[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 183 (Wednesday, September 21, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64885-64887]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-22704]


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DENALI COMMISSION


Fiscal Year 2017 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 2017 (FY 2017).

DATES: Comments and related material to be received by October 21, 
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].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    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 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 
2017 Work Plan was developed in the following manner.
     A workgroup comprised of Denali Commissioners and 
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.
     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 theirconsideration 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 2017 Appropriations Summary

    The Commission has historically received federal funding from 
several sources. These fund sources are governed by the following 
general principles:
     In FY 2017 no project specific direction was provided by 
Congress.
     The Energy and Water Appropriation (i.e. ``discretionary'' 
or

[[Page 64886]]

``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 (OMB), 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.
     The proposed FY 2017 Work Plan is based upon the funds 
allocated to the Commission in Senate appropriation bill S.2804 of 
$15,000,000. Approximately $3,000,000 of the $15,000,000 was allocated 
to administrative expenses and non-project program support leaving 
$12,000,000 available for program activities. The Commission 
anticipates TAPL funds of $3,600,000 will be allocated to the 
Commission with $200,000 of that amount being utilized for 
administrative expenses and non-project program support leaving 
$3,400,000 available for program activities.

                Denali Commission FY 2017 Funding Summary
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Available for
                         Source                               program
                                                            activities
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          Energy & Water Funds
------------------------------------------------------------------------
FY 2017 Appropriation \a\...............................     $12,000,000
                                                         ---------------
    Subtotal............................................      12,000,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               TAPL Funds
------------------------------------------------------------------------
FY 2017 Annual Allocation \b\...........................       3,400,000
                                                         ---------------
    Subtotal............................................       3,400,000
                                                         ---------------
        Grand Total.....................................      15,400,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes:
a. Estimated FY 2017 program funds based on S.2804 Appropriations Bill;
  if the final Base appropriation is less than the amount in S.2804, the
  Federal Co-Chair shall reduce investments in the Energy Program to
  balance the FY 2017 Work Plan.
b. Estimated FY 2017 program funds based on discussions with OMB.


                                       Denali Commission FY 2017 Work Plan
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    Energy and
                 Program and type of investment                     water funds     TAPL funds         Total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Energy
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Diesel Power Plants.............................................      $5,800,000  ..............      $5,800,000
Interties.......................................................  ..............  ..............  ..............
Wind/Microgrids.................................................  ..............  ..............  ..............
Hydro, Biomass, Geothermal & Other Renewables...................  ..............  ..............  ..............
Hydrokinetics & Others Emerging Technologies....................  ..............  ..............  ..............
Audits, Technical Assistance, & Community Energy Improvements...         500,000  ..............         500,000
RPSU Maintenance & Improvements.................................         500,000  ..............         500,000
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Subtotal....................................................       6,800,000              $0       6,800,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    Bulk Fuel
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New/Refurbished Facilities and Maintenance & Improvement          ..............       3,200,000       3,200,000
 Projects.......................................................
Improve Administrative and Operation & Maintenance Projects.....         200,000         200,000         200,000
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Subtotal....................................................         200,000       3,400,000       3,600,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Environmentally Threatened Communities
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mertarvik.......................................................       1,500,000  ..............       1,500,000
Shaktoolik......................................................         500,000  ..............         500,000
Shishmaref......................................................         500,000  ..............         500,000
Kivalina........................................................         500,000  ..............         500,000
27 Other Communities in 2009 GAO Report.........................       1,000,000  ..............       1,000,000
Program Development.............................................       1,000,000  ..............       1,000,000
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Subtotal....................................................       5,000,000               0       5,000,000
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
        Grand Total.............................................      12,000,000       3,400,000      15,400,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 64887]]

Energy and Bulk Fuel Programs

    FY 2017 Denali Commission investments in Energy and Bulk Fuel will 
include:
     Remote Power System Upgrade (RPSU) projects at locations 
selected based on need in consultation with the Alaska Energy Authority 
(AEA) and Alaska Village Electric Cooperative (AVEC).
     Bulk Fuel Upgrade (BFU) projects at locations selected 
based on need in consultation with AEA and AVEC.
     Rural power system and bulk fuel facility Maintenance and 
Improvement (M&I) projects at locations selected based on need in 
consultation with AEA and AVEC.
     Continued support of the rural power system and bulk fuel 
facility operator training programs managed by AEA.
     Continued support of initiatives at the State of Alaska 
Department of Community and Regional Affairs (DCRA) and the Alaska 
Community Foundation (ACF) to improve the administrative capacity 
related to operating bulk fuel facilities in rural Alaska.
     Continued support of the Sanitation Energy Efficiency 
Program at the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC).

Environmentally Threatened Communities Program

    In order to fulfill its role as lead federal coordinating agency 
the 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 will be used for the following activities:
     Continued support for the existing Community Relocation 
Coordinator.
     Continued support for professional project management 
services.
     Match/gap funds for on-going relocation activities.

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:
     Continued support for the existing Community Relocation 
Coordinator.
     Design of protect in place projects.
     Design and procure household and community emergency kits.
     Match/gap funds for other related activities.

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:

 Continued support for the existing Community Relocation 
Coordinator
 Design of protect in place projects
 Design and procure household and community emergency kits
 Match/gap funds for other related activities

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:

 Continued support for the existing Community Relocation 
Coordinator
 Design of protect in place projects
 Design and procure household and community emergency kits
 Match/gap funds for other related activities

Other Communities in the 2009 GAO Report

    The Commission funds summarized above will be used for the 
following activities in support of the 27 other communities in GAO 
Report 09-551:

 Design of site specific projects based on existing Federal 
Emergency Management Administration approved Hazard Mitigation Plans 
and Small Community Emergency Response Plans

Program Development

    The Commission intends to make $1,000,000 available for general ETC 
program development initiatives such as the following.

 Continued support of a fund that compliments other state and 
federal agencies responding to ETC related disasters
 Continued support of an ETC Grant Writing Center of Excellence 
being established at the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
 Design of a prototype community shelter that can be site 
adapted to Shaktoolik, Shishmaref and Kivalina
 Analysis of existing erosion, permafrost degradation and flood 
data to quantify threats to infrastructure related to climate change
 ETC related outreach travel and partner support

Joel Neimeyer,
Federal Co-Chair.
[FR Doc. 2016-22704 Filed 9-20-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3300-01-P