[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 191 (Wednesday, October 6, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55632-55633]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-21804]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

[212A2100DD/AAKC001030/A0A501010.999900253G; Docket No. DOI-2021-0010]


Tribal Listening Sessions on Climate Change and Discretionary 
Grants

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Tribal listening sessions.

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SUMMARY: The Department invites representatives of federally recognized 
Tribes to participate in three upcoming virtual listening sessions 
focused on climate change and Tribal Nations and two upcoming virtual 
listening sessions focused on Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) 
discretionary grants for Tribes. The Department also invites Tribal 
youth to the first scheduled climate listening session, which is 
focused on Tribal youth and climate. Climate change, equity, and 
environmental justice are among this Administration's top priorities. 
The Department would like to ensure that its efforts and the 
initiatives it develops to meet these priorities and to effectively 
administer discretionary grants programs are shaped and designed based 
on feedback and information received from across Indian Country and 
Alaska Native Villages.

DATES: Please see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice 
for dates of the sessions.

ADDRESSES: Please see the website for updates https://www.bia.gov/bia/ots/tribal-climate-resilience-program for information on joining the 
Tribal climate sessions. Please see the website https://www.doi.gov/ppa/equity/13985 for updates and information on joining the Tribal 
discretionary grants sessions. You may submit your comments though the 
Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Search by 
docket number ``DOI-2021-0010'' and follow the instructions for 
submitting comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rachael Novak, BIA Tribal Resilience 
Coordinator, (505) 563-5253, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of the Interior (DOI) is 
pleased to announce three upcoming virtual listening sessions for 
Tribes focused on climate change and Tribal Nations and two upcoming 
virtual listening sessions for Tribes focused on Tribal discretionary 
grants. Climate change, equity, and environmental justice are among 
this Administration's top priorities. The Department would like to 
ensure that its efforts and the initiatives it develops to meet these 
priorities are shaped and designed based on feedback and information 
received from across Indian Country and Alaska Native Villages. Such 
initiatives include the Department's Equity Plan, Civilian Climate 
Corps, the Indian Youth Service Corps, Tribal climate science technical 
support, climate adaptation and resilience planning and implementation 
grants, economic development grants, and many more. These listening 
sessions will inform DOI-wide and Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)-led 
efforts.
    Tribes are eligible for a range of discretionary grant programs 
administered by the BIA, Bureau of Indian Education, and other DOI 
bureaus. These grant programs can provide funding to support Tribal 
operations, economic development, education, resilience, preservation 
of historic places, and other key functions. By identifying and 
addressing barriers to accessing DOI discretionary grants, the 
Department can better support Tribes in improving government 
infrastructure, community infrastructure, education, job training, 
climate adaptation planning and implementation capacity, and employment 
opportunities along with other components of long-term sustainable 
development that work to improve quality of life for their members. 
These listening sessions will inform DOI efforts to improve access to 
Tribal discretionary grants.
    We are scheduling the following listening sessions to create 
opportunities for sharing and dialogue about these programs and to 
learn what Tribes see as important opportunities. Each session has a 
different focus, as noted below. The following general questions for 
each session are provided to facilitate discussion during the sessions. 
More specific questions are provided on the BIA Tribal Climate 
Resilience website: https://www.bia.gov/bia/ots/tribal-climate-resilience-program and the Department's website pertaining to Executive 
Order 13985: https://www.doi.gov/ppa/equity/13985.

Session 1: Tribal Youth and Climate

Date: October 13, 2021
Time: 3 p.m.-5 p.m. ET

    Note: We particularly invite Tribal youth to this session. There is 
a downloadable parental/guardian consent form at the BIA Tribal Climate 
website above for participation of minors. Please submit completed 
forms to [email protected].
    Questions for discussion:

[[Page 55633]]

    1. How is climate change impacting your Tribal Nation and your 
community?
    2. How can you help connect people of all generations to work 
together to solve community problems and address climate challenges 
with honor & respect for the land and environment? And how can DOI help 
empower you and your Tribal Nation in these efforts?

Session 2: Part I--Tribal Climate Adaptation and Mitigation

Date: October 28, 2021
Time: 12 p.m.-1 p.m. ET

    Questions for discussion:
    1. What are your top priorities surrounding climate adaptation, 
mitigation, and implementation, and what are the science needs to 
support these priorities?
    2. Do you have a climate adaptation plan(s) for your Tribe/Tribal 
Program? How are they being implemented? What are the barriers to 
implementing them?

Session 2: Part II--Relocation, Managed Retreat, Protect-in-Place for 
Lower 48 Tribes

Date: October 28, 2021
Time: 2 p.m.-3 p.m. for Tribes in Eastern, Midwest, Great Plains, 
Eastern Oklahoma, and Southern Plains Region, 3 p.m.-4 p.m. Tribes in 
Rocky Mountain, Southwest, Western, Navajo, Pacific, and Northwest 
Regions

    1. Is your Tribe dealing with more frequent and severe climate 
change impacts (e.g., flooding, erosion, sea level rise, etc.) that are 
likely to require partial or complete infrastructure relocation?
    2. If so, what are the resources (financial, technical, etc.) 
needed to assist the process? What are the barriers?

Session 3: Relocation, Managed Retreat, and Protect-in-Place Issues in 
Alaska

Date: To be held during the BIA Providers' Conference the week of 
November 29, 2021
Time: To be announced (see https://www.bia.gov/bia/ots/tribal-climate-resilience-program for updates)

    Questions for discussion:
    1. What resources have you successfully obtained thus far? What 
successes have you had?
    2. What challenges have you experienced? What assistance do you 
need from the Federal government to address this issue?

Sessions 4 & 5: Tribal Discretionary Grants

Date: October 20, 2021
Time: 8 p.m.-10 p.m. ET

    Questions for discussion:
    1. If you have applied for a discretionary grant administered by 
DOI in the past, what has been your experience?
    2. If you have not applied for discretionary grants administered by 
DOI, why not? What would make it easier for you access grant 
opportunities with DOI?
    3. What are the barriers to applying for grant opportunities with 
DOI?
    4. How can DOI remove or reduce barriers that Tribal Nations and 
communities face when they participate or attempt to participate in 
DOI-administered grant opportunities?

Session 5: Tribal Discretionary Grants

Date: October 27, 2021
Time: 5 p.m.-7 p.m. ET

    Questions for discussion:
    1. If you have applied for a discretionary grant administered by 
DOI in the past, what has been your experience?
    2. If you have not applied for discretionary grants administered by 
DOI, why not? What would make it easier for you access grant 
opportunities with DOI?
    3. What are the barriers to applying for grant opportunities with 
DOI?
    4. How can DOI remove or reduce barriers that Tribal Nations and 
communities face when they participate or attempt to participate in 
DOI-administered grant opportunities?

Bryan Newland,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2021-21804 Filed 10-5-21; 8:45 am]
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