[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 15 (Wednesday, January 23, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4867-4868]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-01252]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs


Renewal of Agency Information Collection for Energy Resource 
Development Program Grants

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs is seeking comments on the renewal 
of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for the collection of 
information for grants under the Office of Indian Energy and Economic 
Development Office's Energy and Mineral Development Program authorized 
by OMB Control Number 1076-0174. This information collection expires 
April 30, 2013.

DATES: Submit comments on or before March 25, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the information collection to 
Catherine Freels, U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Indian 
Energy and Economic Development, 800 S. Gay Street, Suite 800, 
Knoxville, Tennessee 37929; email: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Catherine Freels, (865) 545-4315, 
extension 23.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Energy Policy Act of 2005, 25 U.S.C. 3503 authorizes the 
Secretary of the Interior to provide grants to Indian tribes as defined 
in 25 U.S.C. 3501(4)(A) and (B).
    The Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development (IEED) 
administers and manages the energy resource development grant program 
under the Energy and Minerals Development Program (EMDP). Congress may 
appropriate funds to EMDP on a year-to-year basis. When funding is 
available, IEED may solicit proposals for energy resource development 
projects from Indian tribes for use on Indian lands as defined in 25 
U.S.C. 3501. The projects may be in the areas of exploration, 
assessment, development, feasibility, or market studies. Indian tribes 
that would like to apply for an EMDP grant must submit an application 
that includes certain information, and must assist IEED by providing 
information in support of any National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 
analyses.

II. Request for Comments

    The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) requests your comments on this 
collection concerning: (a) The necessity of this information collection 
for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including 
whether the information will have practical utility; (b) The accuracy 
of the agency's estimate of the burden (hours and cost) of the 
collection of information, including the validity of the methodology 
and assumptions used; (c) Ways we could enhance the quality, utility, 
and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) Ways we could 
minimize the burden of the collection of the information on the 
respondents.
    Please note that an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and an 
individual need not respond to, a collection of information unless it 
has a valid OMB Control Number.
    It is our policy to make all comments available to the public for 
review at the location listed in the ADDRESSES section. 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.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 1076-0174.
    Title: Energy and Mineral Development Program Grant Solicitation.
    Brief Description of Collection: Indian tribes that would like to 
apply for an EMDP grant must submit an application that includes 
certain information. A complete application must contain a current, 
signed tribal resolution that provides sufficient information to 
authorize the project and comply with the terms of the grant; a 
proposal describing the planned activities and deliverable products; 
and a detailed budget estimate. The IEED requires this information to 
ensure that it provides funding only to those projects that meet the 
goals of the EMDP and purposes for which Congress provides the 
appropriation. Upon acceptance of an application, a tribe must then 
submit one--to two--page quarterly progress reports summarizing events, 
accomplishments, problems and/or results in executing the project. 
Response is required to obtain a benefit.
    Type of Review: Extension without change of currently approved 
collection.

[[Page 4868]]

    Respondents: Federally recognized Indian tribes with Indian land.
    Number of Respondents: 55 applicants per year; 18 project 
participants each year.
    Frequency of Response: Once per year for applications; 4 times per 
year for progress reports.
    Estimated Time per Response: 40 hours per application; 1.5 hours 
per progress report.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 2,308 hours (2,200 for 
applications and 108 for progress reports).

    Dated: January 15, 2013.
John Ashley,
Acting Assistant Director for Information Resources.
[FR Doc. 2013-01252 Filed 1-22-13; 8:45 am]
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