Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 100 / Wednesday, May 23, 2012 / Notices 30509 

D. Estimate of whether the proposed 

solution would cost the state additional 

funding, and if so an approximation of 

how much. 

E. Your contact information so that 

we can follow-up if we need any 

clarifications. 

Dated: May 16, 2012. 

Patricia L. Toppings, 

OSD Federal Register, Liaison Officer, 

Department of Defense. 

[FR Doc. 2012–12419 Filed 5–22–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 5001–06–P 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

Department of the Air Force 

Notice To Extend Public Comment 

Period for United States Air Force F– 

35A Operational Basing Environmental 

Impact Statement 

AGENCY: The United States Air Force, 

DoD. 

ACTION: Notification of Extension of 

Public Comment Period. 

SUMMARY: The U.S. Air Force is issuing 

this notice to advise the public of an 

extension to the public comment period. 

The initial Notice of Availability 

published in the Federal Register on 

April 13, 2012 (Vol. 77, No. 72/Notices/ 

22315) requested public comments no 

later than June 4, 2012. The Air Force 

has extended the deadline for 

submitting public comments to June 20, 

2012. All substantive comments on the 

Draft EIS received during the public 

comment period will be considered in 

the preparation of the Final EIS. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Please direct any written comments or 

requests for information to Mr. Nicholas 

Germanos, ACC/A7PS, 129 Andrews St., 

Suite 332, Langley AFB, VA 23665, ph: 

757–764–9334. 

Henry Williams Jr., 

DAF, Acting Air Force Federal Register 

Liaison Officer. 

[FR Doc. 2012–12458 Filed 5–22–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 5001–10–P 

DENALI COMMISSION 

Fiscal Year 2012 Draft Work Plan 

AGENCY: Denali Commission. 

ACTION: Notice; Correction. 

SUMMARY: The Denali Commission 

(Commission) is an independent federal 

agency based on an innovative federalstate partnership designed to provide 

critical utilities, infrastructure and 

support for economic development and 

in training in Alaska by delivering 

federal services in the most costeffective manner possible. The 

Commission was created in 1998 with 

passage of the October 21, 1998 Denali 

Commission Act (Act) (Title III of Public 

Law 105–277, 42 USC 3121). The Denali 

Commission Act requires that the 

Commission develop proposed work 

plans for future spending and that the 

annual Work Plan be published in the 

Federal Register, providing an 

opportunity for a 30-day period of 

public review and written comment. 

The Commission is republishing the 

May 17, 2012 notice in full with 

corrections included. 

This Federal Register notice serves to 

announce the 30-day opportunity for 

public comment on the Denali 

Commission Draft Work Plan for Federal 

Fiscal Year 2012. 

DATES: Comments and related material 

to be received by June 20, 2012. 

ADDRESSES: Submit comments to the 

Denali Commission, Attention: Sabrina 

Hoppas, 510 L Street, Suite 410, 

Anchorage, AK 99501. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Ms. Sabrina Hoppas, Denali 

Commission, 510 L Street, Suite 410, 

Anchorage, AK 99501. Telephone: (907) 

271–1414. Email: shoppas@denali.gov. 

Background 

The Denali Commission 

(Commission) is an independent federal 

agency based on an innovative federalstate partnership designed to provide 

critical utilities, infrastructure and 

support for economic development and 

training in Alaska by delivering federal 

services in the most cost-effective 

manner possible. The Commission was 

created in 1998 with passage of the 

October 21, 1998, Denali Commission 

Act (Act) (Title III of Pub. L. 105–277, 

42 USC 3121). 

The Commission’s mission is to 

partner with tribal, federal, state, and 

local governments and collaborate with 

all Alaskans to improve the 

effectiveness and efficiency of 

government services, to develop a welltrained labor force employed in a 

diversified and sustainable economy, 

and to build and ensure the operation 

and maintenance of Alaska’s basic 

infrastructure. 

By creating the Commission, Congress 

mandated that all parties involved 

partner together to find new and 

innovative solutions to the unique 

infrastructure and economic 

development challenges in America’s 

most remote communities. 

Pursuant to the Denali Commission 

Act, as amended, the Commission 

determines its own basic operating 

principles and funding criteria on an 

annual federal fiscal year (October 1 to 

September 30) basis. The Commission 

outlines these priorities and funding 

recommendations in an annual Work 

Plan. The Work Plan is adopted on an 

annual basis in the following manner, 

which occurs sequentially as listed: 

• Commissioners first forward an 

approved draft version of the Work Plan 

to the Federal Co-Chair. 

• The Federal Co-Chair approves the 

draft Work Plan for publication in the 

Federal Register providing an 

opportunity for a 30-day period of 

public review and written comment. 

