46784 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 175 / Friday, September 11, 2009 / Notices 

These strict obligation and expenditure 

requirements demonstrate the financial 

and construction expediency 

requirements that the PHAs must meet 

along with the additional requirement of 

Buy American and the need for 

transparency. 

The five exception determinations 

listed above are based on a 

determination of inconsistency with 

public interest. The FAR List is based 

insufficient and not reasonably available 

quantities and of a satisfactory quality. 

At this time, HUD is not adding to the 

FAR List or creating a HUD list. HUD 

does not need to provide any additional 

justification for use of items currently 

on the FAR List of domestically 

nonavailable items at 48 CFR 25.104(a). 

If a PHA wants to use items on the FAR 

List or to have items added to the FAR 

List or to a HUD list, the PHA must 

follow the PIH Buy American 

Implementation Guidance. 

The five national exceptions 

determined applicable are based on 

public interest are necessary to: (1) 

Avoid delay in completion and 

restoration of housing for low-income 

families and the achievement of the 

Recovery Act deadlines; (2) avoid delays 

in the start of construction and 

modernization of public housing that 

will jeopardize jobs; (3) avoid the 

possibility of additional funding gaps on 

termination of certain contracts and 

price differentials cause by 

reprocurement of goods and equipment; 

(4) avoid loss of funding for critical 

projects; and (5) address current and 

emerging situations presented by PHAs. 

The national exception for PHAs where 

the size of the CFRFC grant is less than 

$100,000 will cover 30 percent of the 

PHAs (often referred to as ‘‘small 

PHAs’’) and will amount to a relatively 

small impact (approximately $52 

million of the nearly $4 billion in grant 

awards). A determination was made that 

an exception is also applicable to PHAs 

where the size of a contract funded with 

CFRFC grant assistance is less than 

$100,000 (which is currently the 24 CFR 

part 85 simplified acquisition threshold 

fixed at 41 U.S.C. 403(11)) in part 

because under 24 CFR 85.36(d)(1), these 

are small purchase procedures that are 

relatively simple and informal 

procurement methods for securing 

goods. If small purchase procedures are 

used by a PHA, price or rate quotations 

are to be obtained from at least three 

qualified sources. 

PHAs have brought to HUD’s 

attention that every public housing 

development and modernization project 

involves the use of literally thousands of 

miscellaneous, generally low-cost 

components that are essential for but 

incidental to the construction and 

modernization, and are incorporated 

into the physical structure of the 

project, such as nails, hinges, other 

hardware, electrical, plumbing and 

finishing components. These incidental 

components are subject to the Buy 

American requirement, but unlike major 

components, the country of manufacture 

and the availability of alternatives are 

not readily or reasonably identifiable 

prior to procurement in the normal 

course of construction and 

modernization of public housing. Over 

2,300 PHAs have less than 250 units in 

inventory, and many of these PHAs are 

located in rural areas or small towns. 

HUD understands that these PHAs in 

particular often have to search further in 

order to procure American-made items 

and find contractors familiar with the 

Buy American requirement. For these 

PHAs, it takes additional time to 

procure, and there are increased costs 

associated with bringing materials and 

contractors in from a great distance. 

Under the requirements of the Recovery 

Act, HUD is concerned that it could be 

disproportionate to the costs and time 

involved for the PHA or their contractor 

and would not be feasible for PHAs to 

find alternatives. In an effort to address 

this concern, HUD sought to identify the 

scope of these incidental components 

within the construction and 

modernization of public housing, 

consulted with PHAs and PHA trade 

associations and considered the number 

of ways and the number of sources of 

these components. 

Recognition of the lack of availability 

and access to resources as well as relief 

from administrative burdens are critical 

to the success of small PHAs and 

consistent with Recovery Act objectives. 

As with any new requirement, 

implementation of the Buy American 

requirement will take analysis and 

resources that are not readily available 

to small PHAs. The need for the 

expeditious and efficient use of the 

CFRFC funds balanced with the long 

established recognition of decreased 

availability of resources available to 

small PHAs clearly supports exceptions 

3 and 4 above. 

Based on the information resulting 

from this process, the determination 

was made that these exceptions were 

appropriate because compliance with 

the Buy American requirement would 

be disproportionate to the cost and time 

involved for PHAs and delay work on 

critical public housing projects and the 

jobs associated with those projects. This 

public-interest justification does not 

reach the conclusion that the inclusion 

of iron, steel, and manufactured goods 

produced in the United States will 

automatically increase the cost of the 

overall project by more than 25 percent. 

