2023-16638. Denali Commission Fiscal Year 2024 Draft Work Plan

AGENCY:

Denali Commission.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Denali Commission (Commission) is an independent Federal agency based on an innovative federal-state partnership designed to provide critical utilities, infrastructure, and support for economic development and training in Alaska by delivering federal services in the most cost-effective manner possible. The Commission is required to develop an annual work plan for future spending which will be published in the Federal Register , providing an opportunity for a 30-day period of public review and written comment. This Federal Register notice serves to announce the 30-day opportunity for public comment on the Denali Commission Draft Work Plan for Federal Fiscal Year 2024 (FY 2024).

DATES:

Comments and related material are to be received by, September 8, 2023.

ADDRESSES:

Submit comments to the Denali Commission, Attention: Elinda Hetemi, 550 W 7th Avenue, Suite 1230, Anchorage, AK 99501.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Elinda Hetemi, Denali Commission, 550 W 7th Avenue, Suite 1230, Anchorage, AK 99501. Telephone:[phone]. Email: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background: The Denali Commission's mission is to partner with tribal, federal, state, and local governments and collaborate with all Alaskans to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of government services, to build and ensure the operation and maintenance of Alaska's basic infrastructure, and to develop a well-trained labor force employed in a diversified and sustainable economy.

By creating the Commission, Congress mandated that all parties involved partner together to find new and innovative solutions to the unique infrastructure and economic development challenges in America's most remote communities. Pursuant to the Denali Commission Act, the Commission determines its own basic operating principles and funding criteria on an annual federal fiscal year (October 1 to September 30) basis. The Commission outlines these priorities and funding recommendations in an annual work plan. The FY 2024 Work Plan was developed in the following manner.

• At a meeting of the Denali Commissioners the Commissioners voted to adopt the FY 2024 Workplan.

• The work plan was published on Denali.gov for review by the public in advance of public testimony.

• A public hearing was held to record public comments and recommendations on the preliminary draft work plan.
• No public comments were received.

• The Federal Co-Chair prepared the draft work plan for publication in the Federal Register providing a 30-day period for public review and written comment. During this time, the draft work plan will also be disseminated to Commission program partners including, but not limited to, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), the Economic Development Administration (EDA), Department of Agriculture—Rural Utilities Service (USDA/RUS), and the State of Alaska.

• At the conclusion of the Federal Register Public comment period Commission staff will provide the Federal Co-Chair with a summary of public comments and recommendations, if any, on the draft work plan.
• If no revisions are made to the draft, the Federal Co-Chair will provide notice of approval of the work plan to the Commissioners, and forwards the work plan to the Secretary of Commerce for approval; or, if there are revisions the Federal Co-Chair provides notice of modifications to the Commissioners for their consideration and approval, and upon receipt of approval from Commissioners, forwards the work plan to the Secretary of Commerce for approval.
• The Secretary of Commerce approves the work plan.
• The Federal Co-Chair then approves grants and contracts based upon the approved work plan.

FY 2023 Appropriations Summary

The Commission has historically received federal funding from several sources. The two primary sources at this time include the Energy & Water Appropriation Bill (“base” or “discretionary” funds), Transportation Housing and Urban Development (THUD) and an annual allocation from the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Liability (TAPL) fund. The proposed FY 2024 Work Plan assumes the Commission will receive $15,000,000 of base funds, which is the amount referenced in the reauthorization of the Commission passed by Congress in 2016 (ref: Public Law 114–322), $20,000,000 from THUD, less administrative expenses, and a $2,917,000 TAPL allocation based on discussions with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Approximately $4,000,000 of the base funds will be used for administrative expenses and non-project program support. The total base funding shown in the Work Plan also includes an amount typically available from project closeouts and other de-obligations that occur in any given year. Approximately $117,000 of the TAPL funds will be utilized for administrative expenses and non-project program support, leaving $2,800,000 available for program activities. Absent any new specific direction or limitations provided by Congress these funding sources are governed by the following general principles, either by statute or by language in the Work Plan itself:

• Funds from the Energy & Water Appropriation are eligible for use in all programs.
• TAPL funds can only be used for bulk fuel related projects and activities while THUD funds can only be used for Transportation.
• Appropriated funds may be reduced due to Congressional action, rescissions by OMB, and other federal agency actions.
• All investment amounts identified in the work plan, are “up to” amounts, and may be reassigned to other programs included in the current year work plan, if they are not fully expended in a program component area or a specific project.
• Funds set aside for administrative expenses that subsequently become available, may be used for program activities included in the current year work plan.

Denali Commission FY 2024 Funding Summary

Source	Available for program activities
Energy and Water Funds	$13,000,000
TAPL Funds	2,800,000
THUD Funds	19,800,000
Grand Total	35,600,000
Notes:
1  If the final appropriation is less than indicated the Federal Co-Chair shall reduce investments to balance the FY 2024 Work Plan.

	Base	TAPL	THUD	Total
Energy Reliability and Security:
Diesel Power Plants and Interties	$3,700,000			$3,700,000
Wind, Hydro, Biomass, Other Proven Renewables and Emerging Technologies	800,000			$800,000
Audits, TA, & Community Energy Efficiency Improvements	400,000			400,000
RPSU Maintenance and Improvement Projects	1,000,000			1,000,000
Subtotal	5,900,000			5,900,000
Bulk Fuel Safety and Security:
New/Refurbished Facilities		$1,500,000		1,500,000
Maintenance and Improvement Projects		700,000		700,000
Subtotal		2,200,000		2,200,000
Village Infrastructure Protection	500,000			500,000
Transportation:
Surface Transportation			$14,800,000	14,800,000
Waterfront Improvements			5,000,000	5,000,000
Subtotal			19,800,000	19,800,000
Sanitation:
Village Water, Wastewater and Solid Waste	1,500,000			1,500,000
Subtotal	1,500,000			1,500,000
Community Facilities:
Housing	1,000,000			1,000,000
Health and Wellness	500,000			500,000
Subtotal	1,500,000			1,500,000
Broadband	250,000			250,000
Workforce Development:
Energy and Bulk Fuel	300,000	600,000		900,000
Other	1,000,000			1,000,000
Subtotal	1,300,000	600,000		1,900,000
Flexible Funding	2,050,000			2,050,000
Subtotal	2,050,000			2,050,000
TOTALS	13,000,000	2,800,000	19,800,000	35,600,000

Authority: Pub. L. 105–277 section 304(b)(1).

Anne Stanislowski,

Administrative Officer.