Renewal of Agency Information Collection for Water Delivery and Electric Service Data for the Operation of Irrigation and Power Projects and Systems

AGENCY:

Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice of submission to OMB.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request for renewal of the collection of information for Electrical Service Application, authorized by OMB Control Number 1076-0021 and Water Request, authorized by OMB Control Number 1076-0141. These information collections expire March 31, 2016.

DATES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before May 2, 2016.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments on the information collections to the Desk Officer for the Department of the Interior at the Office of Management and Budget, by facsimile to (202) 395-5806 or you may send an email to: OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov. Please send a copy of your comments to David Fisher, P.E., Branch Chief Irrigation and Power, Office of Trust Services, Division of Water and Power, Denver West Office Park Building 54, 13922 Denver West Parkway, Suite 300, Lakewood, Colorado 80401, email: david.fisher@bia.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

David Fisher, 303-231-5225. You may review the information collection requests online at http://www.reginfo.gov. Follow the instructions to review Department of the Interior collections under review by OMB.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) owns, operates, and maintains three electric power utilities that provide a service to the end user. The BIA also owns, operates, and maintains 15 irrigation projects that provide a service to the end user. To be able to properly bill for the services provided, the BIA must collect customer information to identify the individual responsible for repaying the government the costs of delivering the service, and billing for those costs. Additional information necessary for providing the service is the location of the service delivery. The Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 (DCIA) requires that certain information be collected from individuals and businesses doing business with the government. This information includes the taxpayer identification number for possible future use to recover delinquent debt. To implement the DCIA requirement to collect customer information, the BIA has included a section concerning the collection of information in its regulations governing its electrical power utilities (25 CFR 175) and in its regulations governing its irrigation projects (25 CFR 171).

II. 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 respondents.

Please note that an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and an individual need not respond to, a collection of information unless it has a valid OMB Control Number.

It is our policy to make all comments available to the public for review at the location listed in the ADDRESSES section. 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.

III. Data

OMB Control Number: 1076-0021.

Title: Electrical Service Application, 25 CFR 175.

Brief Description of Collection: In order for electric power consumers to be served, information is needed by the BIA to operate and maintain its electric power utilities and fulfill reporting requirements.

Section 175.6 and 175.22 of 25 CFR part 175, Indian electric power utilities, specifies the information collection requirement. Power consumers must apply for electric service. The information to be collected includes: Name; electric service location; and other operational information identified in the local administrative manuals. All information is collected from each electric power consumer.

Type of Review: Extension without change of currently approved collection.

Respondents: BIA electric power consumers—individuals.

Number of Respondents: 1,300 per year.

Frequency of Response: The information is collected once, unless the respondent requests new electrical service elsewhere or if it has been disconnected for failure to pay their electric bill.

Obligation to Respond: Responses are required to receive or maintain a benefit.

Estimated Time per Response: 1/2 hour.

Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 650 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Non-Hour Dollar Cost: $0.

OMB Control Number: 1076-0141.

Title: Water Request, 25 CFR 171.

Brief Description of Collection: In order for irrigators to receive water deliveries, information is needed by the BIA to operate and maintain its irrigation projects and fulfill reporting requirements. Section 171.140 and other sections cited in section 171.40 of 25 CFR 171, [Irrigation] Operation and Maintenance, specifies the information collection requirement. Water users must apply for water delivery and for a number of other associated services, such as, subsidizing a farm unit, requesting leaching service, requesting water for domestic or stock purposes, building structures or fences in BIA rights-of-way, requesting payment plans on bills, establishing a carriage agreement with a third-party, negotiating irrigation incentives leases, and requesting an assessment waiver. The information to be collected includes: Full legal name; correct mailing address; taxpayer identifying number; water delivery location; if subdividing a farm unit—a copy of the recorded plat or map of the subdivision where water will be delivered; the time and date of requested water delivery; duration of water delivery; amount of water delivered; rate of water flow; number of acres irrigated; crop statistics; any other agreements allowed under 25 CFR part 171; and any additional information required by the local project office that provides your service.

Type of Review: Extension without change of currently approved collection.

Respondents: Water users of BIA irrigation project—individual and businesses.

Number of Respondents: 7,500 per year.

Number of Responses: 34,906 per year.

Frequency of Response: On occasion through the irrigation season, averaging approximately 2 times per year.

Obligation to Respond: The information water users submit is for the purpose of obtaining or retaining a benefit, namely irrigation water.

Estimated Time per Response: A range of 12 minutes to 16 hours, depending on the specific service being requested.

Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 17,943 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Non-Hour Dollar Cost: $0.