[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 55 (Tuesday, March 22, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-6689]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: March 22, 1994]
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Part IX
Department of the Interior
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Bureau of Indian Affairs
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Grant Availability: Projects Implementing Traffic Safety on Indian
Reservations; Notice
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Grant Availability to Federally Recognized Indian Tribes for
Projects Implementing Traffic Safety on Indian Reservations
AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Indian Affairs intends to make funds available
to Federally-Recognized Indian Tribes on an annual basis for the
purpose of implementing traffic safety projects which are designed to
reduce the number of traffic accidents and their resulting fatalities,
injuries, and property damage within Indian reservations. Due to the
limited funding available for this program, all projects will be
reviewed and selected on a competitive basis. This notice is intended
to inform Indian tribes on the availability of funds and the process in
which the projects are selected.
DATES: Requests for funds must be received by June 1 of each program
year. Information packets will be distributed on February 24, 1994.
ADDRESSES: Each tribe must submit its request to the Bureau of Indian
Affairs, Division of Safety Management, Attention: Indian Highway
Safety Program Coordinator. Information packets will be distributed on
February 24, 1994, to all tribal leaders at the addresses shown on the
latest Tribal Leaders List which is compiled by the Bureau of Indian
Affairs, Tribal Government Services, Washington, DC.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tribes should direct questions
concerning the grant program to Norma D. Long, the Bureau's Indian
Highway Safety Program Coordinator or to Charles L. Jaynes, Program
Administrator, Bureau of Indian Affairs, P.O. Box 2006, Albuquerque,
New Mexico 87103; Telephone: (505) 766-2181.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1973 (Pub. L. 93-87) provides for
U.S. Department of Transportation funding to assist Indian tribes in
implementing highway safety projects. These projects are designed to
reduce the number of traffic crashes and their resulting fatalities,
injuries, and property damage within Indian reservations. All
Federally-recognized Indian tribes on Indian reservations are eligible
to receive this assistance. All tribes which avail themselves of this
assistance are reimbursed for cost incurred under the terms of 23
U.S.C. 402 and subsequent amendments.
Responsibilities
For purposes of application of the Act, Indian reservations are
collectively considered a ``State'' and the Secretary, U.S. Department
of the Interior (DOI), is considered the ``Governor of a State''. The
Secretary, DOI, delegated the authority to administer the programs
throughout all the Indian reservations in the United States to the
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs. The Assistant Secretary--Indian
Affairs further delegated the responsibility for primary administration
of the Indian Highway Safety Program to the Central Office Division of
Safety Management (DSM), located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Chief,
DSM, as Program Administrator of the Indian Highway Safety Program, has
two full-time staff members to assist in program matters and provide
technical assistance to the Indian tribes. It is at this level that
contacts with the United States (U.S.) Department of Transportation are
made with respect to program approval, funding of projects and
technical assistance. The U.S. Department of Transportation, through
the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), is responsible for assuring that
the Indian Highway Safety Program is carried out in accordance with 23
U.S.C 402 and other applicable Federal regulations.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is responsible
for the apportionment of funds to the Secretary of the Interior, review
and approval of the Indian Highway Safety Plan involving NHTSA highway
safety program areas and technical guidance and assistance to BIA.
The Federal Highway Administration is responsible for review and
approval of the Indian Highway Safety Plan involving FHWA highway
safety program areas and technical guidance and assistance to BIA.
Program Areas
The Surface Transportation and Uniform Relocation Assistance Act of
1987, 23 U.S.C. 402(j), required the Department of Transportation to
conduct a rulemaking process to determine those programs most effective
in reducing traffic crashes, injuries and fatalities. Those program
areas were determined to be national priority program areas, and
include NHTSA Program areas: (1) Alcohol and Other Drug
Countermeasures; (2) Police Traffic Services; (3) Occupant Protection;
(4) Traffic Records, and; (5) Emergency Medical Services. FHWA Program
Area: Roadway Safety. NHTSA and FHWA Program Areas: Pedestrian and
Bicycle Safety.
