Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Sovereignty in Indian Education Grant Program

AGENCY:

Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice of information collection; request for comment.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) are proposing to renew an information collection.

DATES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before June 25, 2021.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain . Find this particular information collection by selecting “Currently under Review—Open for Public Comments” or by using the search function. Please provide a copy of your comments to: Spike Bighorn, Program Manager, Office of Sovereignty in Indian Education (SIE), Bureau of Indian Education, 200 NW 4th Street, Suite 4049, Oklahoma City, OK 73102 or by email to spike.bighorn@bie.edu. Please reference OMB Control Number 1076-0182 in the subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

To request additional information about this ICR, contact Spike Bighorn by email at spike.bighorn@bie.edu, or by telephone at (202) 499-0482. You may also view the ICR at http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we provide the general public and other Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on new, proposed, revised, and continuing collections of information. This helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. It also helps the public understand our information collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired format.

A Federal Register notice with a 60-day public comment period soliciting comments on this collection of information was published March 12, 2021 (86 FR 14152). No comments were received.

As part of our continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burdens, we are again soliciting comments on the proposed ICR that is described below. We are especially interested in public comment addressing the following issues: (1) Whether or not the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether or not the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of our estimate of the burden for this collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) how might BIA 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 response.

Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of public record. 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.

Abstract: Indian Tribes and Tribal Organizations may submit proposals to support their efforts to take control and operate BIE-funded schools located on the Tribe's reservation. Each proposal must include a project narrative, a budget narrative, a work plan outline, and a Project Director to manage the execution of the grant. The Project Directors will participate in monthly collaboration meetings, submit quarterly budget updates, ensure an annual report is submitted at the end of each project year, and ultimately ensure that the tribal education agency fulfills the obligations of the grant.

Title of Collection: Sovereignty in Indian Education Grant Program.

OMB Control Number: 1076-0182.

Form Number: None.

Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.

Respondents/Affected Public: Indian Tribes and/or Tribal Education Departments.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 11 per year.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 198 per year.

Estimated Completion Time per Response: Ranges from 1 hour to 40 hours.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 682 hours.

Respondent's Obligation: Required to Obtain a Benefit.

Frequency of Collection: Proposals and Annual reports once per year and Budget Reports are submitted 4 times per year.

Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: $0.

An agency may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

The authority for this action is the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).