[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 167 (Monday, August 31, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44867-44868]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-20974]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs


Water Delivery and Electric Service Data for the Operation of 
Irrigation and Power Projects and Systems: Proposed Information 
Collection

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION:  Notice of Submission to the Office of Management and Budget.

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SUMMARY: As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Bureau of 
Indian Affairs (BIA) is submitting the following information 
collections to the Office of Management and Budget for renewal: (1) 
Electrical Service Application, 25 CFR 175, OMB Control Number 1076-
0021; and (2) Water Request, 25 CFR 171, OMB Control Number 1076-0141. 
Current approvals for the collections expire August 31, 2009.

DATES: Submit comments on or before September 30, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to the Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Attention: Department of the 
Interior Desk Officer, by facsimile at (202) 395-5806 or via e-mail to 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a4ebedf6e5fbe0cbc7cfc1d0e4cbc9c68ac1cbd48ac3cbd2"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="76393f2437293219151d130236191b145813190658111900">[email protected]</span></a>. Also, please send a copy of your comments to: 
John Anevski, Chief, Division of Irrigation, Power and Safety of Dams, 
Office of Trust Services, Mail Stop 4655-MIB, 1849 C Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20240; e-mail: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a9c3c6c1c787c8c7ccdfdac2c0e9cbc0c887cec6df"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f59f9a9d9bdb949b9083869e9cb5979c94db929a83">[email protected]</span></a>.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Anevski, Chief, Division of 
Irrigation, Power and Safety of Dams, telephone: (202) 208-5480, e-
mail: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#214b4e494f0f404f4457524a48614348400f464e57"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="12787d7a7c3c737c776461797b52707b733c757d64">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The BIA owns, operates, and maintains three electric power 
utilities that provide a service to the end user. The BIA also owns, 
operates, and maintains 15 irrigation projects that provide a service 
to the end user. To be able to properly bill for the services provided, 
the BIA must collect customer information to identify the individual 
responsible for repaying the government the costs of delivering the 
service, and billing for those costs. Additional information necessary 
for providing the service is the location of the service delivery. The 
Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 (DCIA) requires that certain 
information be collected from individuals and businesses doing business 
with the government. This information includes the taxpayer 
identification number for possible future use to recover delinquent 
debt. To implement the DCIA requirement to collect customer 
information, the BIA has included a section concerning the collection 
of information in its regulations governing its electrical power 
utilities (25 CFR 175) and in its regulations governing its irrigation 
projects (25 CFR 171). A request for comments on this information 
collection request appeared in the Federal Register on May 19, 2009 (74 
FR 23428). No comments were received regarding these information 
collections in response to the announcement.

II. Request for Comments

    You are invited to send your comments on these information 
collections to the two locations listed in the ADDRESSES section. Your 
comments should address:
    (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, 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 after publication of this document in the 
Federal Register 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 during the first 
30-day period.
    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.

III. Data

A. Electrical Service Application

    OMB Control Number: 1076-0021.
    Title: Electrical Service Application 25 CFR 175.
    Brief Description of Collection: In order for electric power 
consumers to be served, information is needed by the BIA to operate and 
maintain its electric power utilities and fulfill reporting 
requirements.
    Sections 175.6 and 175.22 of 25 CFR part 175, Indian electric power 
utilities, specifies the information collection requirement. Power 
consumers must apply for electric service. The information to be 
collected includes: name; electric service location; and other 
operational information identified in the local administrative manuals. 
Collection of this information is currently authorized under an 
approval by OMB (OMB Control Number 1076-0021). All information is 
collected from each electric power consumer. Responses are required to 
receive or maintain a benefit.
    Type of Review: Renewal.
    Respondents: BIA electric power consumers--individuals and 
businesses.
    Number of Respondents: 3,000 per year.
    Number of Responses: 3,000 per year.
    Estimated Time per Response: \1/2\ hour.
    Frequency of Response: Normally just once. Only need to re-do if 
requesting new electrical service elsewhere or if they have been 
disconnected for failure to pay their electric bill.
    Total Annual Burden to Respondents: 1,500 hours.

B. Water Request

    OMB Control Number: 1076-0141.
    Title: Water Request 25 CFR 171.
    Brief Description of Collection: In order for irrigators to receive 
water deliveries, information is needed by the BIA to operate and 
maintain its irrigation projects and fulfill reporting requirements. 
Section 171.140 and other sections cited in section 171.40 of 25 CFR 
part 171, [Irrigation] Operation and Maintenance, specifies the 
information collection requirement. Water users must apply for water 
delivery and for a number of other associated services, such as, 
subsidizing a farm unit,

[[Page 44868]]

requesting leaching service, requesting water for domestic or stock 
purposes, building structures or fences in BIA rights-of-way, 
requesting payment plans on bills, establishing a carriage agreement 
with a third-party, negotiating irrigation incentive leases, and 
requesting an assessment waiver. The information to be collected 
includes: full legal name; correct mailing address; taxpayer 
identifying number; water delivery location; if subdividing a farm 
unit--a copy of the recorded plat or map of the subdivision where water 
will be delivered; the time and date of requested water delivery; 
duration of water delivery; amount of water delivered; rate of water 
flow; number of acres irrigated; crop statistics; any other agreements 
allowed under 25 CFR part 171; and any additional information required 
by the local project office that provides your service. Collection of 
this information is currently authorized under an approval by OMB (OMB 
Control Number 1076-0141). Information for water request is collected 
at least annually from each water user with a response required each 
time BIA provides irrigation water; the remaining information is 
collected only occasionally, upon request for the specific service. The 
information water users submit is for the purpose of obtaining or 
retaining a benefit, namely irrigation water.
    Type of Review: Renewal.
    Respondents: Waters users of the BIA irrigation project--
individuals and businesses.
    Number of Respondents: 6,539 per year.
    Number of Responses: 27,075 per year.
    Estimated Time per Response: A range of 18 minutes to 6 hours, 
depending on the specific service being requested.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion throughout the irrigation 
season, averaging approximately 2 times per year.
    Total Annual Burden to Respondents: 14,059 hours.

    Dated: August 25, 2009.
Alvin Foster,
Deputy Chief Information Officer--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. E9-20974 Filed 8-28-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-W7-P


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