[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 59 (Wednesday, March 27, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11486-11487]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-05502]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Eligibility Criteria for Tribal and Alaska Native Biomass 
Demonstration Projects Under the Indian Tribal Energy Development and 
Self-Determination Act

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability of Eligibility Criteria for Biomass 
Demonstration Projects.

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SUMMARY: The Indian Tribal Energy Development and Self-Determination 
Act Amendments of 2017 amends the Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004 
to direct the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA), to enter into contracts 
or agreements with Indian tribes, and, in Alaska, tribal organizations 
to carry out demonstration projects to promote biomass energy 
production on Indian forest land and in nearby communities by providing 
reliable supplies of woody biomass from federal lands.
    The Act contains Eligibility Criteria required to be addressed by 
an Indian tribe or tribal organization in their application to the 
Secretary, in order to enter into Biomass Demonstration Projects. The 
Eligibility Criteria are required to be made publically available not 
later than 120 days after the date of the Act's enactment. The Act also 
contains Selection Criteria, which will be used, without modification, 
by the Secretary to evaluate applications submitted. The Act's 
Eligibility and Selection Criteria will be used, without modification, 
to select biomass demonstration projects on lands under the 
jurisdiction of the Secretary of Agriculture.

DATES: This Notice is applicable upon the date of publication in the 
Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Documents may be viewed on the World-Wide internet at 
https://www.fs.fed.us/spf/tribalrelations/authorities.shtml.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary Church, Assistant Director, 
Forest Products, 202-205-1732, during normal business hours, or send an 
email to [email protected]. Additional information about this 
notice may be obtained on the World-Wide

[[Page 11487]]

internet at https://www.fs.fed.us/spf/tribalrelations/authorities.shtml. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for 
the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 
1-800-877-8339 between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, 
Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Section 202 of Public Law 115-325, the Indian Tribal Energy 
Development and Self-Determination Act Amendments of 2017 amends the 
Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004 (25 U.S.C. 3115a et seq.) for the 
purpose of establishing Tribal and Alaska Native biomass demonstration 
projects for federally recognized Indian tribes and Alaska Native 
corporations to promote biomass energy production, on Bureau of Land 
Management and Forest Service lands.
    For Tribal Biomass Demonstration Projects, the Act requires, for 
each of fiscal years 2017 through 2021, the Secretary to enter into 
stewardship contracts or similar agreements (excluding direct service 
contracts) with Indian tribes to carry out at least four new 
demonstration projects to promote biomass energy production (including 
biofuel, heat, and electricity generation) on Indian forest land, and 
in nearby communities, by providing reliable supplies of woody biomass 
from Federal land.
    For Alaska Native Biomass Demonstration Projects, the Act requires, 
for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2021, the Secretary to enter into 
an agreement or contract with an Indian tribe or a tribal organization 
to carry out at least one new demonstration project to promote biomass 
energy production (including biofuel, heat, and electricity generation) 
by providing reliable supplies of woody biomass from Federal land. The 
terms Indian tribe and tribal organization have the same meanings as 
defined in the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act 
(section 4, 25 U.S.C. 5304).

Eligibility Criteria

    The Act's Eligibility Criteria, without modification, will be used 
to select biomass demonstration projects on Forest Service lands under 
the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Agriculture. The Act's Tribal 
Biomass Demonstration Project Eligibility Criteria require the Indian 
tribe submit, to the Secretary of Agriculture, an application: (1) 
Containing such information as the Secretary may require; and (2) that 
includes a description of (A) the Indian forest land or rangeland under 
the jurisdiction of the Indian tribe; and (B) the demonstration project 
proposed to be carried out by the Indian tribe.
    The Act's Alaska Native Biomass Demonstration Project Eligibility 
Criteria require the Indian tribe or tribal organization submit, to the 
Secretary of Agriculture, an application: (1) Containing such 
information as the Secretary may require; and (2) that includes a 
description of the demonstration project proposed to be carried out by 
the Indian tribe or tribal organization.

Selection Criteria

    The Act's Selection Criteria, without modification, will be used to 
evaluate applications submitted for biomass demonstration projects on 
Forest Service lands under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of 
Agriculture.
    In evaluating the applications submitted under the Act's Tribal 
Biomass Demonstration Project Eligibility Criteria, the Secretary of 
Agriculture is required to: (1) To take into consideration (A) the 
factors set forth in paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 2(e) of the 
Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004; and (B) whether a proposed 
project would--
    (i) Increase the availability or reliability of local or regional 
energy;
    (ii) Enhance the economic development of the Indian tribe;
    (iii) Result in or improve the connection of electric power 
transmission facilities serving the Indian tribe with other electric 
transmission facilities;
    (iv) Improve the forest health or watersheds of Federal land or 
Indian forest land or rangeland;
    (v) Demonstrate new investments in infrastructure; or
    (vi) Otherwise promote the use of woody biomass; and
    (2) exclude from consideration any merchantable logs that have been 
identified by the Secretary for commercial sale.
    In evaluating the applications submitted under the Alaska Native 
Biomass Demonstration Project Eligibility Criteria, the Secretary of 
Agriculture is required to
    (A) take into consideration whether a proposed project would--
    (i) Increase the availability or reliability of local or regional 
energy;
    (ii) Enhance the economic development of the Indian tribe;
    (iii) Result in or improve the connection of electric power 
transmission facilities serving the Indian tribe with other electric 
transmission facilities;
    (iv) Improve the forest health or watersheds of Federal land or 
non-Federal land;
    (v) Demonstrate new investments in infrastructure; or
    (vi) Otherwise promote the use of woody biomass; and
    (B) exclude from consideration any merchantable logs that have been 
identified by the Secretary for commercial sale.

    Dated: March 8, 2019.
Allen Rowley,
Acting Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2019-05502 Filed 3-26-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3411-15-P