### 29320 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 96 / Thursday, May 17, 2012 / Notices

direction to fund renewable and alternative energy, the FY 2012 Work Plan includes $300,000 toward this
effort in 2012. The FY 2011 Work Plan outlines a strategy to balance the Energy Program in both legacy and renewable components, providing up to $2.4 million of available program funds specifically toward the emerging technology program pending state match. If match for this program is not provided, this funding shall be reallocated to legacy projects.

FY 2012 Program & Project Policy Issues

The approved FY 2008 Denali Commission Policy Document requires and prioritizes cost share match for funded projects. In implementing this policy, 10%, match was required in FY
2010 and FY 2011. In FY 2012 new statutory match is required in the amounts of 50% for non-distressed and 20% for distressed communities and only applies toward construction projects using Energy and Water Appropriation funding. In future funding years, the Commission will require consistent match for energy projects funded with other funding (TAPL, RUS). For FY 2012 funding, the Commission will apply the 10% match for RUS and TAPL funding and the 50% and 20% match requirements for Energy and Water Appropriation funding.

Sustainability Policy

All energy construction grants will proceed after business plans are reviewed and approved by Commission.

FY 2012 Project Selection Process

The Energy Advisory Committee (EAC) provides guidance to
Commissioners and staff on the program, and is comprised of members involved in energy development in
Alaska. Members include representatives of Associated General Contractors, Alaska AFL–CIO, Department of Energy National Renewable Energy Lab, the University of
Alaska Institute of Northern Engineering, USDA, Kotzebue Electric Association and two public members representing rural Alaska. The EAC provided general recommendations supporting the ongoing priority for funding Bulk Fuel/Rural Power System Upgrade planning, design and construction, providing match funding for the emerging energy technology program and for renewable energy regional planning in coordination with the Alaska Energy Authority’s initiative to meet statewide energy infrastructure
needs for all of the above. Legacy Program (Bulk Fuel/RPSU)

Due to the nature of the due diligence requirement of energy projects, seasonal logistics in Alaska and funding restrictions (i.e. TAPL funds may only be used for bulk fuel projects)—a project may not progress as quickly as another. Given the late timing of funding in FY 2011, summer construction grants are not anticipated. A final project list will be developed based on available funds, project readiness, available match and other due diligence. Final project lists are provided to EAC for feedback prior to final grant execution.

Transportation

Section 309 of the Denali Commission Act 1998 (amended), created the Commission’s Transportation Program, including the Transportation Advisory Committee. The advisory committee is composed of nine members appointed by the Governor of the State of Alaska including the Chairman of the Denali Commission; four members who represent existing regional native corporations, native nonprofit entities, or tribal governments, including one member who is a civil engineer; and four members who represent rural Alaska regions or villages, including one member who is a civil engineer.

The Transportation Program
addresses two areas of rural Alaska transportation infrastructure: Roads and waterfront development. There is consensus among agencies and communities that the program is successfully addressing improvements to local and regional transportation systems. This is largely a function of the TAC’s success at project selection and monitoring, and the success of the program’s project development partners. The program is generally a competitively-bid contractor or materials-based project opportunity grounded in Title 23 CFR. These strict project development and construction guidelines have presented some challenges to the Commission’s ability to respond quickly to targets of opportunity, but they have also had the positive effect of ensuring project design
and construction is executed at a professional level. The program operates under a reimbursable payment system that requires local and program partner sponsors to pay close attention to accounting procedures prior to their payments to contractors and vendors. This system helps ensure project payments are eligible when submitted to
the Commission.

In FY 2012 the program will continue its focus on barge landings and mooring points in rural communities. These projects range from one or two mooring points to secure a barge, to small dock structures, depending on community size and barge operation characteristics.
The value of these structures lies in improved fuel/freight transfer operations and improved worker and environmental safety. The Commission and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will continue to work through the prioritized list of barge landing and mooring point projects which were identified in a formal analysis
conducted in FY 2009 and FY 2010. The universe of need for the first generation of projects is in the range of $40,000,000.

The TAC met on January 26–27, 2012 to select waterfront projects and will meet in early summer to select road project priorities for FY 2012. Final project approvals and funding amountshave been approved by the Federal CoChair and are available on the
Commission’s Web site.

As shown in the FY 2012 Funding Table, the estimate for FHWA funding ranges from $0 to $24,700,000. In 2011 continuing resolution language, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation was assigned the responsibility by Congress to identify FHWA projects and programs that were sufficiently funded (i.e. completed). In following this assignment, the Secretary determined that the Denali Access Program was sufficiently funded and $13,300,000 in FY 2011 FHWA funding was assigned to the Alaska Department of Transportation. At the request of the Denali Commission Inspector General, GAO is presently considering whether the Secretary had the authority to make this determination regarding the Denali Access Program. At the time of drafting this 2012 annual Work Plan, the GAO Comptroller General has not yet issued an opinion. Therefore, depending upon the forthcoming opinion the Commission may receive no FHWA funding or potentially receive both FY 2011 and FY 2012 FHWA funding— totaling $24,740,000.

Joel Neimeyer,

Federal Co-Chair.

