[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 120 (Monday, June 22, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37436-37438]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-13393]


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DENALI COMMISSION


Denali Commission Fiscal Year 2021 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 is required to 
develop an annual work plan for future spending which will 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 2021 (FY 
2021).

DATES: Comments and related material to be received by July 31, 2020.

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

[[Page 37437]]

innovative solutions to the unique infrastructure and economic 
development challenges in America's most remote communities. Pursuant 
to the Denali Commission 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 
2021 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 2021 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 2021 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 $2,917,000 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 $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 FY 2021 Funding Summary
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Available for
                         Source                               program
                                                            activities
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Energy & Water Funds:
  FY 2021 Energy & Water Appropriation \1\..............     $11,000,000
                                                         ---------------
      Subtotal..........................................      11,000,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
TAPL Funds:
  FY 2021 Annual Allocation.............................       2,800,000
                                                         ---------------
      Grand Total.......................................      13,800,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes:
\1\ If the final appropriation is less than $15 million the Federal Co-
  Chair shall reduce investments to balance the FY 2021 Work Plan.


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                                                                       Base            TAPL            Total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Energy Reliability and Security:
    Diesel Power Plants and Interties...........................      $2,900,000  ..............      $2,900,000
    Wind, Hydro, Biomass, Other Proven Renewables and Emerging           750,000  ..............         750,000
     Technologies...............................................
    Audits, TA, & Community Energy Efficiency Improvements......         375,000  ..............         375,000
    RPSU Maintenance and Improvement Projects...................         900,000  ..............         900,000
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
        Subtotal................................................       4,925,000  ..............       4,925,000
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...............................         500,000  ..............         500,000
Transportation..................................................       1,000,000  ..............       1,000,000
Sanitation:

[[Page 37438]]

 
    Village Water, Wastewater and Solid Waste...................       1,500,000  ..............       1,500,000
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
        Subtotal................................................       1,500,000  ..............       1,500,000
Health Facilities...............................................         750,000  ..............         750,000
Housing.........................................................         500,000  ..............         500,000
Broadband.......................................................         750,000  ..............         750,000
Workforce Development:
    Energy and Bulk Fuel........................................         375,000         600,000         975,000
    Other.......................................................         700,000  ..............         700,000
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
        Subtotal................................................       1,075,000         600,000       1,675,000
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
            Totals..............................................      11,000,000       2,800,000      13,800,000
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    Dated: June 3, 2020.
John Torgerson,
Interim Federal Co-Chair.
[FR Doc. 2020-13393 Filed 6-19-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3300-01-P