[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 87 (Wednesday, May 7, 2025)] [Notices] [Pages 19284-19286] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2025-07896] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DENALI COMMISSION Denali Commission Fiscal Year 2026 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 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 2026 (FY 2026). [[Page 19285]] DATES: Comments and related material to be received by June 16, 2025. ADDRESSES: Submit comments to the Denali Commission, Attention: Anne Stanislowski, 550 W 7th Avenue, Suite 1230, Anchorage, AK 99501. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anne Stanislowski, Denali Commission, 550 W 7th Avenue, Suite 1230, Anchorage, AK 99501. Telephone: (907) 271-1414. 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 2026 Work Plan was developed in the following manner.A workgroup comprised of Denali Commissioners and Commission staff developed a preliminary draft work plan. The preliminary draft 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. Written comments on the preliminary draft work plan were also accepted. All public hearing comments and written comments were provided to Commissioners for their review and consideration. Commissioners discussed the preliminary draft work plan in a public meeting and then voted on the work plan during the meeting. The Commissioners forwarded their recommended work plan to the Federal Co-Chair, who then 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 provides 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 provides 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 2026 Appropriations Summary The Commission has historically received Federal funding from several sources. The three primary sources at this time include the Energy & Water Appropriation Bill (``base'' or ``discretionary'' funds), transfers from the Department of Transportation and an annual allocation from the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Liability (TAPL) fund. The proposed FY 2026 Work Plan assumes the Commission will receive $17,000,000 of base funds and a $3,500,000 TAPL allocation based on discussions with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). 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. Absent any new specific direction or limitations provided by Congress in the current Energy & Water Appropriations Bill, 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. Appropriated funds may be reduced due to Congressional action, rescissions by OMB, and other Federal agency actions. All Energy & Water and TAPL 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. Energy & Water and TAPL 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 FY2026 Funding Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Source Available for program activities ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Energy & Water Funds: FY 2026 Energy & Water $17,000,000 Appropriation \1\.............. ----------------------------------- Subtotal.................... 17,000,000 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ TAPL Funds: FY 2026 Annual Allocation....... 3,500,000 ----------------------------------- Grand Total............. 20,500,000 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Notes: \1\ If the final appropriation is less than $17 million the Federal Co- Chair shall reduce investments to balance the FY 2026 Work Plan. [[Page 19286]] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Base TAPL Total ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Energy Reliability and Security: Diesel Power Plants, Interties, Distribution, Emerging $6,000,000 ........... $6,000,000 Technologies, Maintenance & Improvements, Technical Assistance, Training, Generation and End-Use Efficiency Improvements, and Energy Audits..................................................... ---------------------------------------- Subtotal....................................................... 6,000,000 ........... 6,000,000 Bulk Fuel Safety and Security: New/Refurbished Facilities, Maintenance and Improvement Projects, ............ $3,500,000 3,500,000 and Training...................................................... ---------------------------------------- Subtotal....................................................... 0 3,500,000 3,500,000 Critical Infrastructure Needs: Construction Projects, Repair and Maintenance, and Protection of 5,500,000 ........... 5,500,000 Public Infrastructure, including but not limited to Community Facilities such as Housing, Health, and Safety.................... ---------------------------------------- Subtotal....................................................... 5,500,000 ........... 5,500,000 Job Training and Other Rural Development: Workforce and Economic Development, Communications, Cybersecurity, 3,000,000 ........... 3,000,000 Cold Weather and Technology Innovation............................ ---------------------------------------- Subtotal....................................................... 3,000,000 ........... 3,000,000 Water Sanitation: Public Water and Wastewater, Solid Waste........................... 1,500,000 ........... 1,500,000 ---------------------------------------- Subtotal....................................................... 1,500,000 ........... 1,500,000 Transportation: Surface Transportation............................................. 200,000 ........... ............ Waterfront Improvements............................................ 800,000 ........... ............ ---------------------------------------- Subtotal....................................................... 1,000,000 ........... ............ ---------------------------------------- Totals..................................................... 17,000,000 3,500,000 20,500,000 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Note: In the past several fiscal years Congress appropriated Transportation funds for Surface and Waterfront Improvements. The Commission does not anticipate this appropriation will continue in FY 2026, however, if Congress does appropriate these funds in FY 2026 then those funds will be added to the Transportation program. John Whittington, General Counsel. [FR Doc. 2025-07896 Filed 5-6-25; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3300-01-P