Cost is a factor in all PHA procurements 

and must be considered in accordance 

with 24 CFR part 85 and the cost 

principles at 2 CFR part 225. Cost is in 

part a factor in all of HUD’s public 

interest national exceptions. HUD has 

decided that cost-based exceptions must 

be determined on a case-by-case basis 

and submitted to HUD for review under 

the PIH’s Buy American Implementation 

Guidance. 

For additional information see 

http://www.hud.gov/offices/pih/ 

publications/notices/. 

Dated: September 4, 2009. 

Sandra B. Henriquez, 

Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian 

Housing. 

[FR Doc. E9–21958 Filed 9–10–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4210–67–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Office of the Secretary 

Request for Comments on the 

Strategic Plan Framework as Input for 

Revision and Updating of the 

Departmental Strategic Plan 

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of availability and 

request for comments. 

SUMMARY: The Department of the 

Interior is seeking public comment as 

part of its process to revise and update 

its current strategic plan. 

DATES: You must submit comments on 

or before November 10, 2009. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

by any of the following methods: 

E-mail: 

StratPlancomments@ios.doi.gov. 

FAX: 202–208–2619. 

Mail: U.S. Department of the Interior, 

Office of the Secretary—Planning and 

Performance Management, Attention: 

DOI Strategic Planning Coordinator, 

1849 C Street, NW., Mail Stop 5258, 

Washington, DC 20240–0001. 

Public Availability of Comments 

Before including your address, phone 

number, e-mail 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 public under certain 

circumstances. 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. 


cprice-sewell on DSKGBLS3C1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 175 / Friday, September 11, 2009 / Notices 46785 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

LeRon E. Bielak, DOI Strategic Planning 

Coordinator at (202) 208–5340 or by email at leron_bielak@ios.doi.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

Government Performance and Results 

Act of 1993 (GPRA) requires periodic 

updating of agency strategic plans. The 

first Interior GPRA Strategic Plan was 

published in 1997. Subsequent revisions 

were published in 2000, 2003 and 2006. 

In producing the plan published in 

2003, Interior took a major departure 

from its past approaches to GPRA 

planning. In 2003, Interior reversed an 

approach of publishing separate 

strategic plans for each bureau by 

developing its first unified, Departmentwide strategic plan. 

The 2003 plan formulated common 

goals and performance measures among 

bureaus and placed a greater emphasis 

on specific results to be achieved. In 

creating this integrated plan, Interior 

employed a model in which it 

committed to outcome goals to be 

achieved and a supporting set of 

strategies for helping achieve the 

desired outcomes. Both outcome goals 

and strategies have been accompanied 

by specific performance measures that 

indicate the progress toward the 

intended results. 

The integrated Departmental plan 

approach specifies long-term 

quantitative targets for results to be 

achieved while annual performance 

expectations are laid out in Interior’s 

annual Performance Budget. Bureaus 

and offices are also expected to integrate 

operational plans into their budgets that 

link and align directly with the 

Departmental strategic plan. The 

operational plans are also used to help 

confirm the relevance and cost of work 

conducted and to guide future budget 

formulation, justifications, and decision 

making. 

The process for revising and updating 

our plan has been time-intensive as 

adequate time must be allocated for 

soliciting and analyzing public 

comment, providing for consultations 

and meetings to generate extended 

conversations about the nature and 

content of the plan, and progressing 

through a careful evaluation and 

approval process prior to publication. 

This revision process has been 

complicated by the transition to a new 

Administration and the need for new 

Departmental senior leadership to be 

appointed and confirmed. Because of 

the duration of the transition process, 

and the need to avoid pre-empting 

decisions that fall to new leadership, 

preliminary revision work was 

restricted to analysis of existing 

performance metrics, identifying 

potential gaps or problems in program 

coverage in the plan, narrative and 

statistical updates, and preparation of 

initial options papers and schedules. 

Interior Secretary Salazar considers it 

important to proceed with the revision 

process and obtain public input that 

will be instrumental in helping establish 

a plan that will focus more clearly on 

areas of critical concern. Secretary 

Salazar also views this revision as a 

timely opportunity to emphasize 

important priorities and commitments 

of the Administration. Among these 

priorities are (1) achieving greater 

energy independence and promoting the 

development of clean alternative energy 

sources, (2) protecting treasured 

landscapes, (3) addressing the issue of 

global climate change, (4) meeting our 

commitments to Native Americans and 

Alaska Natives, (5) addressing critical 

water issues, (6) creating opportunities 

for youth in the outdoors, and (7) 

insuring the integrity of science in 

support of Interior’s decision making. 

This is your invitation to present your 

views on the framework of missions, 

strategic goals, and performance 

measures the Department considers for 

revision and updating of its strategic 

plan. These include significant 

structural changes and priorities that are 

being proposed by the Secretary as well 

as your views on how to better define 

the results the Department should 

achieve and how to effectively measure 

our progress toward those outcomes. 