During this time, the draft Work Plan is 

also disseminated widely to 

Commission program partners 

including, but not limited to the Bureau 

of Indian Affairs (BIA), the Economic 

Development Administration (EDA), 

and the United States Department of 

Agriculture—Rural Development 

(USDA–RD). 

• Public comment concludes and 

Commission staff provides the Federal 

Co-Chair with a summary of public 

comment and recommendations, if any, 

associated with the draft Work Plan. 

• If no revisions are made to the draft, 

the Federal Co-Chair provides notice of 

approval of the Work Plan to the 

Commissioners, and forwards the Work 

Plan to the Secretary of Commerce for 

approval; or, if there are revisions the 

Federal Co-Chair provides notice of 

modifications to the Commissioners for 

their consideration and approval, and 

upon receipt of approval from 

Commissioners, forwards the Work Plan 

to the Secretary of Commerce for 

approval. 

• The Secretary of Commerce 

approves the Work Plan. 

FY 2012 Annual Work Plan (Amended) 

In FY 2011, the typical annual Work 

Plan process was not carried out. 

Several factors contributed to this 

including continuing resolutions (CRs) 

passed by Congress late in the fiscal 

year resulting in latent consideration of 

the FY 2011 annual Work Plan by the 

Commissioners (Commissioners met on 

June 2, 2011 to consider the FY 2011 

annual Work Plan). In addition, the final 

FY 2011 budget included a rescission of 

$15,000,000 in prior year unobligated 

funds and uncertainty on how the 

rescission may impact the FY 2011 

Work Plan was not resolved until 

September 2011. 

With concurrence from the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) and the 

Secretary of Commerce, the amended 

FY 2011 Work Plan will be processed 

concurrently with the FY 2012 Work 

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30510 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 100 / Wednesday, May 23, 2012 / Notices 

Plan. The FY 2011 Work Plan and the 

amended budget for the FY 2011 Work 

Plan are not included as part of this FY 

2012 Work Plan document. 

FY 2012 Appropriations Summary 

The Denali Commission has 

historically received several federal 

funding sources (identified by the 

varying colors in the table below). These 

fund sources are governed by the 

following general principles: 

• In FY 2012 no project specific 

earmarks were directed. 

• The Energy and Water 

Appropriation is eligible for use in all 

programs, but has historically been used 

substantively to fund the Energy 

Program. 

• All other funds outlined below may 

be used only for the specific program 

area and may not be used across 

programs. For instance, Federal Transit 

Administration funding, which has in 

the past been appropriated for the 

Transportation Program, may not be 

moved to the Energy Program. 

• Final transportation funds received 

may be reduced due to agency 

modifications, reductions and fees 

determined by the U.S. Department of 

Transportation. Final program available 

figures may not be provided until later 

this spring. 

• All Energy and Water 

Appropriation funds, including 

operational funds, designated as ‘‘up to’’ 

may be reassigned to the Legacy Energy 

Program, Bulk Fuel and Rural Power 

System Upgrades, if they are not fully 

expended in a program component area 

or a specific project. 

• Total FY 2012 Budgetary Resources 

provided: 

These are the figures that appear in 

the rows entitled ‘‘FY 2012 

Appropriation’’ and are the original 

appropriations amounts which do not 

include Commission overhead 

deductions. These funds are identified 

by their source name (i.e., Energy and 

Water Appropriation, USDA–RUS, etc.). 

The grand total for all appropriations 

appears at the end of the FY 2012 

Funding Table. 

• Total FY 2012 Program Available 

Funding: 

These are the figures that appear in 

the rows entitled ‘‘FY 2012 

Appropriations—Program Available’’ 

and are the amounts of funding 

available for program(s) activities after 

Commission overhead has been 

deducted. The grand total for all 

program available funds appears at the 

end of the FY 2012 Funding Table. 

• Program Funding: 

These are the figures that appear in 

the rows entitled with the specific 

Program and Sub-Program area, and are 

the amounts of funding the Draft FY 

2012 Work Plan recommends, within 

each program fund source for program 

components. 

• Subtotal of Program Funding: 

These are the figures that appear in 

rows entitled ‘‘subtotal’’ and are the 

subtotals of all program funding within 

a given fund source. The subtotal must 

always equal the Total FY 2012 Program 

Available Funding. 

