Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 43 / Monday, March 5, 2012 / Notices 13137 

1Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2004, Public 

Law 108–199, Div. H. § 161, 118 Stat. 3, 452 (2004) 

as amended by Consolidated Appropriations Act, 

Continued 

and will be accepted until April 4, 2012. 

This process is conducted in accordance 

with 5 CFR 1320.10. 

Written comments and/or suggestions 

regarding the item(s) contained in this 

notice, especially regarding the 

estimated public burden and associated 

response time, should be directed to the 

Department of Homeland Security 

(DHS), and to the Office of Information 

and Regulatory Affairs, Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB), USCIS 

Desk Officer. Comments may be 

submitted to: Sunday Aigbe, Chief, 

Regulatory Products Division, Office of 

the Executive Secretariat, USCIS, 20 

Massachusetts Avenue NW., 

Washington, DC 20529–2020. 

Comments may also be submitted to 

DHS via facsimile to 202–272–8352 or 

via email at 

USCISFRComment@dhs.gov, and OMB 

USCIS Desk Officer via facsimile at 202– 

395–5806 or via 

oira_submission@omb.eop.gov. When 

submitting comments by email please 

make sure to add OMB Control Number 

1615–0014 in the subject box. 

Written comments and suggestions 

from the public and affected agencies 

should address one or more of the 

following four points: 

(1) Evaluate whether the proposed 

collection of information is necessary 

for the proper performance of the 

functions of the agency, including 

whether the information will have 

practical utility; 

(2) Evaluate the accuracy of the 

agencies estimate of the burden of the 

proposed collection of information, 

including the validity of the 

methodology and assumptions used; 

(3) Enhance the quality, utility, and 

clarity of the information to be 

collected; and 

(4) Minimize the burden of the 

collection of information on those who 

are to respond, including through the 

use of appropriate automated, 

electronic, mechanical, or other 

technological collection techniques or 

other forms of information technology, 

e.g., permitting electronic submission of 

responses. 

Overview of This Information 

Collection 

(1) Type of Information Collection: 

Extension of an existing information 

collection. 

(2) Title of the Form/Collection: 

Affidavit of Support. 

(3) Agency form number, if any, and 

the applicable component of the 

Department of Homeland Security 

sponsoring the collection: Form I–134; 

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration 

Services (USCIS). 

(4) Affected public who will be asked 

or required to respond, as well as a brief 

abstract: Primary: Individuals or 

households. This information collection 

is necessary to determine if at the time 

of application into the United States, the 

applicant is likely to become a public 

charge. 

(5) An estimate of the total number of 

respondents and the amount of time 

estimated for an average respondent to 

respond: 44,000 responses at 90 minutes 

(1.5 hours) per response. 

(6) An estimate of the total public 

burden (in hours) associated with the 

collection: 66,000 annual burden hours. 

If you need a copy of the information 

collection instrument, please visit the 

Web site at: http://www.regulations.gov. 

If additional information is required 

contact: USCIS, Regulatory Products 

Division, Office of the Executive 

Secretariat, 20 Massachusetts Avenue 

NW., Washington, DC 20529–2020, 

telephone (202) 272–8377. 

Dated: February 29, 2012. 

Sunday Aigbe, 

Chief, Regulatory Products Division, Office 

of the Executive Secretariat, U.S. Citizenship 

and Immigration Services, Department of 

Homeland Security. 

[FR Doc. 2012–5284 Filed 3–2–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 9111–97–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Office of the Secretary 

Draft Policy on Consultation with 

Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act 

Corporations 

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Interior 

ACTION: Notice of availability and 

request for comments. 

SUMMARY: The Department of the 

Interior is requesting comments on its 

draft policy on consultation with Alaska 

Native Claims Settlement Act 

corporations. 

DATES: Submit comments by April 27, 

2012. 

