for coordinating federal efforts to mitigate 
the impacts of erosion, flooding and permafrost degradation in rural 
Alaska. The primary goal is to build climate resilience with respect to 
infrastructure in environmentally threatened 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 FY 
2016 Work Plan was developed in the following manner.
     A workgroup comprised of Denali Commissioners and Denali 
Commission staff developed a preliminary draft Work Plan.
     The preliminary draft Work Plan was published on 
www.denali.gov for review by the public in advance of public testimony.

[[Page 24571]]

     A public hearing was held to record public comments and 
recommendations on the preliminary draft Work Plan.
     Written comments on the preliminary draft Work Plan were 
accepted for another two weeks after the public hearing.
     All public hearing comments and written comments were 
provided to Commissioners for their review and consideration.
     Commissioners discussed the preliminary draft Work Plan in 
a public meeting and then voted on the Work Plan during the meeting.
     The Commissioners forwarded their recommended Work Plan to 
the Federal Co-Chair, who then prepared the draft Work Plan for 
publication in the Federal Register providing a 30-day period for 
public review and written comment. During this time, the draft Work 
Plan will also be disseminated to Commission program partners 
including, but not limited to, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), the 
Economic Development Administration (EDA), Department of Agriculture--
Rural Utilities Service (USDA/RUS), and the State of Alaska.
     At the conclusion of the Federal Register Public comment 
period Commission staff provides the Federal Co-Chair with a summary of 
public comments and recommendations, if any, on 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 2016 Appropriations Summary

    The Commission has historically received federal funding from 
several sources.
    These fund sources are governed by the following general 
principles:
     In FY 2016 no project specific direction was provided by 
Congress.
     The Energy and Water Appropriation (i.e. ``discretionary'' 
or ``base'' funding) 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.
     All Energy and Water Appropriation and Trans-Alaska 
Pipeline Liability (TAPL) funds, including operating funds, identified 
in the Work Plan, are ``up to'' amounts, and may be reassigned to other 
programs included in the current year work plan, if they are not fully 
expended in a program component area or a specific project.

                Denali Commission FY 2016 Funding Summary
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                                                  Available for program
                     Source                             activities
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Energy & Water Funds:
    FY 2016 Appropriations.....................               $8,000,000
    Prior Year Funds and Anticipated Recoveries                2,000,000
        Subtotal...............................               10,000,000
TAPL Funds:
    FY 2016 Annual Allocation..................               11,500,000
    Prior Year Allocation......................
    Prior Year Funds and Anticipated Recoveries                1,000,000
        Subtotal...............................               12,500,000
                                                ------------------------
            Grand Total........................               22,500,000
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                                       Denali Commission FY 2016 Work Plan
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                                                                  Energy & water
                 Program and type of investment                        funds        TAPL funds         Total
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Energy:
    New Rural Power System Upgrade (RPSU) Projects..............      $2,800,000  ..............      $2,800,000
    RPSU Maintenance & Improvements.............................         500,000  ..............         500,000
    Audits, Technical Assistance, & Community Energy Efficiency          500,000  ..............         500,000
     Projects...................................................
    New & Refurbishment Bulk Fuel Projects......................  ..............     * 3,400,000       3,400,000
    Bulk Fuel Maintenance & Improvements........................  ..............       1,000,000       1,000,000
    Bulk Fuel Operations & Maintenance Practices................         200,000         250,000         450,000
        Subtotal................................................       4,000,000       4,650,000       8,650,000
Transportation:
    Barge Landings & Mooring Points.............................                       7,200,000       7,200,000
        Subtotal................................................               0       7,200,000       7,200,000
Environmentally Threatened Communities:
    Mertarvik...................................................       2,870,000         150,000       3,020,000
    Shaktoolik..................................................         520,000         500,000       1,020,000
    Shishmaref..................................................         520,000  ..............         520,000
    Kivalina....................................................         520,000  ..............         520,000
    Other Communities in GAO Report 09-551......................         490,000  ..............         490,000
    Statewide Activities/Support................................       1,080,000  ..............       1,080,000
        Subtotal................................................    ** 6,000,000         650,000       6,650,000
                                                                 =================                $1M from prior
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Project.** $2M from prior year funds, $1,080,000 of which is for Statewide Activities/Support.


[[Page 24572]]

Environmentally Threatened Communities Program--Draft FY 2016 
Investment Plan

    In order to fulfill its role as lead federal coordinating agency 
the Denali Commission staff, in consultation with State, Federal, and 
other partners, and the referenced communities in particular, proposes 
the following investments in support of the new Environmentally 
Threatened Communities (ETC) Program. United States Government 
Accountability Office (GAO) Report 09-551 (http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-09-551) was instrumental in charting prospective Commission 
investments.

