[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 149 (Friday, August 4, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51787-51789]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-16638]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DENALI COMMISSION


Denali Commission Fiscal Year 2024 Draft Work Plan

AGENCY: Denali Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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

[[Page 51788]]

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 2024 (FY 2024).

DATES: Comments and related material are to be received by, September 
8, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to the Denali Commission, Attention: Elinda 
Hetemi, 550 W 7th Avenue, Suite 1230, Anchorage, AK 99501.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elinda Hetemi, Denali Commission, 550 
W 7th Avenue, Suite 1230, 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 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 2024 Work Plan was 
developed in the following manner.
     At a meeting of the Denali Commissioners the Commissioners 
voted to adopt the FY 2024 Workplan.
     The 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.
     No public comments were received.
     The Federal Co-Chair 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 will provide 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 will provide 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 2023 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), Transportation Housing and Urban Development (THUD) and an 
annual allocation from the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Liability (TAPL) fund. 
The proposed FY 2024 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: 
Public Law 114-322), $20,000,000 from THUD, less administrative 
expenses, 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. 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 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 while THUD funds can only be used for Transportation.
     Appropriated funds may be reduced due to Congressional 
action, rescissions by OMB, and other federal agency actions.
     All 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.
     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 2024 Funding Summary
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Available for
                         Source                               program
                                                            activities
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Energy and Water Funds..................................     $13,000,000
TAPL Funds..............................................       2,800,000
THUD Funds..............................................      19,800,000
                                                         ---------------
  Grand Total...........................................      35,600,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes:
\1\ If the final appropriation is less than indicated the Federal Co-
  Chair shall reduce investments to balance the FY 2024 Work Plan.


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       Base            TAPL            THUD            Total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Energy Reliability and Security:
    Diesel Power Plants and Interties...........      $3,700,000  ..............  ..............      $3,700,000
    Wind, Hydro, Biomass, Other Proven                   800,000  ..............  ..............        $800,000
     Renewables and Emerging Technologies.......
    Audits, TA, & Community Energy Efficiency            400,000  ..............  ..............         400,000
     Improvements...............................

[[Page 51789]]

 
    RPSU Maintenance and Improvement Projects...       1,000,000  ..............  ..............       1,000,000
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
        Subtotal................................       5,900,000  ..............  ..............       5,900,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bulk Fuel Safety and Security:
    New/Refurbished Facilities..................  ..............      $1,500,000  ..............       1,500,000
    Maintenance and Improvement Projects........  ..............         700,000  ..............         700,000
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
        Subtotal................................  ..............       2,200,000  ..............       2,200,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Village Infrastructure Protection...............         500,000  ..............  ..............         500,000
Transportation:
    Surface Transportation......................  ..............  ..............     $14,800,000      14,800,000
    Waterfront Improvements.....................  ..............  ..............       5,000,000       5,000,000
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
        Subtotal................................  ..............  ..............      19,800,000      19,800,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sanitation:
    Village Water, Wastewater and Solid Waste...       1,500,000  ..............  ..............       1,500,000
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
        Subtotal................................       1,500,000  ..............  ..............       1,500,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Community Facilities:
    Housing.....................................       1,000,000  ..............  ..............       1,000,000
    Health and Wellness.........................         500,000  ..............  ..............         500,000
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
        Subtotal................................       1,500,000  ..............  ..............       1,500,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Broadband.......................................         250,000  ..............  ..............         250,000
Workforce Development:
    Energy and Bulk Fuel........................         300,000         600,000  ..............         900,000
    Other.......................................       1,000,000  ..............  ..............       1,000,000
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
        Subtotal................................       1,300,000         600,000  ..............       1,900,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flexible Funding................................       2,050,000  ..............  ..............       2,050,000
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal....................................       2,050,000  ..............  ..............       2,050,000
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
        TOTALS..................................      13,000,000       2,800,000      19,800,000      35,600,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Authority: Pub. L. 105-277 section 304(b)(1).

Anne Stanislowski,
Administrative Officer.
[FR Doc. 2023-16638 Filed 8-3-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3300-01-P