[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 138 (Thursday, July 22, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38753-38754]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-15572]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[DT64101000.DSB4A0000.T7AC00.24IA; OMB Control Number 1035-0005]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Tribal Trust 
Evaluations for Public Law 93-638 Compact Tribes

AGENCY: Department of the 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 Trust Funds Administration (BTFA), are proposing to renew 
an information collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
August 23, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on this information collection request 
(ICR) by mail to Nina Alexander, Bureau of Trust Funds Administration, 
Director of Federal Information Resources, 400 Masthead Street NE, 
Albuquerque, NM 87109; or by email to [email protected]. Please 
reference Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Control Number 1035-
0005 in the subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact Nina Alexander, Director, Federal Information 
Resources, Bureau of Trust Funds Administration at 4400 Masthead 
Street, NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109; or by email at 
[email protected] or via telephone at 505-273-1620.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (PRA), 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 (86 FR 16390) with a 60-day public 
comment period soliciting on this collection of information was 
published on March 29, 2021. No comments were received in response to 
that notice.
    We are again soliciting comments on the proposed ICR that is 
described below. We are especially interested in public comment 
addressing the following: (1) Whether the collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the BTFA, 
including whether or not the information will have practical utility; 
(2) The accuracy of our estimate of the burden for this collection of 
information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (4) How might the agency minimize the 
burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, 
including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of 
response.
    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: As codified in 25 U.S.C. 4001 et seq., The American 
Indian Trust Fund Management Reform Act of 1994 (the Reform Act) makes 
provisions for the Bureau of Trust Funds Administration (formerly known 
as the Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians) to 
administer trust fund accounts for individuals and Tribes. This 
collection of information is required to fulfill the mission of the 
Bureau of Trust Funds Administration (BTFA) and the Secretary of the 
Interior's responsibility for evaluating all Public Law 93-638 Compact 
Tribes administering or managing trust programs, functions, services, 
and/or activities on behalf of the Secretary of the Interior. This 
responsibility is federally mandated pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 458cc(d) and 
25 CFR 1000.350. BTFA is responsible under 25 U.S.C. 4041 for 
overseeing the implementation of trust reforms, trust accounting, and 
coordination of trust policies intra-bureau-wide related to the 
management of Indian trust funds and assets. The BTFA, Division of 
Trust Evaluation and Review (DTER), formerly the Office of Trust Audit 
and Review (OTRA), is responsible for performing tribal trust 
evaluations and trust records assessments for Tribes performing Indian 
trust programs and functions. In addition, DTER has a congressional 
mandate to conduct Annual Tribal Trust Evaluations for Tribes that 
compact trust programs, functions, services, and/or activities under 
Public Law 93-638 Self-Governance Compacts on behalf of the Secretary 
of the Interior. This authority is contained in 25 U.S.C. 5363(d)(1) & 
(2) and the enabling regulations in 25 CFR 1000.350. DTER currently 
collects Indian trust data and documentation from Tribes in fulfillment 
of performing Tribal trust evaluations for compacted Tribes. These 
evaluations are enabled by performing desk reviews (via email 
electronic questionnaires), and on-site visits to Tribes and federal 
agencies for the trust records assessments (although federal agencies 
are exempt from the provisions of the PRA).
    Under 25 CFR 1000.355, the Secretary's designated representative 
will conduct trust evaluations for each self-governance Tribe that has 
an annual funding agreement. The end result is the issuance of a 
report, which is required by 25 CFR 1000.365. Currently, DTER conducts 
either desk reviews and/or on-site reviews (pre- and post-COVID-19 
pandemic) of trust operations where a Tribe has compacted a trust 
program. During that review, under current methodology, interviews are 
conducted and documents are requested. A draft report is written and 
provided to the Tribe for comment where applicable. Comments received 
back are

[[Page 38754]]

incorporated into the report, and a final report is issued to the 
Tribe.
    Title of Collection: Tribal Trust Evaluations for Public Law 93-639 
Compact Tribes.
    OMB Control Number: 1035-0005.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Tribes that have an annual funding 
agreement in place to compact Indian trust programs.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 64 Tribes. Federal 
agencies are exempt from the PRA and are not included in the total 
annual respondents/responses/burden hour estimates.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 1,024.
    Estimated Completion Time per Response: 2 hours for reporting and 1 
hour for recordkeeping.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 3,072.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Frequency of Collection: Once per fiscal or calendar year (year the 
respective Tribe operates under).
    Total Estimated Annual Non-Hour Burden Cost: None.
    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.).

Jeffrey Parrillo,
Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-15572 Filed 7-21-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4334-63-P