Mertarvik

    The community of Newtok has initiated its relocation to Mertarvik 
and has started building infrastructure at Mertarvik. The Commission 
funds summarized above plus $475,000 of USDA/RUS funds that the 
Commission has in hand, will be used to supplement approximately $4.8M 
from existing State of Alaska Legislative grants and re-appropriations, 
$4.0M from the BIA Tribal Transportation Program, and $3.5M of disaster 
relief funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and 
the State of Alaska. The Commission and USDA funds will be used for the 
following activities:
     Preparation of Programmatic Environmental Documentation 
for the overall relocation effort that will allow other Federal 
agencies to adopt the document for their investments.
     Development of a final Site Plan and Official Plat that is 
consistent with ultimate utility development, road construction and 
community development.
     Geotechnical investigation to supplement existing 
information will allow efficient design of roads, building foundations, 
and other infrastructure.
     Development of the Borrow Site (quarry).
     Support for the existing Community Relocation Coordinator, 
Project Management Services, preparation of Emergency Response Plans, 
and conducting Emergency Response Drills.
     Design of a Bulk Fuel Storage Facility.
     Preliminary design of community power, water, sewer and 
solid waste facilities.
     Match/gap funds for other related activities identified by 
the Community.

Shaktoolik

    The community of Shaktoolik has decided to protect the community in 
place for now.
    The Commission funds summarized above will be used for the 
following activities:
     Support for the existing Community Relocation Coordinator, 
preparation of Emergency Response Plans, and conducting Emergency 
Response Drills.
     ``Soft Erosion'' protection measures.
     Design of a consolidated fuel storage facility above the 
100-year flood level.
     Match/gap funds for other related activities identified by 
the Community.

Shishmaref

    Shishmaref is considering relocation but has not yet selected a new 
site. The Commission funds summarized above will be used for the 
following activities:
     Support for the existing Community Relocation Coordinator, 
preparation of Emergency Response Plans, and conducting Emergency 
Response Drills.
     Local match for existing US Army Corps of Engineers 
(USACE) funds for a site specific 100-year Flood Analysis.
     Local match for existing USACE funds to design Phases 3 
and 4 of an armor rock revetment to protect the island.
     Match/gap funds for other related activities identified by 
the Community.

Kivalina

    Kivalina is considering relocation and has selected a site for a 
new school. The Commission funds summarized above will be used for the 
following activities:
     Support for the existing Community Relocation Coordinator, 
preparation of Emergency Response Plans, and conducting Emergency 
Response Drills.
     Local match for existing USACE funds for a site specific 
100-year Flood Analysis.
     Local match for existing USACE funds to design an armor 
rock revetment to protect the lagoon side of the island.
     Match/gap funds for other related activities identified by 
the Community.

Other Communities in the 2009 GAO Report

    The Commission funds summarized above will be used for the 
following activities in support of protect in place projects for the 27 
other communities in GAO Report 09-551:
     Develop and/or update FEMA Hazard Mitigation Plans and 
Emergency Operation/Response Plans.
     Develop site specific project design, budget and schedules 
for two projects based on existing FEMA approved Hazard Mitigation 
Plans.

Statewide

    It is well known that there are other communities in rural Alaska 
not mentioned in the 2009 GAO Report that have infrastructure 
threatened due to erosion, flooding and permafrost degradation. The 
Commission intends to make $1,080,000 of prior year discretionary 
funding available for a statewide Disaster Response Fund that can be 
used to respond quickly, or to provide matching funds to compliment 
other funders for ETC disaster response and recovery, and other 
statewide initiatives such as the following.
     Develop a general Community Prioritization Methodology 
based on the threats due to erosion, flooding and permafrost 
degradation. This tool will be used to expand the 2009 GAO list, and by 
other funding agencies to allocate future resources.
     Support for the State of Alaska Immediate Action Working 
Group (IAWG).
     Support for two full time employees at a Grant Writing 
Center of Excellence that will focus on developing grant proposals for 
ETC protect in place projects.
    However, a final decision has not yet been made on the level of 
funding for disaster response/recovery verses the other potential 
statewide initiatives.

Statement Regarding FY 2017 Work Plan

    The Federal Co-Chair and staff anticipate that the Commission's 
investments in FY 2017 will focus on the Energy and ETC Programs, with 
at least $5M for ETC. Current ideas for FY 2017 ETC initiatives and 
activities are summarized below. Of course, the agency will need to vet 
the proposed investments with each community in question, the State of 
Alaska, and the Commissioners.
    1. Mertarvik community development.
    2. Conceptual design and other pre-construction activities for a 
prototype emergency shelter facility that could be site adapted for 
construction in Shishmaref, Kivalina and Shaktoolik.
    3. Mertarvik, Shishmaref, Kivalina, and Shaktoolik match/gap 
funding.
    4. Pre-construction activities for protect in place projects for 
the 31 communities identified in GAO Report 09-550.
    5. Statewide ETC investments.

Joel Neimeyer,
Federal Co-Chair.
[FR Doc. 2016-09708 Filed 4-25-16; 8:45 am]
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