[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 82 (Thursday, April 30, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19974-19975]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-9921]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Indian Reservation Roads
AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of submission of information collection to the Office of
Management and Budget.
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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is submitting the
information collection for the Indian Reservation Roads (IRR) Program,
OMB Control No. 1076-0161, to the Office of Management and Budget for
renewal. The current approval period is approaching expiration; this
renewal will allow us to continue to operate the IRR program. This
renewal is necessary for tribal participation in the IRR Program and
for the allocation of funding for the IRR Program to federally
recognized tribal governments for transportation assistance.
DATE: Submit comments on or before June 1, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments on the information collection to the Desk
Officer for the Department of the Interior at the Office of Management
and Budget, by fax at (202) 395-5806 or e-mail at [email protected]. Please send copy of your comments to: LeRoy Gishi,
Chief, Division of Transportation, 1849 C Street, NW. MS 4512 MIB,
Washington, DC 20240, fax: (202) 208-4696.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: You may request further information or
obtain copies of the proposed information collection request from LeRoy
Gishi, Chief, Division of Transportation, telephone (202) 513-7711.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
This information collection is necessary to allow Federally
recognized tribal governments to participate in the IRR Program as
defined in 23 U.S.C. 204(a)(1). Some of the information collected
determines the allocation of IRR program funds to Indian tribes as
described in 23 U.S.C. 202(d)(2)(A).
II. Summary of Public Comments Received
The BIA received comments from one commenter in response to the
notice published January 12, 2009 (74 FR 1244), which announced that we
would submit this renewal to OMB for approval and provided the 60-day
public comment period. The commenter had a number of suggestions that
would be appropriate for consideration upon amending the rule; however,
because the scope of this public comment period is limited to the
information collections, the BIA was not able to accommodate these
requests. Comments specific to the information collection included the
following. The commenter expressed concern that the word ``some'' in
the Brief Description indicated that there were other information
collections that BIA did not address. The Brief Description addresses
all the information collections associated with Indian Reservation
Roads--the word ``some'' indicates that some of these information
collections are required to obtain or maintain a benefit (program
participation and funding) and others are voluntary. Another comment
asked why an applicant must provide documentation that the project
meets the definition of an IRR transportation facility and is on the
IRR inventory when the information already exists. The BIA requires
this information as part of the IRR High Priority Project application
because the application is a collection of all information necessary
for the Department to make an approval determination based upon
criteria established by law. The commenter also stated that they
believe that the amount of information could be reduced. The
information collection was developed by meetings between tribal members
and the BIA. What emerged was a list that met the various needs of the
tribe and the requirements of the law which
[[Page 19975]]
authorizes the funding for IRR. While the list is long, those data
elements can also be helpful to tribes who coordinate projects and
transportation activities with other public authorities. It is not all
required to be provided in order to participate in the program; that is
the reason for default values in the CFR tables. The commenter stated
that there is a difference in requested items from region to region
because of politics and physical roadway characteristics, and
questioned the practical utility of some requested information,
suggesting a committee evaluate the need further since not all
requested information is listed in the CFR. The BIA participated in
many meetings of committees and public hearings when the requirements
were developed--the result was a list of requirements that covered all
situations, but not necessarily all requirements are needed for each
situation. The commenter also stated that too much information is
required in certain instances. The BIA has determined that, in those
instances, the additional data are beneficial in supporting more
accurate decisions rather than using default tables and that it is
beneficial to the tribe to include this information. The commenter
stated that they believe that the time and cost of submitting certain
information far exceeds their estimated amount. The time and cost
associated with data collection and submission has been consistently
decreasing in the three years prior to this request for comment as
improved methods of collection are developed. The estimated time and
cost of submitting data indicates that the commenters are increasingly
successful in assuring that data are provided for purposes identified.
Finally, the commenter stated that use of automated techniques does not
abrogate the physical collection of data and that a technological
solution may be available with funds for equipment and staff to
maintain the automated equipment. In response, the BIA notes that no
special equipment is necessary for this information collection, and
that more advanced techniques are available but this collection process
does not require their use. The BIA did not make any changes to the
information collection request for approval in response to these
comments.
III. Request for Comments
The 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 commenters, such as through the use of
automated collection techniques or other forms of information
technology.
Please note that an agency may not sponsor or request, and an
individual need not respond to, a collection of information unless it
has a valid OMB Control Number. OMB has up to 60 days to make a
decision on the submission for renewal, but may make the decision after
30 days. Therefore, to receive the best consideration of your comments,
you should submit them closer to 30 days than 60 days.
It is our policy to make all comments available to the public for
review at the location listed in the ADDRESSES section, room 4516 MIB,
during the hours of 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., EST Monday through Friday except
for legal holidays. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail
address or other personally identifiable information, be advised that
your entire comment--including your personally identifiable
information--may be made public at any time. While you may request that
we withhold your personally identifiable information, we cannot
guarantee that we will be able to do so. All comments from
organizations or representatives will be available for review. We may
withhold comments from review for other reasons.
IV. Data
OMB Approval Number: 1076-0161.
Title: 25 CFR 170, Indian Reservation Roads.
Brief Description of Collection: Some of the information such as
the application of Indian Reservation Roads High Priority Projects
(IRRHPP) (25 CFR 170.210), the road inventory updates (25 CFR 170.443),
the development of a long range transportation plan (25 CFR 170.411 and
170.412), the development of a tribal transportation improvement
program and priority list (25 CFR 170.420 and 170.421) are required to
maintain or obtain a benefit (consideration of projects and for program
funding from the formula). Some of the information such as public
hearing requirements are also required to maintain or obtain a benefit
and provides public notification and the opportunity for public
involvement (25 CFR 170.437 and 170.439). While others such as data
appeals (25 CFR 170.231) and requests for design exceptions (25 CFR
170.456) are voluntary information.
Type of Review: Renewal.
Respondents: Respondents include Federally recognized Indian tribal
governments who have transportation needs associated with the IRR
Program as described in 25 CFR 170.
Number of Respondents: Varies from 10 to 281.
Estimated Time per Response: The reports require from 30 minutes to
40 hours to complete. An average would be 16 hours.
Frequency of Response: Annually or on an as needed basis.
Total Annual Burden to Respondents: 19,628 hours.
Total Annual Cost to Respondents: $0.
Dated: April 24, 2009.
Sanjeev ``Sonny'' Bhagowalia,
Chief Information Officer--DOI.
[FR Doc. E9-9921 Filed 4-29-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-4J-P