[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 107 (Friday, June 3, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35786-35787]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-13135]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Indian Health Service


Notice of Tribal Consultation and Urban Confer Sessions on the 
State of the Great Plains Area Indian Health Service

AGENCY: Indian Health Service (IHS), Department of Health and Human 
Services.

ACTION: Notice of Tribal consultation and urban confer sessions on the 
state of the Great Plains Area IHS.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Indian Health Service will 
conduct a 90 day tribal consultation and urban confer regarding the 
State of the Great Plains Area IHS. The IHS will conduct two telephone 
tribal consultation and urban confer sessions on June 22, 2016 and 
August 10, 2016. The IHS will also conduct two on-site tribal 
consultation and urban confer sessions on July 13, 2016 in Aberdeen, 
South Dakota and on August 30, 2016 in Rapid City, South Dakota.

DATES: The IHS will conduct two telephone Tribal consultation and urban 
confer sessions on June 22, 2016 and August 10, 2016. The IHS will also 
conduct two on-site Tribal consultation and urban confer sessions on 
July 13, 2016 in Aberdeen, South Dakota, and on August 30, 2016 in 
Rapid City, SD.
    The on-site meetings in Aberdeen and Rapid City, South Dakota will 
be conducted at the addresses noted below. Written comments must be 
received on or before September 1, 2016 at the address below.
    Conference Call Information: 1-800-369-1747; Pass Code: 1381519.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at The Dakota Event Center located 
at 720 Lamont Street, Aberdeen, South Dakota; and at the Rushmore Plaza 
Holiday Inn Convention Center located at 505 N. Fifth Street, Rapid 
City, SD 57701, during the 13th Annual Direct Service Tribes National 
Meeting.

[[Page 35787]]

    Written Comments: For Tribes: [email protected].
    For Urbans: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: CAPT Chris Buchanan, Acting Director, 
Great Plains Area, Indian Health Service, 115 4th Ave. SE Suite 309 
Aberdeen, South Dakota, (605) 226-7584, Fax (605) 226-7541.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: These meetings are in follow-up to the April 
5-7, 2016 IHS Tribal Leaders Briefing in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The 
IHS would like to invite the Great Plains Area Tribal Leaders to 
participate in formal consultation and interested urban Indian 
organizations to confer with IHS leadership to discuss the state of the 
Great Plains Area IHS.
    The purpose of these sessions are to receive feedback on the 
organization of the IHS Great Plains Area Office in an effort to 
continue to become more patient-focused in order to better meet the 
needs of the American Indians in the Great Plains Area. Specific topics 
will include geographic location of the Great Plains Area Office, 
centralization or further decentralization of area office services, 
staffing, budget, local involvement, transparency and oversight, 
partnerships, accountability, and monitoring.
    Tribal leaders and designated representatives as well as urban 
Indian organizations that are interested in submitting written 
testimony for the on-site or telephonic consultation and urban confer 
sessions can provide written comments to the following: For Tribes_
[email protected]. For Urbans_[email protected].
    The Tribal consultation and urban confer sessions will be conducted 
with elected or appointed leaders of Tribal governments and their 
designated representatives [42 U.S.C. 9835, Section 640(l)(4)(A)], and 
recognized representatives from urban Indian organizations, as defined 
by 25 U.S.C. 1603(29). Representatives from other Tribal organizations 
and Native non-profit organizations are welcome to attend as observers. 
Those wishing to participate in the discussions must have a copy of a 
letter signed by an elected or appointed official or their designee, 
which authorizes them to serve as a representative of the Tribe. This 
should be submitted no later than three days in advance of the Tribal 
consultation and urban confer session to CAPT Chris Buchanan at (605) 
226-7541 (fax).
    A detailed report of all written comments and comments received 
through the Tribal consultation and urban confer sessions will be 
prepared and made available within 90 days of the close of the comment 
period to all Tribal governments and interested urban Indian 
organizations within the Great Plains Area.

    Dated: May 27, 2016.
Mary Smith,
Principal Deputy Director, Indian Health Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-13135 Filed 6-2-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4165-16-P