[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 185 (Tuesday, September 26, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44759-44762]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-20562]


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DENALI COMMISSION


Denali Commission Fiscal Year 2018 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). 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 2018 (FY 2018).

DATES: Comments and related material to be received by October 30, 
2017.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to the Denali Commission, Attention: Corrine 
Eilo, 510 L Street, Suite 410, Anchorage, AK 99501.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Corrine Eilo, Denali Commission, 510 L 
Street, Suite 410, Anchorage, AK 99501. Telephone: (907) 271-1414. 
Email: [email protected].
    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. 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 2018 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 
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.

[[Page 44760]]

     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 their consideration 
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 2018 Appropriations Summary

    The Commission has historically received federal funding from 
several sources. The two primary sources at this time include the 
Energy & Water Appropriation Bill (``base'' or ``discretionary'' funds) 
and an annual allocation from the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Liability 
(TAPL) fund. The proposed FY 2018 Work Plan assumes the Commission will 
receive $15,000,000 of base funds, which is the amount referenced in 
the reauthorization of the Commission passed by Congress in 2016 (ref: 
Pub. L. 114-322), and a $1,900,000 TAPL allocation based on discussions 
with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Approximately 
$4,000,000 of the base funds will be used for administrative expenses 
and non-project program support, leaving $11,000,000 available for 
program activities. The total base funding shown in the Work Plan also 
includes an amount typically available from project closeouts and other 
de-obligations that occur in any given year. Approximately $200,000 of 
the TAPL funds will be utilized for administrative expenses and non-
project program support, leaving $1,700,000 available for program 
activities. Absent any new specific direction or limitations provided 
by Congress in the current Energy & Water Appropriations Bill, these 
funding sources are governed by the following general principles, 
either by statute or by language in the Work Plan itself:
     Funds from the Energy & Water Appropriation are eligible 
for use in all programs.
     TAPL funds can only be used for bulk fuel related projects 
and activities.
     Appropriated funds may be reduced due to Congressional 
action, rescissions by OMB, and other federal agency actions.
     All Energy & Water and TAPL investment amounts 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.
     Energy & Water and TAPL funds set aside for administrative 
expenses that subsequently become available, may be used for program 
activities included in the current year work plan.

                Denali Commission FY2018 Funding Summary
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Available for
                         Source                               program
                                                            activities
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                          Energy & Water Funds
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FY 2018 Energy & Water Appropriation \1\................     $11,000,000
Prior Year Funds........................................       1,000,000
                                                         ---------------
    Subtotal............................................      12,000,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               TAPL Funds
------------------------------------------------------------------------
FY 2018 Annual Allocation...............................       1,700,000
                                                         ---------------
    Subtotal............................................       1,700,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    U.S. Department of Transportation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prior Year Funds........................................       1,200,000
                                                         ---------------
    Subtotal............................................       1,200,000
                                                         ---------------
        Grand Total.....................................      14,900,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes:
\1\ If the final appropriation is less than $15 million the Federal Co-
  Chair shall reduce investments to balance the FY 2018 Work Plan.


                                        Denali Commission FY2018 Workplan
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Program and type of investment           Energy & water       TAPL            USDOT           Total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         Energy Reliability and Security
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Diesel Power Plants.............................      $3,800,000  ..............  ..............      $3,800,000
Audits, TA, Community Energy Efficiency                  500,000  ..............  ..............         500,000
 Improvements...................................
RPSU Maintenance and Improvement Projects.......       2,200,000  ..............  ..............       2,200,000
Improve Administrative and Operation and                 300,000  ..............  ..............         300,000
 Maintenance Practices..........................
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal....................................       6,800,000  ..............  ..............       6,800,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 44761]]

 
                                          Bulk Fuel Safety and Security
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New/Refurbished Facilities......................  ..............       1,200,000  ..............       1,200,000
Maintenance and Improvement Projects............  ..............         300,000  ..............         300,000
Improve Administrative and Operation &                   200,000         200,000  ..............         400,000
 Maintenance Practices..........................
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal....................................         200,000       1,700,000  ..............       1,900,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       Transportation System Improvements
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maintenance and Improvements....................  ..............  ..............       1,200,000       1,200,000
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal....................................  ..............  ..............       1,200,000       1,200,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Village Infrastructure Protection
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mertarvik.......................................       2,500,000  ..............  ..............       2,500,000
Shishmaref......................................       1,500,000  ..............  ..............       1,500,000
Shaktoolik......................................         250,000  ..............  ..............         250,000
Kivalina........................................         250,000  ..............  ..............         250,000
Program Development and Support for other                500,000  ..............  ..............         500,000
 Vulnerable Communities.........................
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal....................................       5,000,000  ..............  ..............       5,000,000
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
        Totals..................................      12,000,000       1,700,000       1,200,000      14,900,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Energy and Bulk Fuel Programs

    FY 2018 Denali Commission investments in Energy and Bulk Fuel may 
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 the Sanitation Energy Efficiency 
Program at the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC).