Input will not be sought on specific 

performance measure targets (also 

known as performance goals). 

There are also several problematic 

areas for which your ideas are 

specifically being solicited: (1) 

Establishing a specific strategic plan 

goal and performance measure(s) for 

Indian Self-Government and SelfDetermination and for Indian economic 

development; (2) addressing areas 

where the Department wants to improve 

existing measures, particularly metrics 

relating to wildland fire and endangered 

species conservation; (3) developing 

measures for gauging the effectiveness 

of scientific research; and (4) addressing 

performance measurement gaps that 

have been identified (shown with TBD 

in the measure charts of the proposed 

framework which can be found at the 

Interior Web site). 

In addition to soliciting written 

comments, Interior is selecting several 

locations around the country where 

open meetings will be held within the 

next two months to discuss the strategic 

plan framework for revision of the plan. 

As with the written comments, input 

will not be sought on specific 

performance measure targets. At each 

location, one or more separate sessions 

will be held for the general public, 

stakeholders, the Tribes, or Interior 

employees. The probable meeting 

locations include Anchorage AK, 

Phoenix AZ, Portland OR, and 

Washington, DC. Additional Tribal 

meetings are likely to occur in 

Minneapolis, MN and Oklahoma City, 

OK. An additional public stakeholder 

and employee meeting site may be 

Denver, CO. Please monitor the Federal 

Register or the Department of the 

Interior Web site http://www.doi.gov/ 

strategicplan for final details in the near 

future. We also intend to offer an online conferencing opportunity for those 

who cannot attend one of these 

meetings. Other on-line opportunities 

are being explored to expand the 

opportunities for discussion. 

There is no prescribed format for 

submitting written comments, however, 

it would be very helpful to separate 

your comments into those that apply to 

mission, goals, and performance 

measures versus those that apply to any 

other plan content (as described in 

items #3–5 below). An optional format 

for submitting your comments is 

available on line at the Interior Web site, 

(http://www.doi.gov/strategicplan) as 

well as other viewable or downloadable 

files of the proposed framework, the 

current plan, reference documents such 

as the GPRA, frequently asked questions 

and other helpful information. (These 

are also available through the contact 

point listed earlier.) Comments that may 

refer to funding, legislation, procedural 

issues, or other questions more 

peripheral to the planning effort will 

receive separate consideration and may 

not be directly factored into the revised 

plan. 

Although the format for an agency 

strategic plan is discretionary, you 

should know that GPRA requires that 

the following content be included in 

any such final plan: 

(1) A comprehensive mission 

statement, 

(2) Goals and objectives for major 

functions, 

(3) Means and strategies for meeting 

goals, 

(4) Key factors that could affect results 

achieved, and 

(5) A listing of program evaluations 

used in revising the plan. 

GPRA also requires that an Agency 

consult with Congress and obtain the 

views of affected and interested parties. 


cprice-sewell on DSKGBLS3C1PROD with NOTICES
46786 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 175 / Friday, September 11, 2009 / Notices 

Dated: September 8, 2009. 

Rhea Suh, 

Assistant Secretary—Policy, Management 

and Budget. 

[FR Doc. E9–21930 Filed 9–10–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Bureau of Land Management 

[LL91310000EI] 

Notice of Intent To Prepare an 

Environmental Impact Statement for 

the Proposed Leasing of National 

System of Public Lands for 

Geothermal Resource Development in 

the Haiwee Geothermal Leasing Area 

Located in Inyo County, CA and To 

Amend the California Desert 

Conservation Area Plan of 1980 

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of Intent. 

SUMMARY: In compliance with the 

National Environmental Policy Act of 

1976 (NEPA), as amended, and section 

202 of the Federal Land Policy and 

Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), as 

amended, the Bureau of Land 

Management (BLM) Ridgecrest Field 

Office intends to prepare an 

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 

to analyze the proposed leasing of 

approximately 22,060 acres of BLMmanaged public lands for geothermal 

exploration, development, and 

utilization in the Haiwee Geothermal 

Leasing Area located in Inyo County, 

California. The leasing of public lands 

for geothermal resources will require an 

amendment to the California Desert 

Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan of 1980. 

Comments are being solicited to help 

identify significant issues or concerns 

related to the proposed action, 

determine the scope of issues, and 

identify and refine alternatives to the 

proposed action. The BLM will also use 

and coordinate the NEPA commenting 

process to satisfy the requirements for 

public involvement in section 106 of the 

National Historic Preservation Act. 