DENALI COMMISSION FY 2012 FUNDING TABLE

Totals 

FY 2012 Energy & Water Appropriation .............................................................................................................................. $10,679,000 

FY 2012 Energy & Water Appropriation—Administrative Funds ........................................................................................ 3,294,000 

FY 2012 Energy & Water Appropriation—Program Available ............................................................................................ 7,385,000 

Total Energy Projects .......................................................................................................................................................... 7,385,000 

Health ................................................................................................................................................................................... 0 

Training Program ................................................................................................................................................................. 0 

Economic Development ....................................................................................................................................................... 0 

Solid Waste Program ........................................................................................................................................................... 0 

Sponsorship Program .......................................................................................................................................................... 0 

Sub-total $ .................................................................................................................................................................... 7,385,000 

FY 2012 USDA, Rural Utilities Service (RUS)—pending estimate ..................................................................................... 2,900,000 

FY 2012 USDA, Rural Utilities Service (RUS)—Program Available (less 4% overhead) .................................................. 2,784,000 

Bulk Fuel/RPSU Planning, Design & Construction ............................................................................................................. 2,784,000 

Sub-total $ .................................................................................................................................................................... 2,784,000 

FY 2012 Trans Alaska Pipeline Liability (TAPL) Trust ........................................................................................................ 6,800,000 

FY 2012 Trans Alaska Pipeline Liability (TAPL)—Program Available (less 5% overhead) ............................................... 6,460,000 

Bulk Fuel Planning, Design & Construction ........................................................................................................................ 6,460,000 

Sub-total $ .................................................................................................................................................................... 6,460,000 

FY 2012 Federal Transit Administration (FTA)—Estimate .................................................................................................. 5,000,000 

$5,000,000 from section 3011 (FTA) for docks and harbors.

FY 2012 Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)—Estimate ........................................................................................... 0–24,700,000 

For necessary, expenses for the Denali Access System Program as authorized under Section 1960 of Public Law 

109–59 

FY 2012 Transportation Program Available—(less 5%) ..................................................................................................... 4,750,000–28,215,000 

Transportation Program: Docks & Harbors ......................................................................................................................... 4,750,000 

Transportation Program: Roads –Estimate ......................................................................................................................... 0–23,465,000 

Sub-total $ .................................................................................................................................................................... 4,750,000–28,215,000 

Total FY 2012 Federal Program Available ........................................................................................................... 21,379,000–44,844,000 

FY 12 Program Details and General 

Information 

The following section provides 

narrative discussion, by each of the 

Commission Programs identified for 

funding in the FY 2012 funding table 

above. 

Energy Program 

Basic Rural Energy Infrastructure 

The Energy Program is the 

Commission’s original program and 

focuses on bulk fuel facilities (BFU) and 

rural power system upgrades/power 

generation (RPSU) across rural Alaska. 

About 94% of electricity in rural 

communities is produced by diesel 

generators and about half the fuel 

storage in most villages is used for these 

power plants for distribution. 

Alternative means of generating power 

can reduce the capacity needed for fuel 

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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 100 / Wednesday, May 23, 2012 / Notices 30511 

storage and ultimately reduce the cost of 

power to the community. 

Alternative/Renewable Program and 

Emerging Technologies 

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 

established new authorities for the 

Commission’s Energy Program with an 

emphasis on alternative and renewable 

energy projects. Although the 2005 

Energy Policy Act did not include 

appropriations, the Commission is 

expected to carry out the intent of the 

Act through a portion of its Energy and 

Water Appropriation funding. To date, 

the Commission has co-funded a 

number of renewable projects and each 

year new initiatives are considered. 

After providing seed funding toward the 

initiative, in 2007, the State of Alaska 

passed legislation and funded the 

Renewable Energy Fund (REF). 

With the advent of the REF, State 

resources to meet commercial-ready 

renewable technology needs are 

available, yet a gap in meeting the 

emerging energy technology needs was 

identified. Similar to the REF 

partnership, the newly established 

Emerging Energy Technology Fund 

(EETF) was provided seed funding to 

support demonstration projects for 

applied research and further 

technologies focusing on deployment in 

rural Alaska. The EETF has since passed 

the State Legislature, has formed its 

selection process and is proceeding with 

project selection. 

Other Renewable Initiatives 

As the Renewable Energy Fund and 

Emerging Energy Technology Fund 

proceed, the Commission strives to 

support their success. In 2011, the 

Commission funded $300,000 toward 

Renewable Energy Technical 

Assistance, which resulted in match 

funding from the Department of Energy 

toward the newly established State 

Technical Assistance Response Team 

(START). The START effort provides 

technical assistance to a select number 

of communities to help assess energy 

needs, deal with barriers and identify 

funding options. To keep with the 2005 

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 and 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 

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30512 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 100 / Wednesday, May 23, 2012 / Notices 

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 amounts 

have 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 US 

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. 2012–12462 Filed 5–22–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3300–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 

Notice of Proposed Information 

Collection Requests; Office of 

Planning, Evaluation and Policy 

Development; Strategies for Preparing 

At-Risk Youth for Postsecondary 

Success 

SUMMARY: Strategies for Preparing AtRisk Youth for Postsecondary Success 

focuses on preventing students from 

dropping out and preparing them for 

postsecondary education or training. 