Funding Criteria
The Bureau of Indian Affairs will reimburse for eligible costs
associated with the following:
(1) Alcohol and Other Drug Countermeasures--Salary (DWI enforcement
officer); enforcement/education; NHTSA approved Training; Approved
breath-testing equipment (must be included on most recent Conforming
Product List); community/school alcohol traffic safety education; DWI
offender education; prosecution; adjudication; and vehicle expenses.
(2) Police Traffic Services--Salary (traffic enforcement/
education); traffic law enforcement/radar training; speed enforcement
equipment (must be listed on Consumer Products List); community/school
education; and vehicle expenses.
(3) Occupant Protection--(1) Child Passenger Safety--child car seat
loaner program; car seat transportation/storage, and; public
information/education. (B) Community Seat Belt Program--Salary;
education/promotional materials; office expenses, and; NHTSA-approved
Occupant Protection Usage and Enforcement (OPUE) Training.
(4) Traffic Records--Salary; computerized equipment.
(5) Emergency Medical Services--Training; public information
education.
(6) Roadway Safety--Traffic signs (warning, regulatory, work zone);
hardware and sign posts.
(7) Community Traffic Safety Projects (CTSP)--project management;
Public Information and Education Training; law enforcement;
prosecution; adjudication; data management.
Project Guidelines
Information packets will be forwarded to the tribes in the month of
February of each program year. Upon receipt of the information packet,
each tribe should prepare a proposed project based upon the following
guidelines:
A. Program Planning
Program planning shall be based upon the highway safety problems
identified and countermeasures selected by the tribe for the purpose of
reducing traffic crash factors.
B. Problem Identification
Highway traffic safety problems shall be identified from the best
data available. These data may be found in tribal enforcement records
on traffic crashes. Other sources of data include ambulance records,
court and police arrest records. The problem identification process may
be aided by using professional opinions of personnel in law
enforcement, Indian Health Service, driver education, road engineers,
etc. These data should accompany the funding request. Impact problems
should be indicated during the identification process. An impact
problem is a highway safety problem that contributes to car crashes,
fatalities and/or injuries, and one which may be corrected by the
application of countermeasures. Impact problems can be identified from
analysis of statewide and/or tribal traffic records. The analyses
should consider, as a minimum: pedestrian, motorcycle, pedalcycle,
passenger car, school bus, and truck accidents; records on problem
drivers, roadside and roadway hazards, alcohol involvement, youth
involvement, defective vehicle involvement, suspended or revoked driver
involvement, speed involvement and child safety seat usage. Data should
accompany the funding request.
C. Countermeasures Selection
When tribal highway traffic safety problems are identified,
appropriate countermeasures shall be developed by the tribe to solve or
reduce the problems. The development of these countermeasures should
take into account the overall cost of the countermeasures versus its
possible effects on the problem.
D. Objectives/Performance Indicators
After countermeasure selection, the objective(s) of the project
must be expressed in clearly defined, time-framed and measurable terms.
E. Budget Format
The activities to be funded shall be outlined according to the
following object groups: personnel services, travel and transportation,
rent/communications, printing & reproduction, other services,
equipment, and training. Each object group shall be quantified, i.e.,
personnel activities should show number to be employed, hours to be
employed, hourly rate of pay, etc. Each object group shall have
sufficient detail to show what is to be procured, unit cost, quarter in
which the procurement is to be made and the total cost, including any
tribal contribution to the project. Due to limited funding, this office
will limit indirect costs to a maximum of 15%.
F. Evaluation Plan
Evaluation is the process of determining whether a highway safety
activity should be undertaken, if it is being properly conducted and if
it has accomplished its objectives. A plan explaining how the
evaluation will be accomplished and identifying the criteria to be used
in measuring performance shall be included in the funding request.
G. Technical Assistance
The Indian Highway Safety Program staff will be available to tribes
for technical assistance in the development of tribal projects.
H. Section 402 Project Length
Section 402 funds shall not be used to fund the same project at one
location or jurisdiction for more than three years.
I. Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace Requirement
Indian tribes receiving highway safety grants through the Indian
Highway Safety Program must certify that they will maintain a drug-free
workplace. The certification must be signed by an individual authorized
to sign for the tribe or reservation. The certification must be
received by the U.S. Department of Transportation prior to the release
of grant funds for that tribe or reservation. The certification must be
submitted with the tribal highway safety project proposal.
Submission Deadline
Each tribe must submit its funding request to the BIA Indian
Highway Safety Program, Albuquerque, NM. The request must be received
by the Indian Highway Safety Program by June 1 of each program year.
Requests for extension to this deadline will not be granted.
Modifications of the funding request received after the close of the
funding period will not be considered in the review and selection
processes.
Selection Criteria
Each project funding request will be reviewed and evaluated by the
Indian Highway Safety Program staff and ranked by assigning points to
four areas of consideration. Those areas of consideration and their
respective point values are listed below:
Magnitude of Problem--50 Points
1. Does a highway safety problem exist?
2. Is the problem significant?
3. Does the project contribute to the solution of the problem
identified?
4. Number of traffic crashes last three years? Alcohol related?
5. Number of reported fatalities last three years? Alcohol related?
Speed related?
6. Safety Belt/Child Safety Seat Usage data.
7. Law Enforcement data--violations/tickets issued.
8. Conviction data.
9. Tribal Safety Belt/Child Safety Seat Ordinance implemented.
Countermeasures Selection--40 Points
1. Are the countermeasures selected the most effective?
2. Are they cost effective?
3. Have objectives been stated in realistic performance terms and are
they attainable?
4. Are the objectives time-framed and are the time-frames realistic and
attainable?
Tribal Leadership and Community Support--10 Points
1. Are tribal resources used in this project? Tribal Resolution?
2. Does the project have community support? Support letters?
3. Does the tribe have an ordinance or law which supports the project?
Past Performance. + or -10 Points
1. Reporting (Financial & Programmatic).
2. Accomplishments.
Notification of Selection
The tribes selected to participate will be notified by letter. Each
tribe selected must have a Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace
Requirements, and a duly authorized Tribal resolution included in their
proposal. The certification and resolution must be on file prior to the
release of grant funds for the tribe or reservation.
Notification of Non-Selection
The Program Administrator will notify each tribe of non-selection.
The tribe will be provided the reason for non-selection.
Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grant-in-Aid
Uniform grant administration procedures have been established on a
national basis for all grant-in-aid programs by DOT/NHTSA under 49 CFR
Part 18, ``Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and
Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments''. Uniform
procedures for State Highway Safety Programs have been codified by
NHTSA and FHWA in 23 CFR Parts 1200, 1204, and 1205. Cost principles
applicable to grants and contracts with State and local government have
been established by OMB Circular A-87 and NHTSA Order 462-13A. It is
the responsibility of the Indian Highway Safety Program to establish
operating procedures consistent with the applicable provisions of rules
and regulations.
Standards for Financial Management System
Tribal financial management systems must provide for:
1. Accurate, current, and complete disclosure of financial results of
the highway safety project.
2. Adequate recordkeeping.
3. Control over and accountability for all funds and assets.
4. Comparison of actual with budgeted amounts.
5. Documentation of accounting records.
6. Appropriate auditing. Highway safety projects will be included in
the tribal A-128 Single Audit requirement.
Tribes will provide a quarterly financial and a program status
report to the Bureau's Indian Highways Safety Program Coordinator, P.O.
Box 2006, Albuquerque, NM 87103. These reports will be submitted no
later than seven (7) days beyond the reporting month.
Project Monitoring
During the program year, it is the responsibility of the BIA Indian
Highway Safety Program to maintain a degree of project oversight,
provide technical assistance as needed to assist the project in
fulfilling its objectives, and assure that grant provisions are
complied with.
Project Evaluation
A performance evaluation will be conducted for each highway safety
project by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The evaluation will measure
the actual accomplishments to the planned activity. On-site project
evaluation/monitoring will be made at the discretion of the Indian
Highway Safety Program Administrator.
Dated: March 14, 1994.
Ada E. Deer,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 94-6689 Filed 3-21-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-02-P