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the draft 

policy to: attn: Alaska Consultation 

Policy, Office of the Secretary, 1849 C 

Street NW., Washington, DC 20240; 

Email: consultation@doi.gov. You can 

request copies of the draft policy by 

sending a letter or email to one of the 

above addresses or by calling 202–208– 

4503. You can also find the draft policy 

online at www.doi.gov/tribes/tribalconsultation-policy.cfm 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Jennifer Sisk, Department of the Interior, 

1849 C Street NW., Washington, DC 

20240. Email: Jennifer_Sisk@ios.doi.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Executive 

Order 13175 directs all Federal agencies 

to ensure consultation and coordination 

with Indian tribal governments on 

Federal actions that will affect tribal 

governments. Under Public Law 108– 

199, this consultation policy also 

applies to corporations established 

under the Alaska Native Claims 

Settlement Act (ANCSA). Federal 

agencies are therefore required to 

consult and coordinate with ANCSA 

corporations on the same basis as Indian 

tribes in developing policies that would 

affect these corporations and their tribal 

shareholders. To implement these 

requirements, the Department is 

proposing and seeking comments on a 

draft consultation policy to govern all 

activities that will affect ANCSA 

corporations. Copies of the draft policy 

are available at the address given in the 

ADDRESSES section of this notice. 

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. 

The Department of the Interior 

proposed policy on consultation with 

Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act 

Corporations is set forth below. 

Department of the Interior Policy on 

Consultation With Alaska Native 

Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) 

Corporations 

I. Preamble 

In compliance with Congressional 

direction, this Policy creates a 

framework for consulting with Alaska 

Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) 

Corporations. Pursuant to the Alaska 

Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) 

of 1971, ANCSA Corporations were 

established to provide for the economic 

and social needs, including the health, 

education and welfare of their Native 

shareholders. Congress also required 

that ‘‘[t]he Director of the Office of 

Management and Budget [and all 

Federal agencies] shall hereafter consult 

with Alaska Native corporations on the 

same basis as Indian tribes under 

Executive Order No. 13175.’’ 1


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13138 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 43 / Monday, March 5, 2012 / Notices 

2005, Public Law. 108–447, Div. H., Title V. § 518, 

118 Stat. 2809, 3267 (2004). 2 43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq. 

The Department of the Interior 

(Department) distinguishes the Federal 

relationship to ANCSA Corporations 

from the government-to-government 

relationship between the Federal 

government and each federally 

recognized Indian Tribe, and this Policy 

will not diminish in any way that 

relationship and the consultation 

obligations towards federally recognized 

Indian Tribes. Recognizing the 

distinction, the Department is 

committed to fulfilling its ANCSA 

Corporation consultation obligations by 

adhering to the framework described in 

this Policy. When taking departmental 

action that has a substantial direct affect 

on ANSCA Corporations, the 

Department will initiate consultation 

with ANSCA Corporations. 

II. Guiding Principles 

This Policy broadly defines 

provisions for improving the 

Department’s consultation processes 

with ANCSA Corporations to the extent 

that a conflict does not exist with 

applicable law or regulations. The 

Department recognizes and respects the 

distinct, unique, and individual cultural 

traditions and values of each Alaska 

Native person and the statutory 

relationship between ANCSA 

Corporations and the Federal 

Government. When concerns expressed 

by Indian Tribes and ANCSA 

Corporations substantively differ, 

Departmental officials shall be mindful 

of Indian Tribes’ right to self-governance 

and Tribal sovereignty. 

Consultation between the Department 

and ANCSA Corporations will involve 

appropriate Departmental officials and 

appropriate ANCSA Corporation 

officials. The appropriate Departmental 

officials are knowledgeable about the 

matters at hand, are authorized to speak 

for the Department, and exercise 

delegated authority in the disposition 

and implementation of an agency 

action. The appropriate Departmental 

officials will identify consulting parties 

early in the planning process and 

provide a meaningful opportunity for 

ANCSA Corporations to participate in 

the consultation policy as described in 

Section VII of this Policy. Department 

officials will make the effort to fully 

participate in the consultation process, 

ensure continuity, and demonstrate 

commitment to the process. 

