[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 80 (Wednesday, April 25, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18013-18015]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-08632]


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DENALI COMMISSION


Denali Commission Fiscal Year 2019 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). 
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 2019 (FY 2019).

DATES: Comments and related material to be received by May 31, 2018.

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 2019 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 ten days 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

[[Page 18014]]

of Indian Affairs (BIA), the Economic Development Administration (EDA), 
Department of Agriculture--Rural Utilities Service (USDA/RUS), and the 
State of Alaska.
     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 2019 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 2019 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 FY2019 Funding Summary
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Available for  program
                     Source                             activities
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Energy & Water Funds:
    FY 2019 Energy & Water Appropriation \1\...              $11,000,000
    Prior Year Funds...........................                1,000,000
                                                ------------------------
        Subtotal...............................               12,000,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAPL Funds:
    FY 2019 Annual Allocation..................                1,700,000
                                                ------------------------
        Grand Total............................               13,700,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes: 1. If the final appropriation is less than $15 million the
  Federal Co-Chair shall reduce investments to balance the FY 2019 Work
  Plan.


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Program and type of investment                Energy & Water          TAPL              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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bulk Fuel Safety and Security:
    New/Refurbished Facilities.........................  .................         $1,200,000          1,200,000
    Maintenance and Improvement Projects...............  .................            300,000            300,000
    Improve Administrative and Operation & Maintenance             200,000            200,000            400,000
     Practices.........................................
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
        Subtotal.......................................            200,000          1,700,000          1,900,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Village Infrastructure Protection:
    Mertarvik..........................................          3,000,000  .................          3,000,000
    Shishmaref.........................................            500,000  .................            500,000
    Shaktoolik.........................................            500,000  .................            500,000
    Kivalina...........................................            500,000  .................            500,000

[[Page 18015]]

 
    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         13,700,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Energy and Bulk Fuel Programs

    FY 2019 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. 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:

 Continued support for the existing Community Relocation 
Coordinator
 Continued support for professional project management and 
contracting 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
 Administrative support
 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
 Administrative support
 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 Workplan 
may be used for activities such as the following.

 Continued support for the ETC (Environmentally Threatened 
Communities) Grant Writing Center of Excellence at the Alaska Native 
Tribal Health Consortium
 Hazard Mitigation Plan related initiatives and projects
 Data/threat analyses related to erosion, flooding and 
permafrost degradation
 VIP related coordination, outreach and partner support

Joel Neimeyer,
Federal Co-Chair.
[FR Doc. 2018-08632 Filed 4-24-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3300-01-P