[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 82 (Thursday, April 30, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19974-19975]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-9921]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs


Indian Reservation Roads

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of submission of information collection to the Office of 
Management and Budget.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is submitting the 
information collection for the Indian Reservation Roads (IRR) Program, 
OMB Control No. 1076-0161, to the Office of Management and Budget for 
renewal. The current approval period is approaching expiration; this 
renewal will allow us to continue to operate the IRR program. This 
renewal is necessary for tribal participation in the IRR Program and 
for the allocation of funding for the IRR Program to federally 
recognized tribal governments for transportation assistance.

DATE: Submit comments on or before June 1, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments on the information collection to the Desk 
Officer for the Department of the Interior at the Office of Management 
and Budget, by fax at (202) 395-5806 or e-mail at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9ed1d7ccdfc1dad1ddd5dbcadef1f3fcb0fbf1eeb0f9f1e8"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="cc83859e8d9388838f8789988ca3a1aee2a9a3bce2aba3ba">[email protected]</span></a>. Please send copy of your comments to: LeRoy Gishi, 
Chief, Division of Transportation, 1849 C Street, NW. MS 4512 MIB, 
Washington, DC 20240, fax: (202) 208-4696.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: You may request further information or 
obtain copies of the proposed information collection request from LeRoy 
Gishi, Chief, Division of Transportation, telephone (202) 513-7711.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This information collection is necessary to allow Federally 
recognized tribal governments to participate in the IRR Program as 
defined in 23 U.S.C. 204(a)(1). Some of the information collected 
determines the allocation of IRR program funds to Indian tribes as 
described in 23 U.S.C. 202(d)(2)(A).

II. Summary of Public Comments Received

    The BIA received comments from one commenter in response to the 
notice published January 12, 2009 (74 FR 1244), which announced that we 
would submit this renewal to OMB for approval and provided the 60-day 
public comment period. The commenter had a number of suggestions that 
would be appropriate for consideration upon amending the rule; however, 
because the scope of this public comment period is limited to the 
information collections, the BIA was not able to accommodate these 
requests. Comments specific to the information collection included the 
following. The commenter expressed concern that the word ``some'' in 
the Brief Description indicated that there were other information 
collections that BIA did not address. The Brief Description addresses 
all the information collections associated with Indian Reservation 
Roads--the word ``some'' indicates that some of these information 
collections are required to obtain or maintain a benefit (program 
participation and funding) and others are voluntary. Another comment 
asked why an applicant must provide documentation that the project 
meets the definition of an IRR transportation facility and is on the 
IRR inventory when the information already exists. The BIA requires 
this information as part of the IRR High Priority Project application 
because the application is a collection of all information necessary 
for the Department to make an approval determination based upon 
criteria established by law. The commenter also stated that they 
believe that the amount of information could be reduced. The 
information collection was developed by meetings between tribal members 
and the BIA. What emerged was a list that met the various needs of the 
tribe and the requirements of the law which

[[Page 19975]]

authorizes the funding for IRR. While the list is long, those data 
elements can also be helpful to tribes who coordinate projects and 
transportation activities with other public authorities. It is not all 
required to be provided in order to participate in the program; that is 
the reason for default values in the CFR tables. The commenter stated 
that there is a difference in requested items from region to region 
because of politics and physical roadway characteristics, and 
questioned the practical utility of some requested information, 
suggesting a committee evaluate the need further since not all 
requested information is listed in the CFR. The BIA participated in 
many meetings of committees and public hearings when the requirements 
were developed--the result was a list of requirements that covered all 
situations, but not necessarily all requirements are needed for each 
situation. The commenter also stated that too much information is 
required in certain instances. The BIA has determined that, in those 
instances, the additional data are beneficial in supporting more 
accurate decisions rather than using default tables and that it is 
beneficial to the tribe to include this information. The commenter 
stated that they believe that the time and cost of submitting certain 
information far exceeds their estimated amount. The time and cost 
associated with data collection and submission has been consistently 
decreasing in the three years prior to this request for comment as 
improved methods of collection are developed. The estimated time and 
cost of submitting data indicates that the commenters are increasingly 
successful in assuring that data are provided for purposes identified. 
Finally, the commenter stated that use of automated techniques does not 
abrogate the physical collection of data and that a technological 
solution may be available with funds for equipment and staff to 
maintain the automated equipment. In response, the BIA notes that no 
special equipment is necessary for this information collection, and 
that more advanced techniques are available but this collection process 
does not require their use. The BIA did not make any changes to the 
information collection request for approval in response to these 
comments.

III. Request for Comments

    The BIA requests your comments on this collection concerning: (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 commenters, 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 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 closer to 30 days than 60 days.
    It is our policy to make all comments available to the public for 
review at the location listed in the ADDRESSES section, room 4516 MIB, 
during the hours of 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., EST Monday through Friday except 
for legal holidays. 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. All comments from 
organizations or representatives will be available for review. We may 
withhold comments from review for other reasons.

IV. Data

    OMB Approval Number: 1076-0161.
    Title: 25 CFR 170, Indian Reservation Roads.
    Brief Description of Collection: Some of the information such as 
the application of Indian Reservation Roads High Priority Projects 
(IRRHPP) (25 CFR 170.210), the road inventory updates (25 CFR 170.443), 
the development of a long range transportation plan (25 CFR 170.411 and 
170.412), the development of a tribal transportation improvement 
program and priority list (25 CFR 170.420 and 170.421) are required to 
maintain or obtain a benefit (consideration of projects and for program 
funding from the formula). Some of the information such as public 
hearing requirements are also required to maintain or obtain a benefit 
and provides public notification and the opportunity for public 
involvement (25 CFR 170.437 and 170.439). While others such as data 
appeals (25 CFR 170.231) and requests for design exceptions (25 CFR 
170.456) are voluntary information.
    Type of Review: Renewal.
    Respondents: Respondents include Federally recognized Indian tribal 
governments who have transportation needs associated with the IRR 
Program as described in 25 CFR 170.
    Number of Respondents: Varies from 10 to 281.
    Estimated Time per Response: The reports require from 30 minutes to 
40 hours to complete. An average would be 16 hours.
    Frequency of Response: Annually or on an as needed basis.
    Total Annual Burden to Respondents: 19,628 hours.
    Total Annual Cost to Respondents: $0.

    Dated: April 24, 2009.
Sanjeev ``Sonny'' Bhagowalia,
Chief Information Officer--DOI.
[FR Doc. E9-9921 Filed 4-29-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-4J-P


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