DATES: This Notice initiates the public 

scoping process for the EIS and plan 

amendment. Comments on issues may 

be submitted in writing until October 

13, 2009. The date(s) and location(s) of 

the public scoping meetings will be 

announced at least 15 days in advance 

through local news media, newspapers 

and the BLM Web site at: http:// 

www.blm.gov/ca/st/en.html. In order to 

be included in the Draft EIS, all 

comments must be received prior to the 

close of the scoping period or 15 days 

after the last public meeting, whichever 

is later. We will provide additional 

opportunities for public participation 

upon publication of the Draft EIS. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

related to Geothermal Leasing in the 

Haiwee Geothermal Leasing Area 

located in Inyo County, California by 

any of the following methods: 

• Web site: http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/ 

en.html. 

• E-mail: John_Dalton@ca.blm.gov. 

• Fax: (951) 697–5299. 

• Mail: Bureau of Land Management, 

California Desert District Office, Attn: 

John Dalton, Haiwee Geothermal 

Leasing Area Coordinator, 22835 Calle 

San Juan De Los Lagos, Moreno Valley, 

California 92553. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John 

Dalton at (951) 697–5311, 

John_Dalton@ca.blm.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM 

has received three noncompetitive 

geothermal lease applications for 4,460 

acres of public land within the Haiwee 

Geothermal Leasing Area in Inyo 

County, California. In addition, the BLM 

identified approximately 17,600 acres of 

public lands, also within the Haiwee 

Geothermal Leasing Area and adjacent 

to the three geothermal lease 

applications, which will be considered 

for competitive geothermal leasing 

under 43 CFR 3203.10(e). The proposed 

action is to amend the CDCA Plan to 

allocate project area lands as open or 

closed to consideration for geothermal 

leasing, with appropriate stipulations 

necessary to maintain and protect other 

resource values and uses, and to 

develop a Reasonably Foreseeable 

Development Scenario for geothermal 

resources development under the 

authority of the FLPMA and the 

Geothermal Steam Act of 1970, as 

amended (30 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.). 

Individual lease issuance decisions and 

parcels to be included in a sale will be 

considered in a manner consistent with 

the final plan as amended, as 

subsequent implementation decisions. 

The public lands being considered for 

geothermal leasing in the Haiwee 

Geothermal Leasing Area are located in 

sections 11–14, 23–26, 35, and 36 in 

Township 21 South, Range 37 East, 

sections 7–10, 15, 17–22, 27–34 in 

Township 21 South, Range 38 East, in 

sections 1 and 2 in Township 22 South, 

Range 37 East, and sections 5–8 in 

Township 22 South, Range 38 East, all 

within the San Bernardino and Base 

Meridian. Total acreage being 

considered for geothermal leasing is 

approximately 22,060 acres. 

Alternatives thus far identified for 

evaluation in the EIS will include the 

following: 

1. Proposed action. 

2. No action alternative (not leasing 

the lands for geothermal exploration, 

development, and utilization). 

3. Leasing fewer than the proposed 

22,060 acres of public land. 

The principal issues identified thus 

far for consideration in the EIS include 

Native American concerns; potential 

land use conflicts including recreation; 

cumulative impacts considering 

existing, proposed, and potential 

geothermal projects in the area; and 

potential impacts on cultural resources, 

wildlife, visual resources, and surface 

and groundwater resources. The EIS 

will also address other issues such as 

geology, mining, geothermal resources, 

vegetation, threatened or endangered 

species, air quality, noise, 

transportation, human health and safety, 

and social and economic issues, as well 

as any issues raised during the scoping 

process. 

The BLM will identify issues to be 

addressed in the Plan, and will place 

them into one of three categories: 

1. Issues to be resolved in the plan. 

2. Issues to be resolved through policy 

or administrative action. 

3. Issues beyond the scope of this 

plan. 

The BLM will provide an explanation 

in the plan as to why we placed an issue 

in category two or three. The public is 

also encouraged to help identify any 

management questions and concerns 

that should be addressed in the Plan. 

The BLM will work collaboratively with 

interested parties to identify the 

management decisions that are best 

suited to local, regional, and national 

needs and concerns. 

The following Planning Criteria will 

be utilized during production of this 

document: 

• The plan will be completed in 

compliance with FLPMA, NEPA, and all 

other relevant Federal law, Executive 

Orders, and management policies of the 

BLM. 

• Where existing planning decisions 

are still valid, those decisions may 

remain unchanged and be incorporated 

into the plan amendment. 

• The plans will recognize valid 

existing rights. 

• Native American Tribal 

consultations will be conducted in 

accordance with policy and Tribal 

concerns will be given due 

consideration. The planning process 

will include the consideration of any 

impacts on Indian trust assets. 


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