[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 200 (Monday, October 17, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71528-71529]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-25044]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of the Secretary

[16XD4523WK DWK000000.000000 DS10100000]


Proposed New Information Collection: OMB Control Number 1094-
ONEW, Indian Water Rights Settlements: Economic Analysis

AGENCY: Secretary's Indian Water Rights Office, Office of the 
Secretary, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Secretary's Indian Water Rights Office, Department of the Interior 
announces the proposed creation of a new public information collection 
and seeks public comments on the provisions thereof.

DATES: Consideration will be given to all comments received by December 
16, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Rachel Brown, U.S. Department 
of the Interior, 1849 C Street NW., MS 7069-MIB, Washington, DC 20240, 
fax 202-208-6970, or by electronic mail to [email protected]. Please 
mention that your comments concern the Indian Water Rights Settlements: 
Economic Analysis, OMB Control Number 1093-0NEW.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request a copy of the information 
collection request, any explanatory information and related forms, see 
the contact information provided in the ADDRESSES section above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    This notice is for a new information collection.
    The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations at 5 CFR part 
1320, which implement the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 
3501 et seq., require that interested members of the public and 
affected agencies have an opportunity to comment on information 
collection and recordkeeping activities (see 5 CFR 1320.8(d)).
    The Secretary's Indian Water Rights Office (SIWRO) is tasked with 
overseeing and coordinating the Federal Government's Indian water 
rights settlement program and is undertaking a study on the economic 
outcomes associated with Indian water rights settlements (IWRS). The 
purpose of the study is to identify and track social and economic 
changes that occur as a result

[[Page 71529]]

of the implementation of enacted settlements. The Office of Indian 
Water Rights is located within the Secretary's Office. The Office 
leads, coordinates, and manages the Department's Indian water rights 
settlement program (109 Departmental Manual 1.3.E(2)).

II. Data

    (1) Title: Indian Water Rights Settlements: Economic Analysis.
    OMB Control Number: 1093-0NEW.
    Type of Review: New Information Collection.
    Affected Entities: State, Local & Tribal Governments as well as 
some Private Sector entities.
    Estimated annual number of respondents: 48.
    Frequency of responses: One time.
    (2) Annual reporting and recordkeeping burden:
    Total annual reporting per response: 2.73 hours.
    Total number of estimated responses: 48.
    Total annual reporting: 131 hours.
    (3) Description of the need and use of the information. Indian 
reserved water rights are vested property rights for which the United 
States has a trust responsibility, with the United States holding legal 
title to such water in trust for the benefit of Indian tribes. Federal 
policy supports the resolution of disputes regarding Indian water 
rights through negotiated settlements. Settlement of Indian water 
rights disputes breaks down barriers and helps create conditions that 
improve water resources management by providing certainty as to the 
rights of all water users who are parties to the disputes. At a time of 
increasing competition for Federal funds, it is important to quantify 
and describe the economic impacts and net benefits of the 
implementation of enacted Indian water rights settlements.

III. Request for Comments

    The Departments invite comments on:
    (a) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the 
proper performance of the functions of the agencies, including whether 
the information will have practical utility;
    (b) The accuracy of the agencies' estimate of the burden of the 
collection of information and the validity of the methodology and 
assumptions used;
    (c) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    (d) Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
respondents, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology.
    ``Burden'' means the total time, effort, and financial resources 
expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, disclose, or provide 
information to or for a Federal agency. This includes the time needed 
to review instructions; to develop, acquire, install, and use 
technology and systems for the purposes of collecting, validating, and 
verifying information, processing and maintaining information, and 
disclosing and providing information; to train personnel and to be able 
to respond to a collection of information, to search data sources, and 
to complete and review the collection of information; and to transmit 
or otherwise disclose the information.
    It is our policy to make all comments available to the public for 
review. Before including Personally Identifiable Information (PII), 
such as your address, phone number, email address, or other personal 
information in your comment(s), you should be aware that your entire 
comment (including PII) may be made available to the public at any 
time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold PII from public 
view, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. If you wish to 
view any comments received, you may do so by scheduling an appointment 
with the contact provided in the ADDRESSES section above. A valid 
picture identification is required for entry into the Department of the 
Interior.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a 
currently valid Office of Management and Budget control number.

David D. Alspach,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, Office of the Secretary, 
Department of the Interior.
[FR Doc. 2016-25044 Filed 10-14-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4334-63-P