81 FR 18642 - 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 81, Issue 62 (March 31, 2016)

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.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 62 (Thursday, March 31, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18642-18643]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-07187]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 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: [email protected]. 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: [email protected].

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.

[[Page 18643]]

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.

Elizabeth K. Appel,
Director, Office of Regulatory Affairs and Collaborative Action--Indian 
Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2016-07187 Filed 3-30-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4337-15-P