[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 201 (Thursday, October 19, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48722-48723]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-22589]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

[189A2100DD/AAKC001030/A0A501010.999900 253G; OMB Control Number 1076-
0160]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Verification of Indian 
Preference for Employment in BIA and IHS

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, the 
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is proposing to renew an information 
collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
December 18, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments on the information collection request 
(ICR) by mail to Ms. Laurel Iron Cloud, Chief, Division of Tribal 
Government Services, Office of Indian Services, Bureau of Indian 
Affairs, 1849 C Street NW., Mail Stop 4513 MIB, Washington, DC 20240; 
facsimile: (202) 208-5113; email: [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 1076-0160 in the subject line of your 
comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact Ms. Laurel Iron Cloud, telephone (202) 513-
7641.

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.
    We are 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. We will include or summarize each comment in our request 
to OMB to approve this ICR. 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 BIA is seeking renewal of the approval for the 
information collection conducted under 25 U.S.C. 43, 36 Stat. 472, 
inter alia, and implementing regulations, at 25 CFR part 5, regarding 
verification of Indian preference for employment. The purpose of Indian 
preference is to encourage qualified Indian persons to seek employment 
with the BIA and Indian Health Service (IHS) by offering preferential 
treatment to qualified candidates of Indian heritage. BIA collects the 
information to ensure compliance with Indian preference hiring 
requirements. The information collection relates only to individuals 
applying for employment with the BIA and IHS. The tribe's involvement 
is limited to verifying membership information submitted by the 
applicant. The collection of information allows certain persons who are 
of Indian descent to receive preference when appointments are made to 
vacancies in positions with the BIA and IHS as well as in any unit that 
has been transferred intact from the BIA to a Bureau or office within 
the Department of the Interior or the Department of Health and Human 
Services and that continues to perform functions formerly performed as 
part of the BIA and IHS. You are eligible for preference if (a) you are 
a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe; (b) you are a 
descendent of a member and you were residing within the present 
boundaries of any Indian reservation on June 1, 1934; (c) you are an 
Alaska native; or (d) you possess one-half degree Indian blood derived 
from tribes that are indigenous to the United States.
    Title of Collection: Verification of Indian Preference for 
Employment in BIA and IHS.
    OMB Control Number: 1076-0160.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Qualified Indian persons who are 
seeking preference in employment with the BIA and IHS.

[[Page 48723]]

    Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 5,000 per year, on 
average.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 5,000 per year, on 
average.
    Estimated Completion Time per Response: 30 minutes.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 2,500 hours.
    Respondent's Obligation: A response is required to obtain a 
benefit.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: $6,920.
    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. 2017-22589 Filed 10-18-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4337-15-P