[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 162 (Wednesday, August 23, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40016-40017]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-17841]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

[178A2100DD/AAKC001030/A0A501010.999900 253G]; OMB Control Number 1076-
0177]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Tribal Energy 
Development Capacity Program

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, 
the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) are proposing to renew an 
information collection.

[[Page 40017]]


DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
September 22, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on this information collection request 
(ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget's Desk Officer for the 
Department of the Interior by email at [email protected]; or 
via facsimile to (202) 395-5806. Please provide a copy of your comments 
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]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 1076-0177 in the subject line of your 
comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact Mr. Chandler Allen by email at 
[email protected], or by telephone at (720) 407-0607. You may also 
view the ICR at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, we provide the general public and other Federal agencies 
with an opportunity to comment on new, proposed, revised, and 
continuing collections of information. This helps us assess the impact 
of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's 
reporting burden. It also helps the public understand our information 
collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired 
format.
    A Federal Register notice with a 60-day public comment period 
soliciting comments on this collection of information was published on 
June 15, 2017 (82 FR 27521). No comments were received.
    We are again soliciting comments on the proposed ICR that is 
described below. We are especially interested in public comment 
addressing the following issues: (1) Is the collection necessary to the 
proper functions of the BIA (2) will this information be processed and 
used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) 
how might the BIA enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (5) how might the BIA minimize the 
burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use 
of information technology.
    Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. 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.
    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.
    Title of Collection: Tribal Energy Development Capacity Program.
    OMB Control Number: 1076-0177.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Indian Tribes and Tribal energy 
resource development organizations under 25 U.S.C. 3502.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 26 per year, on 
average; 9 project participants each year, on average.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 26 applications per 
year, on average; 18 progress reports per year, on average.
    Estimated Completion Time per Response: 40 hours per application; 
1.5 hours per progress report.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 1,067 hours (1,040 
for applications and 27 for progress reports).
    Respondent's Obligation: Responses required to receive a benefit.
    Frequency of Collection: Once per year for applications; 2 times 
per year for progress reports.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: $0.
    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 OMB control number.
    The authority for this action is 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. 2017-17841 Filed 8-22-17; 8:45 am]
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