Consultation is a deliberative process 

that aims to create effective 

collaboration and informed Federal 

decision-making. The process creates an 

opportunity for equal input from all 

affected ANCSA Corporations. Federal 

consultation that is meaningful, 

effective, and conducted in good faith 

makes the Department’s operation and 

governance practices more efficient. To 

that end, Bureaus and Offices will seek 

and promote cooperation and 

participation between agencies with 

overlapping jurisdiction, special 

expertise, or related responsibilities 

regarding a Departmental Action with 

ANCSA Corporation Implications. 

Efficiencies that derive from including 

ANCSA Corporations in the 

Department’s decision-making processes 

through consultation will help to ensure 

that future Federal action is achievable, 

comprehensive, long-lasting, and 

reflective of ANCSA Corporation input. 

III. Definitions 

Definitions of terms provided in the 

Department of the Interior Policy on 

Consultation with Indian Tribes apply 

to this Policy. Additional terms are 

defined in this section. 

Departmental Action with ANCSA 

Corporation Implications—Any 

Departmental regulation, rulemaking, 

policy, guidance, legislative proposal, 

grant funding formula changes, or 

operational activity that may have a 

substantial direct effect on an ANCSA 

Corporation, including but not limited 

to: 

1. ANCSA Corporation land, water 

areas and resources; 

2. The ability of an ANCSA 

Corporation to participate in 

Departmental programs for which it 

qualifies. 

This term, however, does not include 

matters that are in litigation or in 

settlement negotiations, or matters for 

which a court order limits the 

Department’s discretion to engage in 

consultation. 

ANCSA Corporation—Any Alaska 

Native village corporation, urban 

corporation, or regional corporation as 

defined in, or established pursuant to, 

the Alaska Native Claims Settlement 

Act.2

ANCSA Corporation Official or 

Designee—An official designated in 

writing by an ANCSA Corporation. 

IV. Accountability and Reporting 

The provisions in Section IV, entitled 

Accountability and Reporting, of the 

Department of the Interior Policy on 

Consultation with Indian Tribes, shall 

apply to this Policy, with adjustments as 

necessary to account for the unique 

status, structure, and interests of 

ANCSA Corporations as appropriate and 

allowable. 

V. Training 

The provisions in Section V, entitled 

Training, of the Department of the 

Interior Policy on Consultation with 

Indian Tribes shall apply to this Policy, 

with adjustments as necessary to 

account for the unique status, structure, 

and interests of ANCSA Corporations as 

appropriate and allowable. 

VI. Innovative and Effective 

Consultation Practices 

The provisions in Section VI, entitled 

Innovative and Effective Consultation 

Practices, of the Department of the 

Interior Policy on Consultation with 

Indian Tribes shall apply to this Policy, 

with adjustments as necessary to 

account for the unique status, structure, 

and interests of ANCSA Corporations as 

appropriate and allowable. 

VII. Consultation Guidelines 

The provisions in Section VII, entitled 

Consultation Guidelines, of the 

Department of the Interior Policy on 

Consultation with Indian Tribes, shall 

apply to this Policy, with adjustments as 

necessary to account for the unique 

status, structure, and interests of 

ANCSA Corporations as appropriate and 

allowable. 

VIII. Supplemental Policies 

Bureaus and Offices, in collaboration 

with the Tribal Governance Officer 

(TGO), shall review existing policies 

that may be impacted by this Policy. All 

existing policies shall conform to this 

Policy and, where necessary, a Bureau 

or Office may develop a new policy in 

order to conform to this Policy. 

Departmental entities that are not 

Bureaus and Offices may develop 

policies consistent with this Policy and 

in coordination with the TGO. 

IX. Disclaimer 

Except to the extent already 

established by law, this Policy is 

intended only to improve the internal 

management of the Department, and is 

not intended to create any right, benefit, 

or trust responsibility, substantive or 

procedural, enforceable at law by a 

party against the Department or any 

person. The Department also does not 

waive by virtue of this Policy any 

applicable privilege that it may hold. 

Dated: February 28, 2012. 

David J. Hayes, 

Deputy Secretary of the Interior. 

[FR Doc. 2012–5282 Filed 3–2–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–10–P 


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