[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 246 (Tuesday, December 28, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73799-73800]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-28113]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

[222A2100DD/AAKC001030/A0A501010.999900253G; OMB Control Number 1076-
NEW]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Tribal Colleges and 
Universities CARES Act and CRRSA Act Report

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Education, 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 Education (BIE), are proposing a new information 
collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
February 28, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments on this information collection request 
(ICR) by mail to Steven Mullen, Information Collection Clearance 
Officer, Office of Regulatory Affairs and Collaborative Action--Indian 
Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1001 Indian School Road NW, 
Suite 229, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87104; or by email to 
[email protected]. Please reference OMB Control Number 1076-NEW in the 
subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information 
about this ICR, contact Dr. Katherine Campbell, Program Analyst, Office 
of Research, Policy and Post-secondary, by email at 
[email protected] or by telephone at (703) 390-6697. 
Individuals who are hearing or speech impaired may call the Federal 
Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 for TTY assistance. 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 (PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) and 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), all 
information collections require approval under the PRA. We may not 
conduct or sponsor and you are not required to respond to a collection 
of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.
    As part of our continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent 
burdens, we invite the public and other Federal agencies 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.
    We are especially interested in public comment addressing the 
following:
    (1) Whether or not the collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 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. We will include or summarize each comment in our request 
to OMB to approve this ICR. 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 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security 
(CARES) Act, Public Law 116-136, established the Education 
Stabilization Fund (ESF) and allocated $30.75 billion to the U.S. 
Department of Education (ED). The Coronavirus Response and Relief 
Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act, Public Law 116-260, added 
$81.9 billion to the ESF.
    ED allocated ESF funds to the Secretary of Interior for programs 
operated or funded by the BIE to prevent, prepare for, and respond to 
the Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Specifically, ED 
allocated one-half of 1 percent for the Secretary of Interior for 
programs operated or funded by the BIE. On June 12, 2020 ED and BIE 
executed a memorandum of agreement (ESF-BIE I Agreement) regarding the 
use of funds.
    Additionally, the CRRSA Act requires ED to allocate one-half of 1 
percent of

[[Page 73800]]

the funds under the ESF to the Secretary of Interior for programs 
operated or funded by the BIE under the terms and conditions 
established for funding provided under section 18001(a)(2) of the CARES 
Act, for BIE-operated and funded elementary and secondary schools and 
Tribal Colleges and Universities. On January 11, 2021 BIE and ED signed 
a memorandum of agreement regarding (ESF-BIE II Agreement) regarding 
the use of funds.
    In recognition of the mutual interests, BIE agreed to submit 
reports regarding its use of funds to ED. In accordance with the ESF-
BIE I Agreement and ESF-BIE II Addendum, BIE must report to ED on BIE's 
internal controls and plan for monitoring use of ESF funds by the 
Tribal Colleges and Universities.
    Accordingly, Tribal Colleges and Universities must report, on an 
annual basis, their expenditures of the ESF, broken down by the 
following categories: Lost revenue, reimbursement for expenses 
incurred, technology costs associated with transitioning to distance 
education, faculty and staff training, payroll, emergency student aid--
food, emergency student aid--housing, emergency student aid--course 
materials, emergency student aid--technology, emergency student aid--
health and child care, and other expenses. This information is 
collected on a form and will be used to monitor TCUs' use of ESF funds.
    Title of Collection: Tribal Colleges and Universities CARES Act and 
CRRSA Act Report.
    OMB Control Number: 1076-NEW.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: New.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Tribal colleges and universities.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 35.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 35.
    Estimated Completion Time per Response: 2 hours.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 70 hours.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain benefits.
    Frequency of Collection: Annually until December 2022.
    Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: $0.
    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.).

Steven Mullen,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, Office of Regulatory Affairs 
and Collaborative Action--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2021-28113 Filed 12-27-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4337-15-P