[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 188 (Friday, September 29, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45605-45606]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-20932]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

[178A2100DD/AAKC001030/A0A501010.999900 253G; OMB Control Number 1076-
0178]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Native 
American Business Development Institute (NABDI) Funding Solicitations 
and Reporting

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.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
October 30, 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. Jack Stevens, Division Acting Director, Office of Indian Energy 
and Economic Development, Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs, 1849 C 
Street NW., MS-4152 MIB, Washington, DC 20240; or by email to 
[email protected]. Please reference OMB Control Number 1076-0178 in 
the subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact Mr. Jack Stevens by telephone at (202) 208-
6764. 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

[[Page 45606]]

information was published on July 26, 2017 (82 FR 34686). 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 Division of Economic Development (DED), within the 
Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development (IEED), established 
the Native American Business Development Institute (NABDI) to provide 
technical assistance funding to federally recognized American Indian 
Tribes seeking to retain universities and colleges, private consulting 
firms, non-academic/non-profit entities, or others to prepare studies 
of economic development opportunities or plans. These studies and plans 
will empower American Indian Tribes and Tribal businesses to make 
informed decisions regarding their economic futures. Studies may 
concern the viability of an economic development project or business or 
the practicality of a technology a Tribe may choose to pursue. The DED 
will specifically exclude from consideration proposals for research and 
development projects, requests for funding of salaries for Tribal 
government personnel, funding to pay legal fees, and requests for 
funding for the purchase or lease of structures, machinery, hardware or 
other capital items. Plans may encompass future periods of five years 
or more and include one or more economic development factors including 
but not limited to land and retail use, industrial development, 
tourism, energy, resource development and transportation.
    This is an annual program whose primary objective is to create jobs 
and foster economic activity within Tribal communities. The DED will 
administer the program within IEED; and studies and plans as described 
herein will be sole discretionary projects DED will consider or fund 
absent a competitive bidding process. When funding is available, DED 
will solicit proposals for studies and plans. To receive these funds, 
Tribes may use the contracting mechanism established by Public Law 93-
638, the Indian Self-Determination Act or may obtain adjustments to 
their funding from the Office of Self-Governance. See 25 U.S.C. 450 et 
seq.
    Interested applicants must submit a Tribal resolution requesting 
funding, a statement of work describing the project for which the study 
is requested or the scope of the plan envisioned, the identity of the 
academic institution or other entity the applicant wishes to retain (if 
known) and a budget indicating the funding amount requested and how it 
will be spent. The DED expressly retains the authority to reduce or 
otherwise modify proposed budgets and funding amounts.
    Applications for funding will be juried and evaluated on the basis 
of a proposed project's potential to generate jobs and economic 
activity on the reservation.
    Title of Collection: Native American Business Development Institute 
(NABDI) Funding Solicitations and Reporting.
    OMB Control Number: 1076-0178.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Extension without change of currently approved 
collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Indian Tribes with trust or restricted 
land.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 20 applicants per 
year; 20 project participants each year, on average.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 40.
    Estimated Completion Time per Response: 50 hours per application; 
1.5 hours per progress report.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 1,030 hours (1,000 
for applications and 30 for final reports).
    Respondent's Obligation: Response is required to obtain a benefit.
    Frequency of Collection: Once per year for applications and final 
report.
    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. 2017-20932 Filed 9-28-17; 8:45 am]
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