[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 114 (Thursday, June 15, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27521-27522]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-12444]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

[178A2100DD/AAKC001030/A0A501010.999900 253G]


Agency Information Collection Activities: OMB Control Number 
1076-0177; Tribal Energy Development Capacity Program

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs is seeking comments on the renewal 
of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for the collection of 
information for the Tribal Energy Development Capacity (TEDC) program 
authorized by OMB Control Number 1076-0177. This information collection 
expires August 31, 2017.

DATES: Submit comments on or before August 14, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the information collection to Mr. 
Chandler Allen, Division of Energy and Mineral Development, Office of 
Indian Energy and Economic Development, Assistant Secretary--Indian 
Affairs, 13922 Denver West Parkway, Suite 200, Lakewood, CO 80401; 
facsimile: (303) 969-5273; email: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Mr. Chandler Allen, telephone: (720) 
407-0607.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The Energy Policy Act of 2005 authorizes the Secretary of the 
Interior to provide assistance to Indian Tribes and Tribal energy 
resource development organizations for energy development and 
appropriates funds for such projects on a year-to-year basis. See 25 
U.S.C. 3502. When funding is available, the Office of Indian Energy and 
Economic Development (IEED) may solicit proposals for projects for 
building capacity for Tribal energy resource development on Indian land 
from Tribal energy resource development organizations and Indian 
Tribes, including Alaska Native regional and village corporations under 
the TEDC program. For the purposes of this program, ``Indian land'' 
includes: All land within the boundaries of an Indian reservation, 
pueblo, or rancheria; any land outside those boundaries that is held by 
the United States in trust for a Tribe or individual Indian or by a 
Tribe or individual Indian with restrictions on alienation; and land 
owned by an Alaska Native regional or village corporation.
    Those who would like to submit a TEDC project proposal must submit 
an application that includes certain information and, once funding is 
received must submit reports on how they are using the funding. A 
complete application must contain the following:
     A formal signed resolution of the governing body of the 
Tribe or Tribal energy resource development organization demonstrating 
authority to apply;
     A proposal describing the planned activities and 
deliverable products; and
     A detailed budget estimate, including contracted personnel 
costs, travel estimates, data collection and analysis costs, and other 
expenses.
    The project proposal must include the information about the Tribe 
or Tribal energy resource development organization sufficient to allow 
IEED to evaluate the proposal based on the following criteria:
    (a) Energy resource potential;
    (b) Applicant's energy resource development history and current 
status;
    (c) Applicant's existing energy resource development capabilities;
    (d) Demonstrated willingness of the applicant to establish and 
maintain an independent energy resource development business entity;
    (e) Intent to develop and retain energy development capacity within 
the applicant's government or business entities; and
    (f) Applicant commitment of staff, training, or monetary resources.
    The IEED requires this information to ensure that it provides 
funding only to those projects that meet the goals of the TEDC and the 
purposes for which Congress provides the appropriations.

II. Request for Comments

    The IEED requests your comments on this collection concerning: (a) 
The

[[Page 27522]]

necessity of this information collection for the proper performance of 
the functions of the agency, including whether the information will 
have practical utility; (b) The accuracy of the agency's estimate of 
the burden (hours and cost) of the collection of information, including 
the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) Ways we could 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and (d) Ways we could minimize the burden of the collection 
of the information on the respondents.
    Please note that an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and an 
individual need not respond to, a collection of information unless it 
has a valid OMB Control Number.
    It is our policy to make all comments available to the public for 
review at the location listed in the ADDRESSES section. Before 
including your address, phone number, email address or other personal 
identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your 
entire comment--including your personal identifying information--may be 
made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your 
comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public 
review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 1076-0177.
    Title: Tribal Energy Development Capacity Program Grants.
    Brief Description of Collection: Indian Tribes and Tribal energy 
resource development organizations that would like to apply for TEDC 
funding must submit an application that includes certain information. A 
complete application must contain a formal signed resolution of the 
governing body of the Tribe or Tribal energy resource development 
organization, a proposal describing the planned activities and 
deliverable products; and a detailed budget estimate, including 
contracted personnel costs, travel estimates, data collection and 
analysis costs, and other expenses. The IEED requires this information 
to ensure that it provides funding only to those projects that meet the 
goals of the TEDC program and purposes for which Congress provides the 
appropriation. Upon acceptance of an application, the successful 
applicant must then submit one- to two-page progress reports twice 
during the grant period summarizing events, accomplishments, problems 
and/or results in executing the project.
    Type of Review: Extension without change of currently approved 
collection.
    Respondents: Indian Tribes and Tribal energy resource development 
organizations under 25 U.S.C. 3502.
    Number of Respondents: 27 per year, on average; 13 project 
participants each year, on average.
    Frequency of Response: Once per year for applications; 4 times per 
year for progress reports.
    Estimated Time per Response: 40 hours per application; 1.5 hours 
per progress report.
    Obligation to Respond: Response is required to obtain a benefit.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 1,158 hours (1,080 for 
applications and 78 for progress reports).
    Estimated Total Annual Non-Hour Dollar Cost: $0.

Authority

    The authorities for this action are the Energy Policy Act of 2005, 
25 U.S.C. 3502, and the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501 
et seq.

Elizabeth K. Appel,
Director, Office of Regulatory Affairs and Collaborative Action--Indian 
Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2017-12444 Filed 6-14-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4337-15-P