[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 58 (Monday, March 29, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16391-16392]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-06404]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

[212A2100DD/AAKC001030/A0A501010.999900 253G; OMB Control Number 1076-
0160]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; 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, we, 
the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) are proposing to renew an 
information collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
April 28, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on this information collection request 
(ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget's Desk Officer for the 
Department of the Interior by email at [email protected]; or 
via facsimile to (202) 395-5806. Please provide a copy of your comments 
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; fax: (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 by email at 
[email protected], or by telephone at (202) 513-7641. You may 
also view the ICR at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.

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.
    A Federal Register notice with a 60-day public comment period 
soliciting

[[Page 16392]]

comments on this collection of information was published on September 
30, 2020 (85 FR 61767). No comments were received.
    We are again 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. 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 the Indian Health Service (IHS) by offering 
preferential treatment to qualified candidates of Indian heritage. The 
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/or 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 the 
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 the 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 the BIA and the IHS.
    OMB Control Number: 1076-0160.
    Form Number: BIA 4432.
    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 the IHS.
    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: $7,400.
    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. 2021-06404 Filed 3-26-21; 8:45 am]
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