2021-06275. Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Application for Admission to Haskell Indian Nations University and to Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute

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 with revisions.

DATES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before April 26, 2021.

ADDRESSES:

Send written comments on this information collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget's Desk Officer for the Department of the Interior by email at [e-mail]; or via facsimile to [phone]. Please provide a copy of your comments to Ms. Juanita Mendoza, U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Education, 1849 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20240; fax: [phone]; email: [e-mail]. Please reference OMB Control Number 1076-0114 in the subject line of your comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

To request additional information about this ICR, contact Dr. Sherry Allison, with Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, by phone at [phone] or by email at [e-mail] or LouEdith Hara, with Haskell Indian Nations University, by phone at [phone] or by email at [e-mail]. 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 on November 27, 2020 (85 FR 76100). No comments were received.

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) Is the collection necessary to the proper functions of the BIE; (2) will this information be processed and used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) how might the BIE enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (5) how might the BIE minimize the burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use of information technology.

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: The BIE is requesting approval for the admission forms for Haskell Indian Nations University (Haskell) and Southwest Indian Polytechnic Institute (SIPI). These admission forms are used in determining program eligibility of American Indian and Alaska Native students for educational services. These forms are utilized pursuant to the Blood Quantum Act, Public Law 99-228; the Snyder Act, Chapter 115, Public Law 67-85; and, the Indian Appropriations of the 48th Congress, Chapter 180, page 91, For Support of Schools, July 4, 1884. Submission of these eligibility application forms is mandatory in determining a student's eligibility for educational services. The information is collected on two forms: The Application for Admission to Haskell form and the Application for Admission to SIPI form. Haskell opted to not pursue approval of the Dual Enrollment as a part of this renewal.

Title of Collection: Application for Admission to Haskell Indian Nations University and to Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute.

OMB Control Number: 1076-0114.

Form Number: None.

Type of Review: Revision of currently approved collection.

Respondents/Affected Public: Students.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 2,100 per year, on average.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 2,100 per year, on average.

Estimated Completion Time per Response: 15 minutes per Haskell application; 30 minutes per SIPI application.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 800 hours.

Respondent's Obligation: Response is required to obtain a benefit.

Frequency of Collection: Once per year for Haskell; once for SIPI, unless a student has missed more than two consecutive trimesters.

Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: $11,155.

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).

Elizabeth K. Appel,

Director, Office of Regulatory Affairs and Collaborative Action—Indian Affairs.