[FR Doc. 2012–11936 Filed 5–16–12; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 3301–01–P**

**ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION**

**Proposed Information Collection;**
**Election Administration in Urban and Rural Areas; Comment Request** 

**AGENCY :**  U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC).

**ACTION :**  Notice.


### 29321 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 96 / Thursday, May 17, 2012 / Notices

**SUMMARY :**  On February 21, 2012, EAC published a notice in accordance with Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995. EAC announced an information collection and sought public comment on the provisions thereof. In compliance with Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, EAC announces
an information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. EAC, pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.5(a)(iii), intends to submit this proposed information collection (Election Administration in Urban and Rural Areas) to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget for approval. The Election Administration in Urban and Rural Areas survey asks election officials questions concerning voter outreach and election personnel. EAC will conduct the survey as a way
to obtain data and information for a mandatory report to Congress as stipulated under HAVA 241 (B)(15), which requires EAC to study ‘‘[m]atters particularly relevant to voting and administering election in rural and urban areas.’’ Further, Section 202(3) of
HAVA authorizes EAC to conduct studies and to carry out other duties and activities to promote the effective
administration of Federal elections.

**DATES :**  Written comments must be submitted on or before 4:00 p.m. EDT on June 18, 2012.

Comments: Public comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including
whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the
burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Additional Information: Please note that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has up to 60 days to approve or disapprove the information collection, but may respond after 30 days. Comments on the proposed
information collection should be submitted to OMB within 30 days of
this notice. Comments should be sent to the attention of Sharon Mar, Desk
Officer for the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Washington,

DC 20503. Comments sent to OMB
should also be sent to EAC at HAVAinfo@eac.gov with Urban/Rural study as the subject line. Written comments on the proposed information
collection can also be sent to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, 1201 New York Avenue NW., Suite 300, Washington, DC 20005, ATTN: Urban/ Rural Study.

Obtaining a Copy of the Survey: To obtain a free copy of the survey: (1)
Access the EAC Web site at

www.eac.gov; (2) write to the EAC (including your address and phone number) at U.S. Election Assistance Commission, 1201 New York Avenue NW., Suite 300, Washington, DC 20005, ATTN: Urban/Rural Study.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Karen Lynn-Dyson or Shelly Anderson at (202) 566–3100.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :** 

Title and OMB Number: Election
Administration in Urban and Rural Areas; OMB Number Pending.

Summary of the Collection of Information: The survey requests information at the local level concerning the following categories:

Background: (1) Number of years served as an election official; type of appointment; (2) number of registered voters; (3) jurisdiction described as urban or rural; (4) jurisdiction required to provide language assistance; (5) office have full responsibility for elections in the jurisdiction; (6) alternative forms of voting allowed in the jurisdiction (absentee—excuse required, no-excuse absentee, early voting, all vote-by-mail).

Voter Outreach: (7) type of voter outreach provided to the public; (8)
outreach efforts coordinated with thirdparty/civic organizations; type of voter outreach coordinated; type of organizations with which the jurisdiction works; (9) voter outreach activities that focus on specific groups; (10) cost of voter outreach efforts in 2010; (11) estimated cost of voter outreach efforts in 2012; (12) how voter outreach efforts were paid for; (13) ease or difficulty of engaging in voter outreach; (14) reasons outreach may
have been difficult.

Personnel: (15) number of paid fulltime, part-time, and temporary staff in 2010; (16) number of poll workers used in 2010; (17) number of paid full-time, part-time, and temporary staff in 2012; (18) number of poll workers used in 2012; (19) poll worker pay; (20) sources for recruiting poll workers; (21) ease or difficulty of obtaining poll workers; (22) reasons obtaining poll workers may have been difficult; (23) jurisdiction offer split shifts for poll workers; (24)
additional comments. Affected Public (Respondents): Local governments that administer Federal
elections.

Affected Public: Local government. Number of Respondents: 5,000. Responses per Respondent: 1. Estimated Burden Per Response: 30
minutes.

Estimated Total Annual Burden

Hours: 1,500 hours.

Frequency: One-time data collection.

Mark A. Robbins, Acting Executive Director, U.S. Election

Assistance Commission.

[FR Doc. 2012–11919 Filed 5–16–12; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 6820–KF–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY**

**National Coal Council**

**AGENCY :**  Department of Energy.

**ACTION :**  Notice of open meeting.

**SUMMARY :**  This notice announces a meeting of the National Coal Council (NCC). The Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92–463, 86 Stat. 770) requires that public notice of these meetings be announced in the Federal Register

. **DATES :**  Thursday, June 7, 2012, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

**ADDRESSES :**  Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare, 5440 North River Road, Rosemont, Illinois 60018.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Dr. Robert J. Wright, U.S. Department of Energy; 4G–036/Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585–1290; Telephone: 202–586–0429.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :** 

Purpose of Meeting: The Coal Policy
Committee of the National Coal Council will review the draft of a report requested by Secretary of Energy Steven Chu in a letter dated October 28, 2011,
to the Council.

Tentative Agenda

■ Review and action on the report.

■ Adjourn. Public Participation: The meeting is open to the public. If you would like to
file a written statement with the Committee, you may do so either before or after the meeting. If you would like to make oral statements regarding any potential items on the agenda, you should contact Dr. Robert J. Wright,

202–586–0429 or Robert.wright@hq.doe.gov (email). You must make your request for an oral statement at least 5 business days before the meeting. Reasonable provision will
be made to include the scheduled oral