Village Infrastructure Protection 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 Village Infrastructure 
Protection (VIP) Program [previously known as the Environmentally 
Threatened Community (ETC) Program]. United States Government 
Accountability Office (GAO) Report 09-551 (http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-09-551) has been instrumental in charting prospective Commission 
investments under this program.

Mertarvik

    The community of Newtok has initiated its relocation to Mertarvik 
and has started building infrastructure at Mertarvik. The Commission 
funds summarized above may be used for the following activities:
     $1.5 million for housing development.
     Continued support for the existing Community Relocation 
Coordinator.
     Continued support for professional project management 
services.
     Infrastructure development at Mertarvik.

Shishmaref

    Shishmaref has voted to relocate and is now working to select a new 
site. The Commission funds summarized above may be used for the 
following activities:
     Continued support for the existing Community Relocation 
Coordinator.
     New town-site planning and design.
     Professional project management services.

Shaktoolik

    The community of Shaktoolik has decided to protect the community in 
place for now. The Commission funds summarized above may be used for 
the following activities:
     Continued support for the existing Community Relocation 
Coordinator.
     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 may be used for the 
following activities:
     Continued support for the existing Community Relocation 
Coordinator.
     Match/gap funds for other related activities.

Program Development and Support for Other Vulnerable Communities

    The $500,000 referenced above for this line item in the work plan 
may be used for activities such as the following.
     Continued support for the ETC Grant Writing Center of 
Excellence at the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium.
     Small project infrastructure protection grants.
     Hazard Mitigation Plan-related initiatives and projects.
     Data/threat analyses related to erosion, flooding and 
permafrost degradation.
     VIP-related coordination, outreach and partner support.

Statement Regarding Public Service of Former and Current Commissioners

    It has been my honor to serve at the Commission as a program 
manager from

[[Page 44762]]

June 1999 to February 2005, and since January 2010, as the third 
Federal Co-Chair. I thank the Indian Health Service (IHS) and ANTHC for 
executing a unique personnel assignment of detailing me from the IHS to 
ANTHC and then to the Commission in the early years of the agency. I 
have had the pleasure of working with most, but not all, of the 
Commissioners since 1999. Their role is not easy, but they are 
essential in guiding the agency in deploying critical Federal resources 
to the highest needs found in rural Alaska. As this is the last work 
plan I will have the pleasure of navigating through the statutorily 
outlined approval process, I want to publically acknowledge and thank 
all of the former and current Commissioners.
    Governors:
Tony Knowles
Frank Murkowski
Sarah Palin
Sean Parnell
Bill Walker
    State Co-Chairs:
Lt. Governor Fran Ulmer
Lt. Governor Loren Leman
Commissioner Joel Gilbertson
Alaska OMB Director Cheryl Frasca
Alaska OMB Director Karen Rehfeld
Commissioner Susan Bell
Lt. Governor Byron Mallott
    Alaska Federation of Natives:
Julie Kitka
Nelson Angapak, Sr.
Loretta Bullard
    Alaska Municipal League:
Kevin Ritchie
Kathie Wasserman
    Associated General Contractors of Alaska
Henry Springer
Richard Cattanach
John MacKinnon
    University of Alaska:
Mark Hamilton
Karen Perdue
Patrick Gamble
Dr. James Johnsen
    Alaska AFL-CIO
Mano Frey
Jim Sampson
Gary Brooks
Vince Beltrami
    Lastly, my thanks to my predecessors who have been gracious in 
sharing their time and wisdom with me while I have served at the 
Commission.
    Federal Co-Chairs:
Jeffrey Staser
George Cannelos

Joel Neimeyer,
Federal Co-Chair.
[FR Doc. 2017-20562 Filed 9-25-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3300-01-P