[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 152 (Wednesday, August 7, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38604-38606]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-16914]


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DENALI COMMISSION


Denali Commission Fiscal Year 2020 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 2020 (FY 2020).

DATES: Comments and related material to be received by September 2, 
2019.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elinda Hetami, Denali Commission, 510 
L Street, Suite 410, Anchorage, AK 99501. Telephone: (907) 271-3415. 
Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 2020 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 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 2020 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 2020 Work Plan assumes the Commission will 
receive $15,000,000 of base funds, which is the

[[Page 38605]]

amount referenced in the reauthorization of the Commission passed by 
Congress in 2016 (ref: Pub. L. 114-322), and a $2,917,000 TAPL 
allocation based on discussions with the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB). Approximately $2,500,000 of the base funds will be used 
for administrative expenses and non-project program support, leaving 
$12,500,000 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 $117,000 of the TAPL funds will be utilized for 
administrative expenses and non-project program support, leaving 
$2,800,000 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 FY2020 funding summary
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                                                           Available for
                         Source                               program
                                                            activities
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Energy & Water Funds:
    FY 2020 Energy & Water Appropriation \1\............     $12,500,000
    Prior Year Funds....................................       2,000,000
                                                         ---------------
        Subtotal........................................      14,500,000
TAPL Funds:
    FY 2020 Annual Allocation...........................       2,800,000
                                                         ---------------
        Grand Total.....................................      17,300,000
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Notes:
\1.\ If the final appropriation is less than $15 million the Federal Co-
  Chair shall reduce investments to balance the FY 2020 Work Plan.


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                       Base            TAPL            Total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Energy Reliability and Security:
    Diesel Power Plants and Interties...........................      $3,800,000  ..............      $3,800,000
    Wind, Hydro, Biomass, Other Proven Renewables and Emerging         1,000,000  ..............       1,000,000
     Technologies...............................................
    Audits, TA, & Community Energy Efficiency Improvements......         500,000  ..............         500,000
    RPSU Maintenance and Improvement Projects...................       1,200,000  ..............       1,200,000
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
        Subtotal................................................       6,500,000  ..............       6,500,000
Bulk Fuel Safety and Security:
    New/Refurbished Facilities..................................  ..............      $1,500,000       1,500,000
    Maintenance and Improvement Projects........................  ..............         700,000         700,000
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
        Subtotal................................................               0       2,200,000       2,200,000
Village Infrastructure Protection:
    Mertarvik...................................................         150,000  ..............         150,000
    Shishmaref..................................................         150,000  ..............         150,000
    Shaktoolik..................................................         150,000  ..............         150,000
    Kivalina....................................................         150,000  ..............         150,000
    Program Support.............................................         400,000  ..............         400,000
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
        Subtotal................................................       1,000,000  ..............       1,000,000
Transportation..................................................       1,000,000  ..............       1,000,000
Sanitation:
    Village Water, Wastewater and Solid Waste...................       2,000,000  ..............       2,000,000
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
        Subtotal................................................       2,000,000  ..............       2,000,000
Health Facilities...............................................       1,000,000  ..............       1,000,000
Housing.........................................................         500,000  ..............         500,000
Broadband.......................................................       1,000,000  ..............       1,000,000
Workforce Development:
    Energy and Bulk Fuel........................................         500,000         600,000       1,100,000
    Other.......................................................       1,000,000  ..............       1,000,000
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
        Subtotal................................................       1,500,000         600,000       2,100,000
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
            Totals..............................................      14,500,000       2,800,000      17,300,000
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[[Page 38606]]

Energy, Bulk Fuel, Transportation, Sanitation, Health Facilities, 
Housing, Broadband, Workforce Development

    In FY 2020 the Commission is moving in a new direction to work 
closely with other Federal Agencies, the State of Alaska and regional/
local entities with the goal of identifying projects with funding gaps 
that will allow the Commission to use its small amount of funding to 
move forward a large number of projects. The Commission has already 
begun to have conversations with many of our Federal partners and 
intends to prioritize shovel-ready projects where the Commission can 
leverage its funds. If the Commission is unable to fully utilize its 
funding by April of 2020 then it will use any remaining funds to fund 
Energy and Bulk Fuel projects consistent with a needs-based list 
established in partnership with the State of Alaska.

Mertarvik, Shishmaref, Shaktoolik and Kivalina

    In FY 2020 the Commission will continue to provide support to these 
communities by funding the relocation coordinator positions. These 
coordinators will assist the communities in applying for grants and 
coordinating relocation efforts.

Program Development

    The $400,000 referenced above for this line item in the Workplan 
will be used to fund the ETC Grant Writing Center of Excellence at the 
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium.

Chad Stovall,
Chief Operating Officer.
[FR Doc. 2019-16914 Filed 8-6-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3300-01-P