DATES: Interested persons are invited to 

submit comments on or before July 23, 

2012. 

ADDRESSES: Written comments 

regarding burden and/or the collection 

activity requirements should be 

electronically mailed to 

ICDocketMgr@ed.gov or mailed to U.S. 

Department of Education, 400 Maryland 

Avenue SW., LBJ, Washington, DC 

20202–4537. Copies of the proposed 

information collection request may be 

accessed from http://edicsweb.ed.gov, 

by selecting the ‘‘Browse Pending 

Collections’’ link and by clicking on 

link number 04858. When you access 

the information collection, click on 

‘‘Download Attachments’’ to view. 

Written requests for information should 

be addressed to U.S. Department of 

Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., 

LBJ, Washington, DC 20202–4537. 

Requests may also be electronically 

mailed to ICDocketMgr@ed.gov or faxed 

to 202–401–0920. Please specify the 

complete title of the information 

collection and OMB Control Number 

when making your request. 

Individuals who use a 

telecommunications device for the deaf 

(TDD) may call the Federal Information 

Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877– 

8339. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 

3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 

1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35) requires 

that Federal agencies provide interested 

parties an early opportunity to comment 

on information collection requests. The 

Acting Director, Information Collection 

Clearance Division, Privacy, Information 

and Records Management Services, 

Office of Management, publishes this 

notice containing proposed information 

collection requests at the beginning of 

the Departmental review of the 

information collection. The Department 

of Education is especially interested in 

public comment addressing the 

following issues: (1) Is this collection 

necessary to the proper functions of the 

Department; (2) will this information be 

processed and used in a timely manner; 

(3) is the estimate of burden accurate; 

(4) how might the Department enhance 

the quality, utility, and clarity of the 

information to be collected; and (5) how 

might the Department minimize the 

burden of this collection on the 

respondents, including through the use 

of information technology. Please note 

that written comments received in 

response to this notice will be 

considered public records. 

Title of Collection: Strategies for 

Preparing At-Risk Youth for 

Postsecondary Success. 

OMB Control Number: Pending. 

Type of Review: New. 

Total Estimated Number of Annual 

Responses: 132. 

Total Estimated Number of Annual 

Burden Hours: 114. 

Abstract: Educators are increasingly 

concerned about poor high school 

graduation rates, especially among atrisk youth. Many of the programs 

adopted by districts and schools to 

decrease the dropout rate traditionally 

set the goal of completing high school. 

Programs that meet the dual goals of 

supporting at-risk youth to graduate 

from high school and then enroll in and 

succeed in postsecondary education are 

not commonly found in most school 

districts and few studies of dropout 

prevention programs have a 

postsecondary focus. This study aims to 

fill a gap by conducting qualitative case 

studies of up to 15 sites. This study will 

systematically analyze qualitative data 

across multiple respondents to generate 

portraits of programs and strategies that 

the sites use, lessons based on 

implementation successes and 

challenges, and evidence suggesting 

their effectiveness in improving the 

outcomes of interest. 

To complete the study, the U.S. 

Department of Education is requesting 

OMB approval of two related qualitative 

data collection activities: (1) A phone 

screen with local program managers to 

determine the final sample of case 

studies and (2) up to 15 site visits to a 

purposive case study sample. Although 

the lessons are not generalizable to a 

larger population because the sample is 

purposive and small, the case studies 

will provide rich contextual information 

to help practitioners assess the 

applicability of the lessons in their own 

schools or districts. 

Dated: May 18, 2012. 

Stephanie Valentine, 

Acting Director, Information Collection 

Clearance Division, Privacy, Information and 

Records Management Services, Office of 

Management. 

[FR Doc. 2012–12536 Filed 5–22–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4000–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 

Native American Career and Technical 

Education Program; Final Waivers and 

Extension of Project Period 

AGENCY: Office of Vocational and Adult 

Education, Department of Education. 

ACTION: Notice. 

Overview Information: Final Waivers 

and Extension of Project Period for the 

Native American Career and Technical 

Education Program 

Catalog of Federal Domestic 

Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.101A. 

SUMMARY: For 60-month projects funded 

in fiscal year (FY) 2007 under the Native 

American Career and Technical 

Education Program (NACTEP), the 

Secretary waives 34 CFR 75.250 and 

75.261(c)(2) in order to extend the 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES