80 FR 77371 - Renewal of Agency Information Collection for Water Delivery and Electric Service Data for the Operation of Irrigation and Power Projects and Systems

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 239 (December 14, 2015)

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is seeking comments on the renewal of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for 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. Both of these information collections expire March 31, 2016.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 239 (Monday, December 14, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77371-77372]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-31343]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

[167 A2100DD/AAKC001030/A0A501010.999900]


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 request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is seeking comments on the renewal of 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for 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. Both of these information collections expire March 
31, 2016.

DATES: Submit comments on or before February 12, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the information collection to 
Yulan Jin, Chief, Division of Water and Power, Office of Trust 
Services, Mail Stop 4655--MIB, 1849 C Street NW., Washington, DC 20240; 
telephone: (202) 219-0941 or email: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Yulan Jin, telephone: (202) 219-0941 
or email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The 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 
personally identifiable 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 and 
businesses.
    Number of Respondents: 3,000 per year.
    Estimated Time per Response: \1/2\ hour.
    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 Total Annual Hour Burden: 1,500 hours.
* * * * *
    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, subdividing 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

[[Page 77372]]

office that provides your service. The information water users submit 
is for the purpose of obtaining or retaining a benefit, namely 
irrigation water.
    Type of Review: Extension without change of currently approved 
collection.
    Respondents: Water users of BIA irrigation project--individual and 
businesses.
    Number of Respondents: 6,539 per year.
    Number of Responses: 27,075 per year.
    Estimated Time per Response: A range of 18 minutes to 6 hours, 
depending on the specific service being requested.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion through the irrigation season, 
averaging approximately two times per year.
    Obligation to respond: Responses are required to receive or 
maintain a benefit.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 14,059 hours.

Elizabeth K. Appel,
Director, Office of Regulatory Affairs and Collaborative Action--Indian 
Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2015-31343 Filed 12-11-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4337-15-P