01-29079. Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request

AGENCY:

Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice of renewal.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces that the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs approved an information collection request for emergency clearance under 5 CFR 1320.13. This information collection request for Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Form-4432, Verification of Indian Preference for Employment in the BIA and the Indian Health Service (IHS), is cleared under OMB Control Number 1076-0160 through April 30, 2002. We are now seeking comments from interested parties for renewal of OMB Control #1076-0160.

DATES:

Written comments must be submitted by January 22, 2002.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments are to be mailed or hand delivered to Duane Bird Bear, Chief, Division of Tribal Government Services, Office of Tribal Services, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 1849 C Street, NW, MS-4660-MIB, Washington, DC 20240; Telephone: [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Carolyn Newman, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 1849 C Street, NW, MS-4660-MIB, Washington, DC 20240; Telephone: [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

The purpose of the Indian Preference Form is to encourage qualified Indians to seek preference in employment with the BIA and the IHS. BIA collects information under the proposed regulations to ensure compliance with Indian preference hiring requirements.

II. Method of Collection

The information collection relates only to individuals applying for employment with the BIA and the IHS. The tribe's involvement is limited to verifying membership information submitted by the applicant.

III. Data

Title of the collection of information: Verification of Indian Preference for Employment in the BIA and IHS Form.

Type of review: Renewal of Indian Preference for Employment in the BIA and IHS Form.

Summary of the collection of information: The collection of information provides that certain persons who are of Indian descent receive preference when appointments are made to vacancies in positions with the BIA and IHS as well as in any unit that has been transferred intact from the BIA to a Bureau or office within the Department of the Interior or the Department of Health and Human Services and that continues to perform the functions formerly performed as part of the BIA or IHS. You are eligible for preference if (a) You are a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe; (b) you are a descendant of a member and you were residing within the present boundaries of any Indian reservation on June 1, 1934; (c) you are an Alaska Native; or (d) you possess one-half degree Indian blood derived from tribes that are indigenous to the United States.

Description of the need for the information and proposed use of the information: The information is submitted to obtain or retain a benefit; namely, preference in employment with the BIA and IHS.

Affected entities: Qualified Indian applicants and the tribe's involvement in verifying membership information submitted by the applicant.

Estimated number of respondents: Approximately 5,000 applications for preference in employment are received annually by the BIA field offices.

Proposed frequency of responses: On occasion as needed.

Burden: The average burden of submitting an Indian Preference Form is 30 minutes including time for reviewing instructions, searching data sources and assembling the information needed. We estimate the annual public burden is 2,500 hours.

Estimated cost: There are no costs to consider, except postage and the cost of duplicating the original verification form, because verification of the information is already available for other reasons. The form will be used by an applicant to seek documentation of Indian descent or membership from either a tribal official or the BIA.

IV. Request for Comments

The Department of the Interior invites comments on:

(a) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility;

(b) The accuracy of the agencies' estimate of the burden (including the hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumption used;

(c) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

(d) Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or provide information to or for a Federal agency. This includes the time needed to review instructions; to develop, acquire, install and utilize technology and systems for the purpose of collecting, validating, and verifying information, processing and maintaining information, and disclosing and providing information, to search data sources, to complete and review the collection of information; and to transmit or otherwise disclose the information.

Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information collection. They also will become a matter of public record.

All written comments will be available for public inspection in Room 4660 of the Main Interior Building, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, DC from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays.

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 Office of Management and Budget control number.

Dated: November 2, 2001.

Neal A. McCaleb,

Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs.